Pikes Peak Firearms Coalition

Pending Federal Firearm Legislation

Pro Gun Legislation:

	H.R. 347: Citizens’ Self-Defense Act: Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R- Md.) introduced legislation that would reaffirm the right of an individual to obtain and use a firearm in defense of self, family or home. This bill would help prevent the ridiculous prosecution of honest citizens who use a firearm to defend themselves from criminal attack, and it would allow those people, whose right to defend themselves is violated in any manner, to bring action in U.S. District Court against the federal government, any state government or individual. H.R. 347 was introduced on January 19 and was subsequently referred to the House Crime Subcommittee and currently has 42 co-sponsors.
	H.R. 735: Gun Retention Act of 1999: Rep. Bob Ney has once again introduced LEAA’s disarming a law enforcement officer model legislation. This is a common sense measure that creates felony penalties for taking, or attempting to take, a Federal law enforcement officer’s firearm while he is engaged in his official duties. Those convicted of these crimes face a maximum of 15 years in prison if the firearm is discharged or a minimum of 5 years for attempting to disarm the officer. Currently, there are 17 co-sponsors and the bill has been referred to the House Crime Subcommittee.
	H.R. 59: Repealing Lautenberg Provisions: Rep. Bob Barr (R-Ga.) introduced legislation that would amend Title 18 of the United States Code to eliminate certain provisions enacted under the Lautenberg Amendment. Rep Barrs bill would remove the retroactive prohibitions that take away an individuals right to own a gun based on misdemeanor convictions that occurred before the Lautenberg restrictions were passed. H.R. 59 was introduced on January 6 and has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary and then the House Crime Subcommittee. There are no co-sponsors.
	H.R. 218: Community Protection Act/ Law Enforcement Protection Act: Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.) has once again re-introduced the LEAA-drafted legislation that will allow qualified current and retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed weapons interstate. On the first day of the session, the bill was introduced with 36 sponsors. During the last congressional session, the bill had more than 100 sponsors in the House. It is incumbent upon LEAA members to get their representatives to sign on during this new session, plus to get new letters-of-support from police organizations (such as FOP lodges) to move this legislation along. Currently, there are 102 co-sponsors. The senate version of LEAA's premier legislation was introduced on March 25 by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo). The companion bill, S. 727, the Law Enforcement Protection Act of 1999, has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee and has no other co-sponsors. Another version of this type of legislation is NAPOs "National Assistance for Police Officer Safety Act of 1999," also known as H.R. 1461. Sponsored by Reps. James Rogan (R-Calif) and Steven Rothman (D-New Jersey), this bill does not apply to retired officers, however, and only applies to current, off-duty officers who are authorized by their agency to carry a firearm at all times. There are some departments that do not authorize officers to carry at all times. This is a limited version of a law enforcement reciprocity bill and currently has no other co-sponsors.
	H.R. 407: Second Amendment Restoration Act: Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) introduced legislation that would provide for reciprocity of concealed carry licenses in all 50 states. Rep. Pauls bill would allow states to keep their individual restrictions on where concealed weapons may not be carried, such as courthouses, schools and state buildings. H.R. 407 was introduced on January 19 and has since garnered 15 co-sponsors. It was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary then the House Crime Subcommittee.
	H.R. 492: National Citizen Reciprocity: Rep.Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) has re-introduced the bill that establishes a national standard for the carrying of certain concealed firearms by non-residents. This bill, introduced on February 2, authorizes a person who has a valid permit to carry a concealed firearm in one state to legally carry the firearm in another state in accordance with the laws of that state. The language from H.R. 218 is also included in this bill as well. H.R. 492 has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee and the House Crime Subcommittee for the primary hearings. There are currently 38 co-sponsors.
	H.R. 1032: Firearms Heritage Protection Act: Rep. Bob Barr (R-Georgia) introduced a bill on March 9 with 27 sponsors, to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages resulting from the misuse of their products by others. This is a critical bill in light of the recent lawsuits brought by nearly a dozen cities and dozens more threatening to follow suit.(No pun intended). Rep. Barrs bill has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary and there are currently 79 co-sponsors. A senate companion bill is expected to be introduced by Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho) in the near future. Conversely, Rep. Rod Blagojevich introduced H.R. 1049, the "Firearms Industry Responsibility Enforcement Act," in the House on March 10, the day after Congressman Barr introduced his pro-gun bill. So far, H.R.1049 has only 1 co-sponsor, Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) and has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
	H.R.1178/S.597: Second Amendment Rights Protection Act: (House) (Senate) Rep. Tom Coburn and Senator Bob Smith have introduced companion legislation that is intended to protect the rights of citizens under the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. These bills would permanently enact the provisions of last years Smith amendment to the Justice Department Appropriations bill which prohibits the imposition of a gun tax on law-abiding citizens who go through the NICS and prohibits the FBI from keeping records on these same people. Currently, the House version has 44 co-sponsors and has been referred to two committees, House Judiciary and House Ways and Means. On March 25, the bill went to the House Crime Subcommittee. In the Senate, there are 13 co-sponsors and remains in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
	H.R.1179: Full Brady Registration Repeal: Rep. Ron Paul has reintroduced his bill to repeal the entire Brady Law. H.R. 1179 will also eliminate the 1994 semi-auto ban and the limitation on magazine capacity. This bill contains language to repeal all the gun control from the 1994 crime bill, including the provision that allows the BATF to act as "zoning cops," which incidentally has been used by BATF to put over 100,000 gun dealers out of business. Lastly, H.R. 1179 removes the "sporting purposes" test which was recently used by the Clinton and Bush Administrations to ban many firearms from importation. This bill is currently in the House Crime Subcommittee and has no co-sponsors.

