HR 509 National
Abolish the ATF
To abolish the ATF and transfer its functions to the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration.
Position: Oppose
Status: Died in a previous Congress
Legislation
HR 38 National
Federally Mandated Concealed Carry
The House, including Congressmen Schrader and Walden, voted December 6, 2017 to pass HR 38, Concealed Carry. This bill will endanger law enforcement, private citizens, and allow people who have been convicted of violent misdemeanors carry hidden, concealed guns in all states.
Bills have been introduced in both the House and Senate (H.R. 38; S.B. 446) that would mandate “concealed carry reciprocity.” This means that each state would be required to honor a concealed carry permit issued by another state.
Currently, each state has its own rules about which carry permits, if any, from other states it will honor. But under concealed carry reciprocity, for example, Maryland – a state with broad discretion in granting permits – would be required to honor a permit granted by the state of Utah – a state which grants permits without discretion, even to out of state residents.
Maryland would then have to allow the Utah permit holder to carry a concealed firearm everywhere within Maryland that a local permit holder may carry.
In addition, 12 states are permitless carry states. That means untrained residents from those states who may legally possess firearms in their state could legally carry concealed firearms – without obtaining a permit – even in the other 38 states that normally require permits.
Oregon law does not require a concealed carry applicant to even touch a gun before obtaining a permit to carry a loaded, hidden gun. While some counties require hands-on training, Oregon law does not.
Over 200,000 Oregonians currently hold concealed handgun licenses and are permitted to carry loaded, hidden guns into sensitive places including public schools, graded K through 12.
Reciprocity is similar to allowing people who have never even been in a car to have drivers licenses and forcing other states to honor those licenses. Oregon state law does not require an applicant for a concealed handgun license (CHL) to even touch a gun to obtain a CHL. (Some Oregon counties do require CHL applicants to shoot a firearm before granting a CHL but Oregon state law does not.)
HR 38 does not require high standards for carrying concealed guns. We are all at higher risk of gunshot injury when untrained people carry guns.
Position: Oppose
Status: Died in a previous Congress
HR 367 National
Deadly Silence Act/Hearing Protection Act
Currently, firearm silencers (called suppressor by the industry) are regulated under the National Firearms Act (NFA) which also regulates the sale and possession of automatic rifles. (Yes, people still own fully automatic rifles even though they are heavily regulated.)
The Deadly Silence Act will allow gunfire suppressors to be deregulated and be sold to the public without regard to the dangers posed by silencers.
The Boston Globe reported on July 16, 2017, that "the National Hearing Conservation Association recently declared that silencers provide inadequate protection against hearing loss — recommending ear plugs or other protection even when silencers are in use." (http://bit.ly/2v7KXvt)
History on HR 367 from the American Suppressor Association: "In 2011, the American Suppressor Association formed with one primary goal in mind: remove suppressors from the purview of the National Firearms Act. For years, we have quietly worked behind the scenes in Washington, D.C. to set the stage for [the] Hearing Protection Act..." http://americansuppressorassociation.com/hearing-protection-act/
From The Boston Globe:
"Lifting the restrictions on sales, says Robert Spitzer, a political science professor at the State University of New York at Cortland and author of five books on gun policy, is really about boosting the fortunes of the gun industry.
'A lot of money is made in the gun industry from accessories,' he says. 'This is especially true of the popular AR-15-like weapons — assault-type weapons — which are sometimes referred to as ‘Barbie dolls for men.’
"The sound of gunfire, Spitzer says, is actually an important safety feature. Joggers running in the woods or pedestrians walking city streets should be able to hear gunshots clearly so they can avoid danger."
The American Suppressor Association (ASA) claims they only want to protect the hearing of gun enthusiasts. (Ceasefire Oregon suggests ear muffs which are inexpensive and effective.) The ASA professes to be concerned about the "tender ears of young shooters." Too bad they are not concerned about the tender bodies of young gunshot victims.
Position: Oppose
Status: Died in a previous Congress
H.R. 1076 National
Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015
Amends the federal criminal code to grant the Attorney General the authority to deny the transfer of firearms or the issuance of a federal firearms and explosives license to any individual if the Attorney General: (1) determines that such individual has been engaged in or has provided material support or resources for terrorist activities, and (2) has a reasonable belief that such individual may use a firearm or explosive in connection with terrorism. Allows any individual whose firearm or explosives license application has been denied to bring legal action challenging the denial.
Prohibits the sale or distribution of firearms or explosives to any individual whom the Attorney General has determined to be engaged in terrorist activities.
Position: Support
Status: In House
H.R. 3411 National
Fix Gun Checks Act of 2015 (HR 3411/S 2934)
• Expands Brady background checks to all gun sales to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people like felons, fugitives and domestic abusers.
• Improves reporting of prohibited purchasers to the National Instant Check System (NICS).
• Requires federal agencies to certify that they have provided appropriate records to NICS.
• Incorporates and expands regulation about people determined to be adjudicated mentally ill.
• Requires gun owners to report their lost or stolen firearm(s) within 48 hours.
Information provided by the Brady Campaign.
Position: Support
Status: H.R. 3411 is In the House, S. 2934 is in the Senate
SA 4858 National
Collins No Fly, No Buy Amendment
To authorize the Attorney General to deny the transfer of firearms and explosives and Federal firearms and explosives licenses and permits to known or suspected terrorists.
Position: Support
Status: SA 4858 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Collins. Type of Action: Floor Consideration
Amdt. 4751 National
The Grassley Background Check Amendment
Amdt. 4751 to the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill (S.2837) filed by Sen. Charles Grassley. Senator Grassley’s amendment would repeal longstanding law and make it legal for people with dangerous mental illnesses to buy guns. Specifically, this proposal would allow people who have been involuntarily committed due to severe mental illness to buy a gun immediately after leaving a psychiatric hospital and enable veterans who suffer from severe mental illness, and who are at risk of suicide, to legally buy guns. Furthermore, it would invalidate hundreds of thousands of mental health records already in the background check system.
Position: Oppose
Status: Failed to pass a vote at 2:30 PM PDT, June 20, 2016. Nay: 53; Yea: 47
Amdt. 4750 National
The Murphy Universal Background Checks Amendment
To ensure that all individuals who should be prohibited from buying a firearm are listed in the national instant criminal background check system and require a background check for every firearm sale.
Position: Support
Status: Failed to pass vote on June 20, 2016. Nay: 56; Yea: 44
S. 4269 National
Assault Weapons Ban
Introduced by Congressman David N. Cicilline in 2015, the Assault Weapons Ban will prohibit the sale, transfer, production and importation of new military-style weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Specifically, it prohibits:
-Semi-automatic rifles and handguns with a military-style feature that can accept a detachable magazine;
-Semi-automatic rifles and handguns with a fixed magazine that can hold more than 10 rounds;
-Semi-automatic shotguns with a military-style feature;
-Any ammunition feeding device that can hold more than 10 rounds;
-And 157 specifically-named and listed firearms.
In addition the bill extends the period for law enforcement to complete a background check from 3 days to 14 days.
Position: Support
Status: In the Senate
Amdt. 4720 National
Close the Terror Gap
The Feinstein Amendment 4720 prevents known or suspected terrorists from buying guns and ensures that DOJ/FBI would have been notified of the Orlando shooter's attempted purchase.
Specifically, the Feinstein Amendment 4720 gives the Attorney General the ability to deny a gun transfer to a known or suspected terrorist:
-based on the totality of the circumstances;
-where the transferee represents a threat to public safety, and
-there is a reasonable suspicion that the transferee is or has been engaged in terrorist activity.
In addition, Amendment 4720 provides a due process appeal consistent with remedial procedures for gun denials and allows the Department of Justice (DOJ) to develop procedures to protect classified information.
The Amendment also requires the Attorney General to establish procedures to ensure the Attorney General (or designee) is notified when a person investigated within the past five years for terrorism attempts a gun purchase. This would ensure that DOJ/FBI would have been notified of the Orlando shooter's attempted purchase.
Position: Support
Status: Failed to pass a vote at 2:30 PM PDT, June 20, 2016. Nay: 53; Yea: 47