US House OKs extending ban on firearms not detected by machine

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House approved Tuesday a 10-year extension of an existing federal law banning guns that can go undetected by metal detectors and X-ray machines.

The measure passed on an overwhelming bipartisan vote despite reservations from Democrats who would like to expand the scope of the law to address concerns about 3-D printing technology. 3-D printers can produce solid objects out of digital models — including firearms — and did not exist commercially when the law was first enacted. Without significant opposition, the House did not record members’ votes on the bill.

“As a practical matter it looks like the choice before the country and the Congress is whether to let this ban on the plastics expire or not. It should not expire,” said Rep. Rob Andrews, D-N.J.

The 1988 Undetectable Firearms Act was enacted under President Ronald Reagan and reauthorized under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. It is scheduled to sunset Dec. 9, the same day the Senate returns from a two-week Thanksgiving break. If the law expires, Congress can fix it retroactively.

The law bans the manufacture, possession and sale of firearms that can’t be detected by metal detectors and requires handguns be manufactured in the shape of a gun so they can be screened on X-ray machines.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., is among a group of Senate Democrats seeking to amend the law to require that metal has to be permanently attached to the gun, closing a loophole that would allow removable metal parts. Senate Democrats are less likely to support a lengthy extension of the law if the amendment is not included in order to revisit the gun debate sooner than in 10 years.