House Approves Ban on Guns Made of Plastic

The House, acting to protect airline passengers from terrorist weapons of the future, Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a bill to ban all-plastic firearms that could avoid detection by airport security devices.

The measure, which sailed through on a 413-4 vote, now goes to the Senate, where quick approval is expected with the extraordinary joint blessing of such traditional foes as the National Rifle Assn. and Handgun Control Inc.

Reagan Administration officials are seeking some technical changes but are backing the House-approved bill.

No Dissension on Bill

In fact, no House member spoke against the legislation during the chamber’s 40-minute debate. “Everybody’s happy with it except the criminals,” a congressional aide said of the agreement on the legislation.

Because plastic guns have not been manufactured, no existing weapon would be forbidden by the bill. Proponents, however, said that the manufacture of all-plastic weapons could be “just around the corner” and would give criminals and terrorists an advantage over security forces because such guns could not be found by X-ray machines and metal detectors.

“Plastic guns could pose an unacceptable threat to airline passengers,” said Rep. William J. Hughes (D-N.J.), floor manager for the measure.

“We need to deter the terrorists,” Rep. Bill McCollum (R-Fla.) added.

The debate was enlivened when Rep. Larry E. Craig (R-Ida.) produced a red-and-black plastic toy gun that he said had shown up on the X-ray machine used to screen handbags of visitors to congressional office buildings.

Wouldn’t Trigger Alarm

Although he did not say so, the toy apparently would not have triggered an alarm passing through a metal detector, also used on Capitol Hill to check on whether visitors are carrying weapons.

In addition, the legislation would help preserve security at checkpoints in government buildings, courts and prisons, the advocates said.

The bill would ban plastic firearms if they contain less than 3.7 ounces of metal or if their major components do not appear to be parts of a gun when viewed through X-ray machines. Use of barium sulfate inside a plastic firearm to make the components visible to X-ray monitors would be permitted.

Otherwise, it would be illegal to make, import, sell, transfer or possess any all-plastic firearm that does not meet the standards listed in the legislation.

Violators could be sent to prison for up to five years and fined a maximum of $250,000.