I can hardly believe the article failed to mention any bill numbers!
There are three pro-gun bills languishing in committee at this time that urgently need our attention, H.R. 1603, H.R. 1703, and H.R. 2088 (with over 50 cosponsors!).
I am posting all the information I have readily available, fall is here, congress is back in session, it's time to get involved and convince congress to PASS these bills!
The bill this article references is H.R. 1603, the "Fairness in firearms testing act".
Failure to act on these bills may not doom the republican party, but it has certainly weakened my support, forcing me to seriously consider alternate parties!
Fairness in Firearm Testing Act (Introduced in House)
HR 1603 IH
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1603
To require the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to make video recordings of the examination and testing of firearms and ammunition, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 13, 2005
Mr. GINGREY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To require the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to make video recordings of the examination and testing of firearms and ammunition, and for other purposes.
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 `Fairness in Firearm Testing Act'.
SEC. 2. VIDEO RECORDING OF EXAMINATION AND TESTING OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION BY THE BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS, AND EXPLOSIVES.
Section 1111 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 531) is amended by adding at the end the following:
`(e) Additional Responsibilities Regarding Examination and Testing of Firearms and Ammunition-
`(1) VIDEO RECORDING REQUIRED- The Bureau shall make a video recording of the entire process of the examination and testing by the Bureau of an item for the purpose of determining, pursuant to section 921(a)(3), 922(o), 922(p), or subsection (a)(3), (a)(4), (d), or (e) of section 925 of title 18, United States Code, or section 5845(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, whether the item is a firearm and if so, the type of firearm, or of determining pursuant to section 921(a)(17) of title 18, United States Code, whether the item is ammunition, and shall not edit or erase any recording made pursuant to this paragraph.
`(2) AVAILABILITY-
`(A) TO OWNERS- On request of a person who claims an ownership interest in an item with respect to which a recording is made under paragraph (1), the Bureau shall make available to the person, without charge, a digital video disc that contains a copy of the recording.
`(B) TO DEFENDANTS- The Bureau shall make available to a defendant in a criminal proceeding involving an item with respect to which a recording is made under paragraph (1) a digital video disc that contains a copy of the recording.
`(3) ADMISSIBILITY AS EVIDENCE- An item which the Bureau has determined is a firearm or a type of firearm or ammunition pursuant to any provision of law specified in paragraph (1) shall not be admissible as evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding unless--
`(A) the Bureau has complied with paragraph (2) with respect to the item; or
`(B) such compliance has been waived, in writing, by the person against whom the item is offered as evidence.'.
The main effect of the bill would be to force ATFE to tighten up their standards and behave rationally, it would have little or no effect on LEGITIMATE prosecutions!
HR 1703 IH
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1703
To restore the second amendment rights of all Americans.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 19, 2005
Mr. PAUL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To restore the second amendment rights of all Americans.
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 `Second Amendment Protection Act of 2005'.
SEC. 2. REPEAL OF FEDERAL HARASSMENT PERIOD.
Public Law 103-159 is repealed, and any provisions of law amended or repealed by such Act are restored or revived as if such Act had not been enacted.
SEC. 3. REPEAL OF UNCONSTITUTIONAL DISTINCTION.
(a) Section 5845(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
(1) by striking `which the Secretary finds is generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes'; and
(2) by striking `which the owner intends to use solely for sporting purposes'.
(b) Section 921(a)(4)(B) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking `which the Attorney General finds is generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes'.
(c) Section 921(a)(4) of such title is amended in the 2nd sentence by striking `which the owner intends to use solely for sporting, recreational, or cultural purposes'.
(d) Section 921(a)(17)(C) of such title is amended by striking `a projectile which the Attorney General finds is primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes,'.
(e) Section 923(j) of such title is amended by striking `devoted to the collection, competitive use, or other sporting use of firearms in the community'.
(f) Section 922(r) of such title is amended by striking `of this chapter as not being particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes'.
(g) Section 925(a)(3) of such title is amended by striking `determined by the Attorney General to be generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes and'.
(h) Section 925(a)(4) of such title is amended by striking `(A) determined by the Attorney General to be generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes, or determined by the Department of Defense to be a type of firearm normally classified as a war souvenir, and (B)'.
(i) Section 925(d)(3) of such title is amended by striking `and is generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes'.
