Reuters New Media [LINK] [ Yahoo | Write Us | Search | Info ] [ Index | News | World | Biz | Tech | Politic | Sport | Scoreboard | Entertain | Health ] _________________________________________________________________ Previous Story: US Envoy Struggles to Revive Israeli-PLO Talks Next Story: Bill Will Tie U.S. Aid to Bosnia Arrests _________________________________________________________________ Thursday May 8 2:16 PM EDT Bill Sought to Ban Military Firearm Imports WASHINGTON (Reuter) - A bill to ban imports of surplus military firearms back into the United States was introduced Thursday in the House and the Senate. Guns such as the M-1 carbine were given or sold by the United States to some 20 nations over the last 50 years. Sponsors of the bill said many of the 2 1/2 million weapons were now being imported to the United States and used by criminals. "These wartime weapons are the kinds of guns that criminals can easily convert into illegal, fully automatic weapons," Sen. Frank Lautenberg, a New Jersey Democrat, said at a news conference. Lautenberg said many of the weapons were coming from Iran, once a U.S. ally but now estranged from Washington. "The Ayatollah (Khomeini) must be laughing in his grave," Lautenberg said, referring to Iran's late revolutionary leader. Lautenberg was joined in introducing the bill by Sen. Barbara Boxer of California and Reps. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island and Carolym Maloney of New York, all Democrats. They said it would allow collectors to buy imports of rifles from the Second World War or earlier. "The Anti-Gun Invasion act will slam the door on weapons, once intended to help our allies, from coming back into our country and getting into the hands of criminals," Kennedy said. _________________________________________________________________ ________________________ ___________ Help _________________________________________________________________ Previous Story: US Envoy Struggles to Revive Israeli-PLO Talks Next Story: Bill Will Tie U.S. Aid to Bosnia Arrests _________________________________________________________________ [ Index | News | World | Biz | Tech | Politic | Sport | Scoreboard | Entertain | Health ] _________________________________________________________________ Reuters Limited Questions or Comments