A Switch on Plastic Guns

Several arms manufacturers say they are nearing the point where they can produce handguns and other weapons made largely or entirely from plastic. Whatever value to weapons-users this may provide in terms of reduced weight, resistance to corrosion or durability, the possibility that plastic pistols might soon become available gives nightmares to anti-terrorist specialists. Plastic guns in carry-on luggage could be seen by airport fluoroscope machines. But such a weapon hidden on the body could escape detection by the metal-sensing magnetometers used at airports and in some government buildings, exposing the public to threats from terrorists and other criminals.

Proposed legislation to ban plastic guns has provoked the usual vigorous objections from opponents of any controls on guns. The National Rifle Assn., a powerful lobbying group, opposes the sensible requirement that a plastic gun contain an amount of metal sufficient to set off alarms in existing detectors. The NRA instead backs a bill to ban undetectable plastic weapons, but without fixing a minimum metal standard. Without such a requirement this approach is unenforceable.

Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III, with his well-honed knack for being on the wrong side of an issue, originally endorsed the NRA proposal. Now a Justice Department study has persuaded him to change his mind and instead support a plan requiring that plastic guns contain a minimum of 3.7 ounces of stainless steel or other readily detectable metal. That ought to help get a clearly needed bill through Congress. When plastic guns do arrive air travelers and others should have the assurance of knowing that at least they won’t be invisible to detection.