Introduction of Fairness in Firearms Testing Act

[MD_Willington]

http://gingrey.house.gov/News/DocumentPrint.aspx?DocumentID=61972

H.R. 1791, the Fairness in Firearms Testing Act.

gingrey.house.gov

Gingrey
Contact: Becky Ruby (202) 225-2931

Gingrey introduces Fairness in Firearms Testing Act
Improves accountability in firearm testing

Washington, Mar 30 -

U.S. Congressman Phil Gingrey today introduced H.R. 1791, the Fairness in Firearms Testing Act. This legislation improves consistency and accountability in firearm testing by giving U.S. gun manufactures access to video documentation of their products’ testing at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE). Video documentation will give firearm manufactures the right to contest and review BATFE testing decisions, which are highly inconsistent.

“Currently, BATFE lacks written procedures and clear guidelines for firearm testing,” Gingrey said. “How can we expect firearm manufacturers – or any industry, for that matter – to comply with moving target regulations? The Bureau’s rulings are so inconsistent that BATFE threatened to prosecute one gun manufacturer in Heard County, Georgia not even a year after sending written approval for that company’s product. This runaround is a waste of time and resources. My legislation will help restore accountability to the BATFE testing process and help restore the words ‘made in America’ to our firearms.”

In the past five years, 85 percent of American firearm manufactures have gone out of businesses, largely due to complex and ever-changing regulations. H.R. 1791 is a step toward the goal of formal, written firearm testing guidelines, and helps ensure a level playing ground for both BATFE agents and manufacturers.



What do you all think of this

MD

 

[Reddbecca]

To me it sounds good. Not sure if it is but on paper is sounds like it might be a good plan.

 

[Old Fuff]

In the past five years, 85 percent of American firearm manufactures have gone out of businesses

Like who in particular? Or is he including accessory and ammunition makers?

The BATF/BATF&E have a long history of being inconsistent to say the least, only being excelled by the I.R.S. The proposed law would be welcome, but I doubt that it will get far in a legislature controled by Democrats. Maybe Congressman Gingrey can attach his bill to some other "must-pass" legislation.

 

[RyanM]

Sounds to me like a fancy-pants politician way of putting drop testing, manual safety and key lock requirements, etc., into federal law instead of just a couple states.

 

[PPGMD]

Nice idea, but got to watch out for Riders, remember the 1986 Firearms Owners' Protection Act.

 

[rmurfster]

Wonderful... So the solution to a power-hungry Government entity is to create more paperwork, more money and more bureaucracy

Just get rid of them, problem solved!

 

[Reddbecca]

How about this for firearms safety, a notice in all the manuals that reads as follows:

"The stupid ones die first. If you manage to injure yourself with this or any other firearm due to lack of personal responsibility you have no legal recourse open to you."

 

[Mojo-jo-jo]

hil Gingrey

I used to live in Phil Gingrey's district, a very rural and very conservative district in western Georgia. I have spoken to him several times, and I guarantee that he is as pro-gun. He is A+ rated by the NRA, and A- by GOA, and I can confirm that he believes that firearm ownership is an absolute right.

This bill appears as step in reigning in some of the BATFE abuses of gun manufacturers, like the re-classification of some accessories as "machine guns" well after they (BATFE) had classified them as non-NFA. For example, take the Akins Accellerator ( http://www.firefaster.com/ ), which the BATFE initially approved, but the decided two years later that the device converts YOUR TRIGGER FINGER (!?!?) into a machine gun and is now requiring that all units sold be recovered and destroyed, as well has put the company out of business.

The danger of a bill like this is the anti-gun amendments that could be added to it by our other "friends" in the house, even if Pelosi does let it see the light of day.

 

[Bubbles]

This bill is being introduced specifically because of BATFE flip-flops on their rulings. As an example, remember the Akins? First it wasn't even a firearm, then suddenly it was a machine gun. This bill is designed to stop those types of abuses.

It's also supposed to stop BATFE from prosecuting folks whose firearms are simply malfunctioning, versus conversions to full-auto. If you don't think that's possible, read about the Wrenn case, which is archived on this site.

This bill has nothing to do with "drop tests", and everything to do with creating a scientific, repeatable, and standardized method of determining whether a firearm is 1) a firearm, 2) semi, or 3) full-auto.

Obviously, as with any bill concerning our gun rights, we have to keep a sharp eye out for poison pill amendments. FOPA '86 taught us a harsh lesson.

 

[Justin]

There is certainly the danger of anti-rights riders, as well as the law of unintended consequences.

However, forcing the BATFE to abide by certain procedural requirements in order to declare whether a firearm is or is not fully automatic, and therefore in violation of the law, strikes me as a good idea. It would keep them from getting creative in the name of malicious prosecution.