"Our task of creating a socialist America can only succeed when those
who would resist us have been totally disarmed." --Sara Brady, January 1994

"Sara, you're disgusting." --Gary Conway, January 1994


 

103d CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 1878


To amend title 18, United States Code, to promote the safe use of guns and to reduce gun violence.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 28 (legislative day, FEBRUARY 22), 1994

Mr. METZENBAUM (for himself, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. BRADLEY, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. PELL, and Mr. CHAFEE) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance


A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to promote the safe use of guns and to reduce gun violence.

  • Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  • This Act may be cited as the `Gun Violence Prevention Act of 1994'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS.

  • The Congress finds and declares that--
    • (1) crime, particularly crime involving guns, is a pervasive, nationwide problem;
    • (2) crimes committed with guns threaten the peace and domestic tranquility of the citizens of the United States and threaten the security and general welfare of the Nation and its people;
    • (3) crimes committed with guns, and especially handguns, have created a substantial burden on interstate commerce;
    • (4) crime at the local level is exacerbated by the interstate movement of guns;
    • (5) guns and ammunition are easily concealed and transported across State lines in interstate commerce, and as a result, individual State action to regulate them is made less than effective by lax regulation in other States;
    • (6) in fact, even before the sale of a firearm, the gun, its component parts, ammunition, and the raw materials from which they are made have moved considerably in interstate commerce;
    • (7) while criminals move freely from State to State, ordinary citizens and foreign visitors may fear to travel to or through certain parts of the country due to concern about violent crime and gun violence, and parents may decline to send their children to school for the same reason;
    • (8) the occurrence of gun violence in schools has resulted in a decline in the quality of education in our country and this, in turn, has an adverse impact on interstate commerce and the foreign commerce of the United States;
    • (9) States and localities find it almost impossible to handle gun-related crime by themselves due in part to the failure or inability of other States or localities to take strong measures; and
    • (10) accordingly, it is necessary to establish national standards to promote the safe use of firearms and to reduce gun violence, including handgun licensing and registration, expanded prohibitions against firearm transfers to, or possession by, children and persons likely to misuse or commit crimes with firearms, requirements for gun safety and safe storage, strengthened regulation of licensed manufacturers, importers, and dealers, and prohibitions on the sale of semiautomatic assault weapons and other dangerous weapons.

TITLE I--HANDGUN LICENSING AND REGISTRATION

SEC. 101. STATE LICENSE REQUIRED TO RECEIVE TRANSFER OF A HANDGUN.

