POPVOX
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Firearms and Gun Control

12 min read

4/28/14: This month, the US Supreme Court met privately to discuss the latest cases seeking review — including a Second Amendment case. According to the Court's docket, two meetings involved discussion of Drake v. Jerejian, a Second Amendment case centering on the constitutionality of New Jersey's Handgun Permit Law. The issues before the Court are (1) whether the Second Amendment secures a right to carry handguns outside the home for self-defense; and (2) whether New Jersey officials violate the Second Amendment by requiring that individuals wishing to exercise their right to carry a handgun for self-defense first prove a “justifiable need” for doing so. (Source: SCOTUSblog)

As the Supreme Court considers whether to take this case, we thought it was a good time to see what Congress is considering regarding the Second Amendment, firearms and gun control.

Second Amendment, Firearms and Gun Control Legislation

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Recently Introduced

  • HR 4405

    Preventing Gun Violence Act

    Closes a loophole so violent juveniles cannot get guns after they become old enough to purchase one, according to bill sponsor. 

  • HR 4380

    Gun Confiscation and Registration Prevention Act

    Cuts off NICS Improvement Amendments Act and Community Oriented Policing Services [COPS] Program funding to any state that “maintains a registry of gun ownership” or “conducts a program of gun confiscation directed at any firearm which is not prohibited by Federal law or any group of persons who are not prohibited from possessing a firearm under Federal law,” according to bill sponsor.

  • S 2105

    Gun-Owner Registration Information Protection Act (or GRIP Act)

    To prohibit the Federal funding of a State firearms ownership database. Would clarify existing law that bars the federal government from storing information acquired during the firearms background check process.  The GRIP Act would extend that prohibition to prevent any federal funding from being used to contribute to nonfederal gun registries, according to bill sponsor.

  • HRes 468

    Gun Violence as a Public Health Concern

    Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that gun violence is a public health issue and Congress should enact by the end of the 113th Congress comprehensive Federal legislation that protects the Second Amendment and keeps communities safe and healthy, including expanding enforceable background checks for all commercial gun sales, improving the mental health system in the United States, and making gun trafficking and straw purchasing a Federal crime.

  • S 1908

    Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act

    To allow reciprocity for the carrying of certain concealed firearms.

  • HR 4135

    Firearm Importation Fairness Act

    To clarify the standard required for the importation of sporting arms into the United States.

  • S 2068

    Handgun Trigger Safety Act

    To provide for the development and use of technology for personalized handguns, to require that, within 3 years, all handguns manufactured or sold in, or imported into, the United States incorporate such technology.

  • S 1996

    Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act

    A comprehensive Senate sportsmen’s bill that enhances opportunities for hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation; improves access to federal lands and helps to boost the outdoor recreation economy, according to bill sponsors.

  • HR 3933

    Protecting Gun Owners in Bankruptcy Act

    Amends federal bankruptcy law to permit an individual debtor to exempt from the property of the estate in bankruptcy the debtor's aggregate interest, not to exceed $3,000, in a single firearm or firearms.

Relating to Banning Specific Weapons and Ammunition

Relating to Background Checks

  • HR 1565 The Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act: To protect Second Amendment rights, ensure that all individuals who should be prohibited from buying a firearm are listed in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, and provide a responsible and consistent background check process. 
  • HR 1605 The Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act: To protect Second Amendment rights, ensure that all individuals who should be prohibited from buying a firearm are listed in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, and provide a responsible and consistent background check process.
  • S 729 The Disarm Criminals and Protect Communities Act: to protect law abiding citizens by preventing criminals from obtaining firearms.
  • S 649 The Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act: would 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.
  • S 374 The Fix Gun Checks Act: A bill 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.
  • S 22 The Gun Show Background Check Act: A bill to establish background check procedures for gun shows.
  • HR 141 Closing the ‘gun show loophole.’ To require criminal background checks on all firearms transactions occurring at gun shows.
  • HR 137 The Fix Gun Checks Act: 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.
  • HR 21 The NRA Members' Gun Safety Act: To provide for greater safety in the use of firearms.
  • Compromise The Toomey-Schumer-Manchin Amendment: would require states and the federal government to send all necessary records on criminals and the violently mentally ill to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). It also extends the existing background check system to gun shows and online sales.