(j) Section 925(e)(2) of such title is amended by striking `provided that such handguns are generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes'.
(k) Section 922 of such title is amended in each of subsections (a)(5), (a)(9), and (b)(3) by striking `lawful sporting purposes' and inserting `lawful purposes'.
SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The provisions of this Act shall take effect immediately upon enactment.
H.R. 2088
H.R.2088
Title: To provide an amnesty period during which veterans and their family members can register certain firearms in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Gibbons, Jim [NV-2] (introduced 5/4/2005) Cosponsors (55)
Latest Major Action: 5/4/2005 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Rep Akin, W. Todd [MO-2] - 5/4/2005
Rep Bachus, Spencer [AL-6] - 5/4/2005
Rep Baker, Richard H. [LA-6] - 5/4/2005
Rep Barrett, J. Gresham [SC-3] - 5/4/2005
Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6] - 5/4/2005
Rep Barton, Joe [TX-6] - 5/4/2005
Rep Bishop, Rob [UT-1] - 5/4/2005
Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] - 5/4/2005
Rep Bradley, Jeb [NH-1] - 5/4/2005
Rep Burgess, Michael C. [TX-26] - 5/4/2005
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] - 5/4/2005
Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] - 5/4/2005
Rep Cannon, Chris [UT-3] - 5/4/2005
Rep Cramer, Robert E. (Bud), Jr. [AL-5] - 5/4/2005
Rep Cunningham, Randy (Duke) [CA-50] - 5/4/2005
Rep Deal, Nathan [GA-10] - 5/4/2005
Rep Duncan, John J., Jr. [TN-2] - 5/4/2005
Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8] - 5/4/2005
Rep Feeney, Tom [FL-24] - 5/4/2005
Rep Franks, Trent [AZ-2] - 5/4/2005
Rep Goode, Virgil H., Jr. [VA-5] - 5/4/2005
Rep Hall, Ralph M. [TX-4] - 5/4/2005
Rep Hefley, Joel [CO-5] - 5/4/2005
Rep Herger, Wally [CA-2] - 5/4/2005
Rep Hostettler, John N. [IN-8] - 5/4/2005
Rep Hunter, Duncan [CA-52] - 5/4/2005
Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] - 5/4/2005
Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] - 5/4/2005
Rep Kennedy, Mark R. [MN-6] - 5/4/2005
Rep King, Steve [IA-5] - 5/4/2005
Rep Kingston, Jack [GA-1] - 5/4/2005
Rep Kuhl, John R. "Randy", Jr. [NY-29] - 5/4/2005
Rep Lewis, Ron [KY-2] - 5/4/2005
Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] - 5/4/2005
Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] - 5/4/2005
Rep Mollohan, Alan B. [WV-1] - 5/4/2005
Rep Musgrave, Marilyn N. [CO-4] - 5/12/2005
Rep Otter, C. L. (Butch) [ID-1] - 5/4/2005
Rep Pearce, Stevan [NM-2] - 5/4/2005
Rep Peterson, John E. [PA-5] - 5/4/2005
Rep Putnam, Adam H. [FL-12] - 5/16/2005
Rep Rogers, Mike D. [AL-3] - 5/4/2005
Rep Ross, Mike [AR-4] - 5/4/2005
Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] - 5/4/2005
Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] - 5/4/2005
Rep Shimkus, John [IL-19] - 5/4/2005
Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] - 5/4/2005
Rep Simpson, Michael K. [ID-2] - 5/4/2005
Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] - 5/4/2005
Rep Tancredo, Thomas G. [CO-6] - 5/4/2005
Rep Taylor, Gene [MS-4] - 5/4/2005
Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] - 5/4/2005
Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. [OH-12] - 5/4/2005
Rep Whitfield, Ed [KY-1] - 5/4/2005
Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] - 5/4/2005
These are the only two so far to add their names AFTER the bill was introduced!
Rep Musgrave, Marilyn N. [CO-4] - 5/12/2005
Rep Putnam, Adam H. [FL-12] - 5/16/2005\
We clearly need to work harder, I am unsure how many sponsors are needed to get this bill out of committee for passage, but 55 is apparently not enough! ('')
Thanks for the link. Very interesting stuff. I skimmed thru it quickly and am going back to read thru in more detail. This part did stand out to me, though: "ask media personalities in your city or town why they back Nazi based laws." Good point.