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Gun laws introduced
By Sharon Corderman
Two separate pieces of gun legislation were introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on January 6. One, H.R. 45, proposes to require that anyone who owns handguns or any semiautomatic firearm that can accept a detachable ammunition-feeding device obtain a federal firearms license. The other, H.R. 17, proposes to allow for the use of firearms in defense of one’s self, one’s family, or one’s home. Both bills have been sent to the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security.
Named Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009, H.R. 45 amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and was introduced by Rep. Bobby Rush of Illinois. Rush had brought the bill to Congress in 2007, but it failed to make it out of the subcommittee. Blair Holt, the bill’s namesake, was a 16-year-old honor student in Chicago who was murdered in May 2007 when another teenager began firing a handgun on a public bus in a gang-related attack. Rush pledged to introduce strong new gun legislation in Holt’s memory.
If enacted, the bill would make it illegal to own a handgun or qualifying rifle without a firearms license and requires that a federal record of sale be maintained for those firearms. It also establishes criminal penalties for violations of those provisions.
In order to be issued a firearm license an applicant would need to submit to the Attorney General a current, passport-sized photograph, their name, address and date and place of birth, any other name they have ever used, a statement that they are not prohibited by federal law from owning a firearm, a statement that the firearm will be safely stored and out of the possession of anyone under 18 years old, a certificate showing completion of a written firearms safety examination, authorization for the release of any mental health records, and a thumbprint at the time of application. The application could be submitted at a licensed dealer or an agency designated by the Attorney General and must be forwarded to the Attorney General not later than 48 hours after the application is made. An application fee of up to $25 would be charged. If a license is issued it would be good for five years.
Named Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009, H.R. 45 amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and was introduced by Rep. Bobby Rush of Illinois. Rush had brought the bill to Congress in 2007, but it failed to make it out of the subcommittee. Blair Holt, the bill’s namesake, was a 16-year-old honor student in Chicago who was murdered in May 2007 when another teenager began firing a handgun on a public bus in a gang-related attack. Rush pledged to introduce strong new gun legislation in Holt’s memory.
If enacted, the bill would make it illegal to own a handgun or qualifying rifle without a firearms license and requires that a federal record of sale be maintained for those firearms. It also establishes criminal penalties for violations of those provisions.
In order to be issued a firearm license an applicant would need to submit to the Attorney General a current, passport-sized photograph, their name, address and date and place of birth, any other name they have ever used, a statement that they are not prohibited by federal law from owning a firearm, a statement that the firearm will be safely stored and out of the possession of anyone under 18 years old, a certificate showing completion of a written firearms safety examination, authorization for the release of any mental health records, and a thumbprint at the time of application. The application could be submitted at a licensed dealer or an agency designated by the Attorney General and must be forwarded to the Attorney General not later than 48 hours after the application is made. An application fee of up to $25 would be charged. If a license is issued it would be good for five years.
“This is a slippery slope. It can start with licensing
firearms. Then, later, it’s easier to gather them up.” ~Rep. Glenn Thompson
firearms. Then, later, it’s easier to gather them up.” ~Rep. Glenn Thompson
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Varn wrote on Mar 1, 2009 2:35 PM:
" If I interpret correctly the written summary of the Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986, it appears that in some way these proposed bits of legislation might violate that Federal Law. Here is the summary that I am referencing:
The Firearm Owners’ Protection Act (FOPA), is a United States federal law. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_Owners_Protection_Act. What does the following passage actually mean?
“No such rule or regulation prescribed after the date of the enactment of the Firearms Owners Protection Act may require that records required to be maintained under this chapter or any portion of the contents of such records, be recorded at or transferred to a facility owned, managed, or controlled by the United States or any State or any political subdivision thereof, nor that any system of registration of firearms, firearms owners, or firearms transactions or disposition be established. Nothing in this section expands or restricts the Secretary’s authority to inquire into the disposition of any firearm in the course of a criminal investigation.”
It seems to say that the federal Government cannot create a list of registered firearms. Doesn't it say that?
States, however, are allowed to register firearms because many of them in fact do this. But, not the Federal Government, yet.
Maybe someone can enlighten me regarding this law. "
The Firearm Owners’ Protection Act (FOPA), is a United States federal law. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_Owners_Protection_Act. What does the following passage actually mean?
“No such rule or regulation prescribed after the date of the enactment of the Firearms Owners Protection Act may require that records required to be maintained under this chapter or any portion of the contents of such records, be recorded at or transferred to a facility owned, managed, or controlled by the United States or any State or any political subdivision thereof, nor that any system of registration of firearms, firearms owners, or firearms transactions or disposition be established. Nothing in this section expands or restricts the Secretary’s authority to inquire into the disposition of any firearm in the course of a criminal investigation.”
It seems to say that the federal Government cannot create a list of registered firearms. Doesn't it say that?
States, however, are allowed to register firearms because many of them in fact do this. But, not the Federal Government, yet.
Maybe someone can enlighten me regarding this law. "
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lodell04 wrote on Feb 27, 2009 11:22 AM: