Gun Legislation Roundup - 111th Congress

Too often on gun-right forums there is an excess of emotion, and a deficit of information. The reaction to H.R. 45 is a case in point. While that legislation is a potential threat to gun rights in most of the United States (I live in California, where a system much like the one proposed in H.R. 45 is already in effect), it is not the only firearms related legislation being proposed.

The following is a listing from Congress' Website Thomas in which the word "firearms" is present:

H.R.17 : To protect the right to obtain firearms for security, and to use firearms in defense of self, family, or home, and to provide for the enforcement of such right. Cosponsors (8)

H.R.45 : To provide for the implementation of a system of licensing for purchasers of certain firearms and for a record of sale system for those firearms, and for other purposes. Cosponsors (None)

H.R.197 : To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide a national standard in accordance with which nonresidents of a State may carry concealed firearms in the State. Cosponsors (12)

H.R.256 : To enhance Federal enforcement of hate crimes, and for other purposes. Cosponsors (None)

H.R.257 : To prevent children's access to firearms. Cosponsors (None)

H.R.265 : To target cocaine kingpins and address sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. Cosponsors (15)

H.R.442 : 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. Cosponsors (9)

H.R.495 : To authorize additional resources to identify and eliminate illicit sources of firearms smuggled into Mexico for use by violent drug trafficking organizations, and for other purposes. Cosponsors (4)

H.R.623 : To provide for greater judicial discretion in sentencing for certain firearms offenses committed in exceptional circumstances. Cosponsors (None)

H.R.675 : To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide police officers, criminal investigators, and game law enforcement officers of the Department of Defense with authority to execute warrants, make arrests, and carry firearms. Cosponsors (None)

H.R.1074 : To amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to update certain procedures applicable to commerce in firearms and remove certain Federal restrictions on interstate firearms transactions. Cosponsors (None)

S.205 : A bill to authorize additional resources to identify and eliminate illicit sources of firearms smuggled into Mexico for use by violent drug trafficking organizations, and for other purposes. Cosponsors (6)

S.371 : A bill to amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to allow citizens who have concealed carry permits from the State in which they reside to carry concealed firearms in another State that grants concealed carry permits, if the individual complies with the laws of the State. Cosponsors (17)

Note the number of cosponsors for the various bills. H.R. 45 has none. H.R. 45 was introduced in the previous Congress as well, and it never got out of committee then either. Without cosponsors, a bill has virtually no chance of becoming law.

However, look at two bills attempting to regularize some kind of national right to carry concealed weapons, S.371 and H.R. 197, which have 17 and 12 cosponsors respectively. It would seem that not all is doom and gloom with gun rights in the current Congress.

I encourage all who care about gun rights, or any other type of issue before Congress, to use Thomas to track the content and progress of legislation that is of concern. We don't have to take anyone's word for anything. We can see the raw data and decide for ourselves, and then contact our representatives to let them know where we stand on the issues.

"Yes We Can!"

Sorry, couldn't resist.