Posted on 03/04/2013 7:52:21 PM PST by xzins
The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to vote Thursday on a bipartisan gun safety measure designed to curb illegal gun trafficking and purchasing.
The bill, which would toughen the penalties for those who purchase a gun illegally for others to up to 15 years and make gun trafficking a felony, has attracted the most bipartisan support so far of four measures headed for the committee.
The measure is a marriage of a gun-trafficking bill designed by Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont and chairman of the committee, and a similar bill that was being put together between Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat of New York, and Mark Steven Kirk, Republican of Illinois. It will be co-sponsored by Senators Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, and Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut.
Most significantly, the bill has received intense interest from Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, who has a strong rating from the National Rifle Association.
A proposal to reinstate an assault weapons ban, which would also ban certain high-capacity magazines, is unlikely to attract Republican votes and would have almost no chance of passing the full Senate, should it even get out of the committee.
“The absence of any federal law defining gun trafficking as a crime in this country is shocking,” Ms. Gillibrand said in a statement. She added: “By cracking down on straw purchasers, illegal gun traffickers and their vast criminal networks, we can stop the flow of illegal guns and reduce gun crime. I look forward to working with all of our colleagues on both side of the aisle to pass this important piece of legislation.”
(Excerpt) Read more at thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com ...
S 54 IS
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 54
To increase public safety by punishing and deterring firearms trafficking.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 22 (legislative day, January 3), 2013
Mr. LEAHY (for himself and Mr. DURBIN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To increase public safety by punishing and deterring firearms trafficking.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the ‘Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2013’.
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. Punishing and deterring straw purchasing of firearms.
Sec. 4. Amendments to section 922(a)(6).
Sec. 5. Amendments to section 922(d).
Sec. 6. Amendments to section 924(h).
Sec. 7. Amendments to section 924(k).
(a) In General- Chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘Sec. 932. Straw purchasing of firearms
‘(a) Any person (other than a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer) who knowingly purchases any firearm for, on behalf of, or with intent to transfer it to, any other person, if that firearm has moved in or otherwise affected interstate or foreign commerce, or attempts or conspires to do so, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 20 years or both. For purposes of this section, the term ‘purchases’ includes the receipt of any firearm from pawn or on consignment by a person who does not own the firearm.
‘(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to any firearm that is lawfully purchased by a person--
‘(1) to be given as a bona fide gift to a recipient who provided no service or tangible thing of value to acquire the firearm, unless the person knows or has reason to believe such recipient is prohibited by Federal, State, or local law from possessing, receiving, selling, shipping, transporting, transferring, or otherwise disposing of the firearm; or
‘(2) to be given to a bona fide winner of an organized raffle, contest, or auction conducted in accordance with law and sponsored by a national, State, or local organization or association, unless the person knows or has reason to believe such recipient is prohibited by Federal, State, or local law from possessing, purchasing, receiving, selling, shipping, transporting, transferring, or otherwise disposing of the firearm.
‘(c) If any violation of subsection (a) is committed knowing or with reasonable cause to believe that any firearm involved will be used to commit a crime of violence, the person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than 30 years.
‘Sec. 933. Forfeiture and fines
‘(a)(1) Any person convicted of a violation of this chapter shall forfeit to the United States, irrespective of any provision of State law--
‘(A) any property constituting, or derived from, any proceeds the person obtained, directly or indirectly, as the result of such violation; and
‘(B) any of the person’s property used, or intended to be used, in any manner or part, to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, such violation.
‘(2) The court, in imposing sentence on a person convicted of a violation of this chapter, shall order, in addition to any other sentence imposed pursuant to this chapter, that the person forfeit to the United States all property described in paragraph (1).
‘(b) A defendant who derives profits or other proceeds from an offense under this chapter may be fined not more than the greater of--
‘(1) the fine otherwise authorized by this part; and
‘(2) the amount equal to twice the gross profits or other proceeds of the offense under this chapter.’.
(b) Title III Authorization- Section 2516(1)(n) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘and 924(n)’ and inserting ‘, 924, and 932’.
(c) Racketeering Amendment- Section 1961(1)(B) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘section 932 (relating to trafficking in firearms),’.
(d) Money Laundering Amendment- Section 1956(c)(7)(D) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘section 924(n)’ and inserting ‘sections 924(n) and 932’.
(e) Directive to Sentencing Commission- Pursuant to its authority under section 994 of title 28, United States Code, and in accordance with this section, the United States Sentencing Commission shall review and amend its guidelines and policy statements to ensure that persons convicted of an offense under section 932 of title 18, United States Code and other offenses applicable to the straw purchases of firearms are subject to increased penalties in comparison to those currently provided by the guidelines and policy statements for such straw purchasing offenses. In carrying out this subsection, the Commission shall ensure that the sentencing guidelines and policy statements reflect Congress’ intent that the applicable guideline penalties be increased and the guidelines and policy statements reflect the extremely serious nature of the offenses described in the amendment made by subsection (a), the incidence of such offenses, and the need for an effective deterrent and appropriate punishment to prevent such offenses.
(f) Technical and Conforming Amendment- The table of sections of chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘932. Straw purchasing of firearms.
‘933. Forfeiture and fines.’.
Section 922(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘For purposes of paragraph (6), in addition to the eligibility of a person to ship, transport, receive, or possess any firearm or ammunition, information concerning the identity, age, place of residence (to include address), and citizenship or immigration status of a person shall be considered material to the lawfulness of the sale or other disposition of a firearm or ammunition’.