  • (a) IN GENERAL- Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
  • `(u)(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, deliver, or otherwise transfer a handgun to an individual (including an individual taking possession of a handgun as employee or agent of another person) who is not licensed under section 923 unless--
    • `(A) the transferor (or a licensed dealer, if State law so directs or allows) has verified that the transferee possesses a valid State handgun license by--
      • `(i) examining the State handgun license;
      • `(ii) examining, in addition to the State handgun license, a valid identification document (as defined in section 1028) containing a photograph of the transferee; and
      • `(iii) contacting the chief law enforcement officer of the State that issued the State handgun license to confirm that the State handgun license has not been revoked;
    • `(B) the transferor (or licensed dealer) has provided to the chief law enforcement officer of the State in which the transfer is to take place a State handgun registration form for the handgun to be transferred; and
    • `(C)(i) not less than 7 days have elapsed from the date on which the transferor (or licensed dealer) contacted the chief law enforcement officer of the State pursuant to subparagraph (A)(iii); or
    • `(ii) the transferee has presented to the transferor (or licensed dealer) a written statement, issued by the chief law enforcement officer of the State in which the transferee resides within the previous 10 days, stating that the transferee requires access to a handgun because of a threat to the life of the transferee or any member of the household of the transferee.
  • `(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, deliver, or otherwise transfer handgun ammunition to an individual (including an individual taking possession of handgun ammunition as employee or agent of another person) who is not licensed under section 923 unless the transferor (or licensed dealer) has verified that the transferee possesses a valid State handgun license by--
    • `(A) examining the State handgun license; and
    • `(B) examining, in addition to the State handgun license, a valid identification document (as defined in section 1028) containing a photograph of the transferee.
  • `(3) It shall be unlawful for any individual (including an individual acting as employee or agent of another person) who is not licensed under section 923 to receive transfer of a handgun or handgun ammunition unless the individual possesses a valid State handgun license.
  • `(4)(A) As used in this subsection, the term `State handgun license' means a license issued under a State law that provides for the issuance and revocation of licenses and the reporting of losses and thefts of handguns and handgun ammunition consistent with this paragraph.
  • `(B) A State handgun license shall--
    • `(i) be issued by the chief law enforcement officer of the State in which the licensee resides;
    • `(ii) contain, at a minimum, the licensee's name, address, date of birth, physical description, a unique license number and a photograph of the licensee; and
    • `(iii) remain valid for a period of not more than 2 years, unless revoked.
  • `(C) A State handgun license shall not be issued unless the chief law enforcement officer of the State determines that the applicant--
    • `(i) is at least 21 years of age;
    • `(ii) is a resident of the State, by examining, at a minimum, documentation in addition to a valid identification document (as defined in section 1028), such as a utility bill or lease agreement;
    • `(iii) is not prohibited from possessing or receiving a handgun under Federal, State, or local law, based upon name- and fingerprint-based research in all available Federal, State, and local recordkeeping systems, including the national system designated by the Attorney General pursuant to the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act; and
    • `(iv) has been issued a State handgun safety certificate.
  • `(D) The chief law enforcement officer of the State may be authorized to charge a fee for issuance of a State handgun license.
  • `(E) If a chief law enforcement officer of the State determines that an individual is ineligible to receive a State handgun license and the individual in writing requests the officer to provide the reasons for that determination, the officer shall provide the reasons to the individual in writing within 20 business days after receipt of the request.
  • `(F)(i) A State handgun license shall be revoked if the chief law enforcement officer of the State that issued the license determines that the applicant no longer satisfies 1 of the qualifications described in subparagraph (C).
  • `(ii) A person possessing a State handgun license that is revoked shall return the license to the chief law enforcement officer of the State in which the licensee resides within 10 days after receipt of notice of the revocation.
  • `(G) The applicant shall be required under State law to report the theft or loss of a firearm within 24 hours after the theft or loss is discovered, to--
    • `(i) the Secretary;
    • `(ii) the chief law enforcement officer of the State; and
    • `(iii) appropriate local authorities,
  • failure to report to be punishable by a civil penalty of $1,000 or such greater amount as State law may provide.
  • `(5)(A) As used in this subsection, the term `State handgun registration form' means a form prescribed under State law consistent with this paragraph.
  • `(B) A State handgun registration form shall contain, at a minimum--
    • `(i) information identifying the transferee, including name, address, date of birth, and State handgun license number; and
    • `(ii) information identifying the handgun, including make, model, caliber, and serial number.
  • `(C) The chief law enforcement officer of the State shall furnish information from handgun registration forms to Federal, State, and local law enforcement authorities upon request.
  • `(D) The chief law enforcement officer of the State may be authorized to charge a fee for registering a handgun.
  • `(6)(A) As used in this subsection, the term `State handgun safety certificate' means a certificate under a State law that provides for the issuance of certificates in accordance with this paragraph.
  • `(B) A State handgun safety certificate shall be issued by the chief law enforcement officer of the State in which the applicant resides.
  • `(C) A State handgun safety certificate shall not be issued unless the chief law enforcement officer of the State determines that the applicant--
    • `(i) has completed a course, taught by law enforcement officers and designed by the chief law enforcement officer of the State, of not less than 2 hours of instruction in handgun safety; and
    • `(ii) has passed an examination, designed by the chief law enforcement officer of the State, testing the applicant's knowledge of handgun safety.
  • `(D) The chief law enforcement officer of the State may be authorized to charge a fee for the handgun safety course and examination described in subparagraph (C).
  • `(7) As used in this subsection, the term `chief law enforcement officer of the State' means the chief, or equivalent officer, of the State police force, or the designee of that officer.'.
  • (b) DEFINITION OF HANDGUN AMMUNITION- Section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
  • `(30) The term `handgun ammunition' means--
    • `(A) a centerfire cartridge or cartridge case less than 1.3 inches in length; or
    • `(B) a primer, bullet, or propellent powder designed specifically for use in a handgun.'.
  • (c) PENALTY- Section 924(a)(1)(B) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking `or (q)' and inserting `(q), or (u)'.
  • (d) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this title shall become effective on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
  • (e) AMENDMENT OF BRADY ACT-

