On May 6, at a press conference with Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign, U.S. Representatives Michael Castle (R-Del.) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) introduced H.R. 2324--the "Gun Show Loophole Closing Act."  Masquerading as reform, H.R. 2324 would impose severe bureaucratic restrictions aimed at shutting down gun shows. 

The bill is essentially a re-introduction of the failed H.R. 96, introduced in the 110^th Congress.  Despite changes from the Lautenberg juvenile justice amendment of 1999, on which the measure is based, H.R. 2324 fails to address gun owners' most significant concerns.  In several areas it is even more restrictive than past attempts to regulate gun shows. H.R. 2324 would create gun owner registration, massive new government red tape, and allow harassment of gun show organizers, vendors and attendees.  The bill also ignores a glaring problem--multiple government studies prove gun shows are not a source of "crime guns." 

Anti-gun Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced a companion bill (S. 843) in the U.S. Senate in late April.