Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman to Introduce Gun Control Plan

Aired May 15, 2001 - 10:29   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Two Senate leaders from rival parties will introduce joint gun control legislation today. This one day after President Bush announced his own plan to get tough on gun violence criminals.

CNN's Jeanne Meserve joins us now from Washington. She's got more on today's announcement -- Jeanne, good morning.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.

President Bush in Philadelphia yesterday calling for more prosecutors to crack down on felons who use guns. Today, two of Mr. Bush's election 2000 opponents are on the front lines in the crime fight. Republican John McCain and Democrat Joe Lieberman say it is still too easy for felons to skirt existing gun laws by buying weapons at gun shows from unlicensed dealers across the country.

The McCain-Lieberman bill is seen as a compromise plan that would exempt some smaller gun shows, but would require a three day waiting period for background checks at other shows. States could eventually reduce the wait to 24 hours once their records are 95 percent computerized.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: Ninety-five percent of gun show buyers are cleared within two hours. The five percent who are not are 20 times more likely to be a prohibited purchaser.

SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: As citizens we have the right to own guns but we have the responsibility not to sell them to criminals. That is the simple but important set of values on which the legislation we're introducing today is based.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MESERVE: Pro gun groups criticize the McCain-Lieberman bill as a way to put gun shows out of business. The National Rifle Association maintains the legislation could lead to the eventual registration of guns and licensing of gun owners. The NRA points to the sparse attendance at the Million Mom Marches over the weekend to show that Americans are turning against more stringent gun control laws. President Bush, meanwhile, favors more limited background checks at gun shows and the plan he unveiled yesterday does provide more money to help states improve their criminal record keeping -- Daryn, back to you.

KAGAN: Jeanne, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com