May 19, 1999
Web posted at: 9:14 a.m. EDT (1314 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, May 19) -- House Speaker Dennis Hastert entered the fierce debate on gun control Tuesday, saying he favored raising the minimum age for owning a handgun to 21 and requiring background checks for all sales at gun shows.

"I'm just saying 21 is basically a standard of adulthood, and there's probably a uniformity that fits there," said Hastert (R-Ill).

On the background check issue, he said, "I think there needs to be uniformity in what they do at gun shows and what they do in a retail business."

The legal age for buying handguns in the United States is 18. Many of Hastert's Republican colleagues have opposed raising that age.

Hastert made the comments shortly before the Senate voted 78- 20 to require the sale of "secure gun storage or safety devices" with all handgun purchases.

The provision also provides liability protections for a gun owner who uses a safety lock and whose gun is stolen and used in a crime.

Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott said last week that he favors background checks at gun shows, but is opposed to raising the purchasing age.

An aide from Lott's office told CNN that Hastert's comments were puzzling because the gun control issue it not slated to come up in the House of Representatives anytime soon.

Congressional Correspondent Bob Franken contributed to this report

Wednesday, May 19, 1999

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