Section 922(d) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘or’ at the end;
(2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and inserting ‘;’; and
(3) by striking the matter following paragraph (9) and inserting the following:
‘(10) is prohibited by State or local law from possessing, receiving, selling, shipping, transporting, transferring, or otherwise disposing of the firearm or ammunition;
‘(11) intends to sell or otherwise dispose of the firearm or ammunition to a person described in any of paragraphs (1) through (10); or
‘(12) intends to sell or otherwise dispose of the firearm or ammunition in furtherance of a crime of violence or drug trafficking offense or to export the firearm or ammunition in violation of law.
This subsection shall not apply with respect to the sale or disposition of a firearm or ammunition to a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector who pursuant to subsection (b) of section 925 is not precluded from dealing in firearms or ammunition, or to a person who has been granted relief from disabilities pursuant to subsection (c) of section 925.’.
Section 924 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (h) and inserting the following:
‘(h)(1) Whoever knowingly receives or transfers a firearm or ammunition, or attempts or conspires to do so, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that such firearm or ammunition will be used to commit a crime of violence (as defined in subsection (c)(3)), a drug trafficking crime (as defined in subsection (c)(2)), or a crime under the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.), the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (21 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.), or section 212(a)(2)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)(C)) shall be imprisoned not more than 30 years, fined in accordance with this title, or both.
‘(2) No term of imprisonment imposed on a person under this subsection shall run concurrently with any term of imprisonment imposed on the person under section 932.’.
Section 924 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (k) and inserting the following:
‘(k)(1) A person who, with intent to engage in or to promote conduct that--
‘(A) is punishable under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 951 et seq.), or chapter 705 of title 46;
‘(B) violates any law of a State relating to any controlled substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. 802); or
‘(C) constitutes a crime of violence (as defined in subsection (c)(3)),
smuggles or knowingly brings into the United States, a firearm or ammunition, or attempts or conspires to do so, shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, fined under this title, or both.
‘(2) A person who, with intent to engage in or to promote conduct that--
‘(A) would be punishable under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 951 et seq.), or chapter 705 of title 46, if the conduct had occurred within the United States; or
‘(B) would constitute a crime of violence (as defined in subsection (c)(3)) for which the person may be prosecuted in a court of the United States, if the conduct had occurred within the United States,
smuggles or knowingly takes out of the United States, a firearm or ammunition, or attempts or conspires to do so, shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, fined under this title, or both.’.
So they will crack down on people buying their sons Ruger 10/22’s for Christmas, that’s what will happen. Give them an inch and they take a mile.
The devil’s always in the details.
So, if I’m going on vacation and leave my guns with my neighbor, and his kid is, unknown to me, illegally doing controlled substances, then it appears that I’m screwed unless I can prove that I didn’t know the kid was doing oxycontin.
Is that right???
Gett out of jail free card loophole...
(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to any firearm that is lawfully purchased by a person—
‘(1) to be given as a bona fide gift to a recipient who provided no service or tangible thing of value...
This is one of those kind of bills that they use to pile on and add extra charges to someone they’re already trying to nail.
Also, a lot of this bill involves the eye of the beholder.
And, what if one state has more restrictive laws than another state.
The law says: ***unless the person knows or has reason to believe such recipient is prohibited by Federal, State, or local law from possessing, receiving, selling, shipping, transporting, transferring, or otherwise disposing of the firearm; or***
see the word “unless”
Sounds like hubby would not be able to buy me any firearms for Valentine’s Day. Nope, don’t like this.
Yet our fearless leaders have let fast and furious fade away with only a whimper.
If Kirk is in support of this bill, then it’s a bad one.
Trying to demonstrate federal superiority over state laws like the Firearms Freedom Act in Montana and others....
Hmm...so there seems to be a question of what laws are superior - last time that didn't work out so well.
Folks would do well to learn from history - This time around, don't invade Pennsylvania to acquire boots (avoiding a Gettysburg II) and make sure your forces have at least one canon factory before hostilities start.
‘(h)(1) Whoever knowingly receives or transfers a firearm or ammunition, or attempts or conspires to do so, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that such firearm or ammunition will be used to commit a crime of violence (as defined in subsection (c)(3)), a drug trafficking crime (as defined in subsection (c)(2)), or a crime under the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.), the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (21 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.), or section 212(a)(2)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)(C)) shall be imprisoned not more than 30 years, fined in accordance with this title, or both.
See post #4
Could this be used to “pile on” to the offenses committed by that bunch?
So hubby could buy me a firearm...but only if I no longer cook for him, or do his laundry, or anything else that someone might pay for...
I do not trust politicians, they create laws that say one thing, are enforced however and whenever authorities choose, and then are subject to opinions of judges and juries. No thanks!
Not really, if you know someone well enough to want to buy them a firearm or are related to them they likely have done something for you at one time or another that could be considered providing a service or tangible thing of value.
Want to buy your son a firearm? If so you better not ask him to take out the trash or buy you a present on your birthday...
That was my first thought when I read it.
What's wrong with the laws as they currently are? This law will do what the other 20,000 haven't been yet able to do?
GIGO and our liberties diminished as a byproduct. When will our fellow Americans learn that government isn't the answer, it's the problem.
There is a section that deals with that, but you’re right, anything they do is “infringement”.
I didn’t read the whole thing but it appears you’d have to either know or have a reasonable suspicion that such was going on. Of course, our masters get to decide what “reasonable” means.
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