[Beren]

(UPDATED 1/22/03, added #6)

A handful of bills have been introduced before Congress that would negatively impact our 2nd Amendment rights. I'll post links and brief summaries below. I may try to do this on a continuing basis if the community sees value in it, or even set up a website that focuses specifically on such updates.

1. Child Gun Safety and Gun Access Prevention Act of 2003 (H.R. 76) Link (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.R.76.IH:)

This bill raises the legal age of handgun possession to 21 (currently 18), and also prohibits those under 21 from possessing "semiautomatic assault weapons' or 'large capacity feeding devices.'

The bill mandates that dealers must provide "secure storage" or a "safety device" with ANY firearm sold.

It increases the penalties for youths (defined as anyone under 21) possessing semiauto "assault weapons" or handguns and the penalties for transfering such items to them.

The bill allows for up to three years in jail if you don't lock up your gun and a child (under 18) uses it to cause death or serious injury to themselves or others.

And, last but not least, the law would prohibit anyone under 18 from being at a gun show unless they are accompanied by an adult.

2. Handgun Licensing and Registration Act of 2003 (H.R. 124) Link (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.R.124.IH:)

If your state doesn't already force you to register your handguns, you will have two years to register your handguns in a federal database. If you don't, you could face a severe fine or no less than 15(!!!) years in prison.

3. Justice Enhancement and Domestic Security Act of 2003 (S. 22) Link (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:S.22.IS:)

- "Closes the gun show loophole." All gunshows MUST be registered with fees as determined by the government. Private parties forbidden from transferring to other private parties without a criminal background check.

- Implements the Our Lady of Peace Act of 2003, forcing states to share sensitive mental health information with the federal government.

- Various other increased penalties for firearm-related violations.

- Extends funding for Project Exile.

- Implements The Ballistics, Law Assistance, and Safety Technology Act of 2003 (BLAST Act) which would mandate ballistic testing of all new firearms manufactured in or imported into the U.S.

- Dealers could have their licenses revoked if they fail to have "gun safety devices" available for sale to non-licensees.

[Beren]

Another addition:

4. Bullet Tracing Act To Reduce Gun Violence (H.R. 24) Link (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.R.24.IH:)

Every gun manufactured in or imported into the U.S. would need to have a ballistic signature taken and filed with the federal government.

This would threaten the C&R market - prices would have to nearly double to fund the costs of testing all the historic guns that are imported for domestic sale.

[Beren]

5. To restore the second amendment rights of all Americans (H.R. 153)

This one is a PRO-2nd Amendment bill.

See the link below for the text of the bill, it is now available!

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.R.153.IH:

[GregoryTech]

I'm interested in seeing it updated. Thanks for your efforts so far.

[Beren]

Updates on effects of S. 22. See underlined sections of item #3 under the first post.

[Beren]

6. Gun Show Background Check Act of 2003 (H. R. 260) Link (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.R.260.IH:)

Mr. Conyers has introduced a bill in the House that would mirror "closing the gun show loophole" provisions of S. 22.

In other words:

- Gun show organizers must be register their shows and pay a fee

- Require background checks between private party gun sales at such shows

[Barney]

Behren: How did you get the link to HR 124? I went to the Thomas Registry, 108 congress and it said the text of the bill was not available yet?

[Barney]

If you go to 108 congres and check the bills by typing in H.R. 124 IH you get the reply bill is invalid? I am not trying to discredit what you are saying merely trying to find it myself. Barney

[Beren]

Click on the 'Link' I have beside H.R. 124 and it should pop right up. It does for me...

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.R.124.IH:

[Beren]

7. Toy Handgun Ban (H.R. 211) Link (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.R.211.IH:)

Mr. Towns has introduced a bill which would "require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ban toys which in size, shape, or overall appearance resemble real handguns."

[Beren]

8. States' Rights and Second and Tenth Amendment Restoration Act of 2003 (H.R. 276)

(Bill number and link have been corrected.)

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.R.276.IH:

Mr. Goode has introduced a bill which would "repeal section 658 of Public Law 104-208, commonly referred to as the Lautenberg amendment."

[Viking6]

The whole idea of disenfranchising 18-20 year old gun owners by federal law is wild. IMHO. either an 18 year old is an adult or not!!! Either drop the drinking age to 18 or rescind the right to vote for 18 year olds. Just more political mumbo-jumbo.

[Beren]

OH CRAP! This one almost snuck past me. For those of you who like to build your own rifles from kits and only purchase the stripped lower receiver from a dealer, this bill is one you MUST protest!!

9. Ari's Law (H.R. 144)

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.R.144.IH:

"To control the sale of gun kits."

Mr. Nadler has introduced a bill which would place additional restrictions on the sale of gun kits - perhaps outlawing them entirely except for sales to dealers.

"Section 921(a)(3)(B) of title 18, United States Code is amended by striking `or receiver' and inserting, `, receiver, barrel, stock, or any part of the action'."

[Beren]

10. Second Amendment Rights Protection Act of 2003 (H.R. 193)

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.R.193.IH:

Mr. Hefley has introduced a bill which would enforce the destruction of federal gun purchase records so long as the buyer was not a prohibited person.