Anti-Gun Legislation:

	H.R. 35: Banning Non-Sporting Handguns: Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) introduced legislation that would ban the possession or transfer of any handgun not designated by the Secretary of the Treasury as a "Sporting Handgun." This bill would allow future types and designs of handguns to be banned at the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury, without a vote by members of Congress. H.R. 35, which was introduced on January 6 with no cosponsors, has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary and the House Crime Subcommittee. There are no co-sponsors.
	H.R. 85: Restricting The Possession And Transfer Of Handguns: Rep. Rod Blagojevich (D-Ill.) introduced legislation that would raise the federal minimum age for transfer and/or possession of a handgun from 18 to 21. H.R. 85 was introduced on January 6 with no cosponsors and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary and the House Crime Subcommittee.
	H.R. 87: Mail-Order Or Internet Ammunition Sales: Rep. Rod Blagojevich (D-Ill.) and Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) introduced legislation that would prohibit mail-order or internet sales of ammunition without a federal license to deal in firearms. Additionally, this bill would require firearms dealers to keep records of all sales of ammunition in excess of 1,000 rounds to a single person. Rep. Kennedy and Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-New York) are the only cosponsors at this time. It was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary and subsequently referred to the House Crime Subcommittee.
	H.R. 315: Two-Guns-A-Month Limit: Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) introduced legislation that would make it unlawful for any licensed firearm dealer to sell more than two handguns to an individual in a 30-day period. Entitled the "Anti-Gunrunning Act of 1999," H.R. 315 places federal limits on the number of handguns a citizen can purchase, and increases the penalty for knowingly making false statements in connection with the purchase of a firearm. Even though the Clinton-led Justice Department has refused to enforce the law prohibiting felons from trying to purchase a gun, some members of Congress would like to increase the penalty from one to five years in prison (no doubt, a feel-good approach). H.R. 315, which was introduced on January 6 with 36 cosponsors, was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. This bill has been referred to the House Crime Subcommittee and currently has 91 co-sponsors. Call your Congressman to oppose this bill.
	H.R. 109: Gun Show Restrictions: Rep Rod Blagojevich (D-Ill.) introduced legislation that would create a federal registration system for all gun transfers at gun shows. H.R. 109 would also require the promoter of a gun show to acquire a federal license and mandate that the seller of a gun provide records of the purchasers personal information to the promoter of the gun show. The gun show promoter would then be required to submit all purchase records to the Secretary of the Treasury within 30 days of the show. H.R. 109, which has 27 cosponsors, was introduced on January 6 and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. This bill is currently in the House Crime Subcommittee and has 31 co-sponsors.