TITLE II--RESTRICTIONS ON FIREARM POSSESSION

SEC. 201. PROHIBITION OF TRANSFER OF A FIREARM TO, OR POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY, A PERSON CONVICTED OF A VIOLENT CRIME OR SUBJECT TO A PROTECTION ORDER.

SEC. 202. PROHIBITION OF TRANSFER OF A FIREARM OR AMMUNITION TO, OR POSSESSION OF A FIREARM OR AMMUNITION BY, A JUVENILE.

SEC. 203. STORAGE OF FIREARMS AWAY FROM JUVENILES.

`IT IS A FEDERAL CRIME TO STORE OR LEAVE

A LOADED FIREARM, OR AN UNLOADED

FIREARM AND ITS AMMUNITION, WHERE

AN UNSUPERVISED JUVENILE

CAN GAIN ACCESS.'.

SEC. 204. FEDERAL ARSENAL LICENSE.

SEC. 205. RESTORATION OF FIREARM PRIVILEGES.

TITLE III--RESTRICTIONS ON GUN SELLERS

SEC. 301. PROHIBITION ON MULTIPLE HANDGUN TRANSFERS.

SEC. 302. COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND LOCAL LAW AS CONDITION TO LICENSE.

SEC. 303. LICENSE APPLICATION FEES.

SEC. 304. ACTION ON FIREARMS LICENSE APPLICATION.

SEC. 305. INSPECTION OF FIREARMS LICENSEES' INVENTORY AND RECORDS.

SEC. 306. REQUIREMENT OF BUSINESS LIABILITY INSURANCE.

SEC. 307. LICENSE FOR AMMUNITION DEALERS.

SEC. 308. CHECK OF FIREARM STORE EMPLOYEES.

SEC. 309. PROHIBITION OF SALES BY LICENSEES OTHER THAN ON LICENSED PREMISES.

SEC. 310. RESPONSES TO REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION.

SEC. 311. REPORTS OF THEFT OR LOSS OF FIREARMS.

SEC. 312. DEFINITION OF FIREARM EXPANDED TO INCLUDE COMPONENT PARTS.

SEC. 313. COMMON CARRIER DELIVERY TO LICENSEES.

SEC. 314. CIVIL LIABILITY FOR VIOLATION OF FIREARM LAW.

TITLE IV--PROHIBITED WEAPONS

SEC. 401. PROHIBITED WEAPONS.

`APPENDIX A

Centerfire Rifles--Autoloaders

Centerfire Rifles--Lever & Slide

Centerfire Rifles--Bolt Action

Centerfire Rifles--Single Shot

Drillings, Combination Guns, Double Rifles

Rimfire Rifles--Autoloaders

Rimfire Rifles--Lever & Slide Action

Rimfire Rifles--Bolt Actions & Single Shots

Competition Rifles--Centerfire & Rimfire

Shotguns--Autoloaders

Shotguns--Slide Actions

Shotguns--Over/Unders

Shotguns--Side by Sides

Shotguns--Bolt Actions & Single Shots

SEC. 402. FIREARMS AND CHILD SAFETY.

SEC. 403. INCREASED TAX ON HANDGUNS AND HANDGUN AMMUNITION.

`ARTICLES TAXABLE AT 50 PERCENT

`SEC. 9512. HEALTH CARE TRUST FUND.

TITLE V--GUN EXCHANGE TAX INCENTIVES

SEC. 501. MODIFICATIONS TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS ON CHARITABLE DEDUCTION.

SEC. 502. MODEL PROGRAM.