[Beren]

11. Assault Weapon Ban Enhancement Act of 2003 (H.R. 143)

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.R.143.IH:

Mr. Nadler has introduced a bill which would "prohibit the importation of dangerous firearms that have been modified to avoid the ban on semiautomatic assault weapons."

[voilsb]

the "second amendment protection act of 2003" is a load of crap. they try to repleal nics (good), they try to repeal the awb (okay at best). it's gonna expire in a year anyway. sooner is better, though, that's why it's not dumb. they fiddle with GCA68, changing wording about "sporting purposes." they should be repealing GCA68 and NFA86 altogether.

it doesn't seem like this bill goes all that far "to restore the second amendment rights of all Americans."

[Beren]

12. Child Safety and Home Security Act of 2003 (H.R. 325)

I like this one. If you buy a "residential safe storage device for a firearm", you can write off 100% of the cost, up to $1500, on your federal income tax for that year. Some privacy protections on the use of the credit, as well.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.R.325.IH:

[dustind]

bill to repeal 1994 awban sponsored by Ron Paul(R-TX)

i just heard about it at http://www.awbansunset.com/

On January 8th, Rep. Paul introduced H.R. 153, The Second Amendment Protection Act of 2003.



Specifically, my legislation repeals the five-day waiting period and the ``instant'' background check, which enable the Federal Government to compile a database of every gun owner in America. My legislation also repeals the misnamed ban on ``semi-automatic'' weapons which bans entire class of firearms for no conceivable reason beside the desire of demagogic politicians to appear ``tough on crime.'' Finally, my bill amends the Gun Control Act of 1968 by deleting the sporting purposes'' test, which allows the Treasury Secretary to infringe on second amendment rights by classifying a firearm (handgun, rifle, shotgun) as a ``destructive device'' simply because the Secretary believes the gun to be ``non-sporting.''



I like it, it does a lot of good things.

[Beren]

That and more is detailed in:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4800

Be nice if a mod marked it sticky..

[GregoryTech]

the "second amendment protection act of 2003" is a load of crap. they try to repleal nics (good), they try to repeal the awb (okay at best). it's gonna expire in a year anyway. sooner is better, though, that's why it's not dumb. they fiddle with GCA68, changing wording about "sporting purposes." they should be repealing GCA68 and NFA86 altogether.

it doesn't seem like this bill goes all that far "to restore the second amendment rights of all Americans."

One little step at a time...Just like how we got in the mess we're in. Repeal of bad law, no matter how minimal it seems, is huge. Having said that, I'll write letters and make calls, even though I bet this is largely symbolic and wouldn't be signed by the president.

But... repeal of the AWB in huge. The pressure to renew it is going to be unbelievable, and it's a perfect issue (for supporters of our side) to sell out for votes on their favorite pork. A repeal this year would pull the rug right out from under the antis as they would be starting from scratch to get ANY ban enacted.

[Waitone]

Not the imbalance between the number of anti-2nd bills introduced vs the number of pro-2nd bills introduced.

. . . . .and that is a clear statement of the problem. Pro-2nd supporters are not on the offensive. We have to swat back every ball lobbed over the net by the anti-2's.

When will pro-2nd supporters in congress get aggressive and begin to attack and weed.

[Beren]

I appreciate the float but you may have marked the wrong thread.. ;) It's the 'Congressional Update' thread that would benefit from a float.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4800

[4v50 Gary]

Thank you Beren & dustind

[Jim March]

SIGH.

Look y'all, the vast majority of all gun control bills are not written for the purpose of actual passage!

They're written so that the author of said bill, invariably some Liberal twit from a hell-hole like California or New Jersey, can go back home and campaign with it: "I put forth a proposal that'll save ALL the POOR WIDDLE CHIWDWEN and those nasty bad boys back in DC shot it down, boo hoo, re-elect me and I'll try again" :scrutiny:.

Every legislator KNOWS which bills are "serious", which ones have some "heat on 'em" (read: backed by one party or another) so they don't pay attention to the "junkers".

So if you call your personal legicritter agitating against the "junkers" (which includes most if not all of the above), all you do is convince the staff that they got another call by some amateur what doesn't have a clue. Rolleyes, go on to the next call.

THIS is why the NRA legislative alerts only cover a small number of bills. The NRA BoD includes legislators, so they *know* which ones are actually dangerous and hence need grassroots agitation.

Now, a few PRO-gun bills are the same sort of thing: sounds great, but everybody (including the author) knows it's DOA and it's there for campaign soundbite purposes down the road. But as pro-gun legislators are much more honest than the grabbers, we do a lot less of that sort of thing therefore the number of grabber proposals ALWAYS outnumbers the pro-gun proposals.

Such an "imbalance" is MEANINGLESS. It's what passes that matters. And in that department we're gonna start kickin' tushie :).

[Beren]

13. Anti-Gunrunning Act of 2003 (H.R. 221)

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.R.221.IH:

Mr. Wexler has introduced a bill that would impose a nation-wide "one gun per month" restriction on handgun sales.

[Waitone]

"Meaningless" except in the court of public opinion. How many supporters of the second amendment are there who honestly believe the pro-2nd side is not fighting.

How many people are there who do not know there is a full-throated war going on where the stakes are nothing less than the viability of our constitutional form of government.

How many people are there who thinks the second amendment can carefully be excised from the BofR's without doing damage to other enumerated rights.