WASHINGTON — Sen. Orrin Hatch wants to make it easier for law enforcement officials to trace foreign-made explosives imported into America.
Hatch, R-Utah, and Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., introduced a bill Wednesday that would require imported explosives to include the same sorts of identification markings that law already requires on explosives manufactured domestically.
"There is simply no reason why explosive materials that are imported into the United States should not be required to meet the same safety standards as those produced domestically. In today's environment, we cannot afford to allow loopholes like these to go unclosed," Hatch said.
Kohl added, "Each day we delay closing this loophole, we let more untraceable explosive materials cross our border and undermine our national security. This is sensible legislation that will help law enforcement's ability to solve crimes."
The pair said that each year more than 25,000 pounds of stolen, lost or abandoned explosives are recovered by law enforcement. Identification markings enable them to determine the source of the explosive and help solve crimes.
Their bill would require the name of the manufacturer and the time, date and shift that it was made to be placed on all explosives.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says that required records of who buys and sells those explosives often helps lead them to criminals who steal or misuse them.
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