SPACE'S ATF REFORM LEGISLATION GAINS SUPPORT OF 100 DEFENDERS OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT

http://space.house.gov ^ | July 9, 2009 | NA

[neverdem]

- Cosponsor List Crosses 100 in This Congress -

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hailing a major milestone in the effort to protect law-abiding gun dealers from excessive and overzealous actions on the part of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE), Congressman Zack Space (OH-18) today announced that his BATFE reform legislation has gained the support of over 100 Members of Congress. While the size of a cosponsorship list does not guarantee a vote on the bill, gaining 100 bipartisan cosponsors shows widespread support and momentum.

“My colleagues are waking up to the assault on the Second Amendment being perpetrated by a culture within the ATF that rewards agents for denying gun licenses,” Space said. “I applaud their willingness to stand up to protect law-abiding citizens from overzealous federal agents.”

“Every day that goes by without action on this issue is another day of lost liberty. ATF reform cannot wait. Crossing this milestone will only redouble my efforts to show House leadership that we are serious about this bill,” Space continued.

The bipartisan BATFE Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2009, which Space introduced with Rep. Steve King (IA-05), would replace the all-or-nothing rules for punishment with a graduated system, remove promotion guidelines that reward agents for the quantity of arrests and citations, and it would require the BATFE to establish intent behind minor violations. BATFE regulations now are so restrictive that if a person writes “y” instead of “yes” on a gun purchase form, the application is frequently rejected. 

This legislation would:

• Create a system to provide more flexibility in punishing those who are found to have violated gun sales laws.
• Establish a solid legal requirement for determining the willful violation of the law.
• Create specific sentencing guidelines for dangerous felons convicted of a gun offense.
• Set limitations on the availability of electronic gun owner information to protect the privacy of law-abiding citizens.
• Allow security companies and ammunition manufacturers to purchase machine guns for product testing and international security personnel training.
• Ease the restriction on the importation of replacement parts for semiautomatic rifles.
• Direct that a suspension or fine be vacated if a court determines a licensee did not willfully violate the law with attorney’s fees awarded to a cleared defendant.
• Direct that the number of warnings, amount of fines, or suspensions or revocations shall not be a factor in firing, promoting, or transferring agents.

Although not identical, this legislation is similar to a bill Congressmen Space and Steve King (IA-05) introduced during the 110^th Congress.

Congressman Space has represented Ohio's 18th Congressional District since 2007. He is working to restore integrity to the office and create the conditions to bring new industry and jobs to Ohio.

[neverdem]

This should be a piece of cake with the blue dogs and the GOP. What's wrong with Congressman John Boehner, the minority leader?

[Lurker]

If he's serious he can add this sentence to every single piece of Legislation:

"Title 18 USC 922 is hereby repealed."

[Rudder]

He is working to restore integrity to the office and create the conditions to bring new industry and jobs to Ohio.

Sure...by authoring the latest SCHIP tobacco tax bill and by voting for the Waxman-Markey cap and tax bill. His conservative rating is 20 while Kucinich's is 40. (Boehner's is mid 80's.)

[neverdem]

Sure...by authoring the latest SCHIP tobacco tax bill and by voting for the Waxman-Markey cap and tax bill. His conservative rating is 20 while Kucinich's is 40. (Boehner's is mid 80's.)

Is he your Congressman? A lot of these blue dogs in competitive districts are going to be vulnerable if the economy is still in the tank next year.

[Rudder]

Yep, Space is my congressman. With him, along with Sherrod Brown and George Voinovich as my senators, I’m screwed.

[wastedyears]

"Title 18 USC 922 is hereby repealed."

x2

[SuperLuminal]

Can we spell “VETO”?

[neverdem]

Voinovich is almost history. Please don’t replace him with a RINO. Have you considered politics?

[Still Thinking]

Direct that a suspension or fine be vacated if a court determines a licensee did not willfully violate the law with attorney’s fees awarded to a cleared defendant.

It should be multiple times the attorney's fees, say 3x. Taking them to court can be an expensive proposition, and if the possible outcomes are you get soaked or you break even, lots of people will still walk away. Plus 1x attorney's fees may not be adequate disincentive for whomever within ATF is making the decision to pursue a particular case not to pursue the marginals and losers. Still a good start punishing them in any way whatsoever. Next should also be some form of personal liability if an agent is found to have acted in bad faith.

[Rudder]

Have you considered politics?

Only as a cathartic.