Relating to Trafficking

Relating to Enforcement

Relating to the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty

  • HR 575 The Second Amendment Protection Act: The US should not adopt any treaty that poses a threat to national sovereignty or abridges any rights guaranteed by the US Constitution, such as the right to keep and bear arms, and to withhold funding from the United Nations unless the President certifies that the United Nations has not taken action to restrict, attempt to restrict, or otherwise adversely infringe upon the rights of individuals in the US to keep and bear arms, or abridge any of the other constitutionally protected rights of US citizens.
  • HCR 23 House Resolution expressing concerns about the US becoming a signatory to the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, or to any similar agreement on the arms trade.
  • SCR 7 Senate Resolution expressing concerns about the US becoming a signatory to the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, or to any similar agreement on the arms trade.

Relating to the Second Amendment

  • HR 3689 HR 3689: To restore Second Amendment rights in the District of Columbia.
  • HR 848 The Armed Prohibited Persons Act: to make grants to States to develop systems to retrieve firearms from armed prohibited persons. 
  • S 261 : To establish and clarify that Congress does not authorize persons convicted of dangerous crimes in foreign courts to freely possess firearms in the United States.
  • HR 575 The Second Amendment Protection Act: To express the sense of the Congress that the United States should not adopt any treaty that poses a threat to national sovereignty or abridges any rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution, such as the right to keep and bear arms, and to withhold funding from the United Nations unless the President certifies that the United Nations has not taken action to restrict, attempt to restrict, or otherwise adversely infringe upon the rights of individuals in the United States to keep and bear arms, or abridge any of the other constitutionally protected rights of citizens of the United States.
  • S 82 The Separation of Powers Restoration and Second Amendment Protection Act: A bill to provide that any executive action infringing on the Second Amendment has no force or effect, and to prohibit the use of funds for certain purposes.
  • HR 410 The Restore the Constitution Act: To provide that any executive action infringing on the Second Amendment has no force or effect, and to prohibit the use of funds for certain purposes.

Relating to Children and Schools

Relating to the Sale of Firearms and Ammunition

  • HR 3018 Gun Violence Prevention and Safe Communities Act: to increase the excise tax and special occupational tax in respect of firearms and to increase the transfer tax on any other weapon.
  • HR 3335 Firearms Interstate Commerce Reform Act: to update certain procedures applicable to commerce in firearms and remove certain Federal restrictions on interstate firearms transactions.
  • S 903 Alien Gun Violence Prevention Act: to prevent the sale of firearms to all “nonimmigrant aliens” and require any non-U.S. citizen attempting to purchase a firearm to reside for at least 90 days in the state of purchase, according to the bill sponsor. 
  • HR 2648 To prohibit the sale or other disposition of a firearm to, and the possession, shipment, transportation, or receipt of a firearm by, certain classes of high-risk individuals. 
  • HR 2361 A bill To limit the authority of States and local governments to impose new taxes, or to increase rates of existing taxes, payable with respect to the sale of certain firearms or ammunition or payable for background checks incident to sales of firearms or ammunition.
  • HR 1369 The Firearm Risk Protection Act: To prohibit the sale of a firearm to, and the purchase of a firearm by, a person who is not covered by appropriate liability insurance coverage.
  • HR 720 : To increase public safety by permitting the Attorney General to deny the transfer of a firearm or the issuance of firearms or explosives licenses to a known or suspected dangerous terrorist.
  • S 174 The Ammunition Background Check Act: A bill to appropriately restrict sales of ammunition.
  • S 35 The Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act: A bill to require face to face purchases of ammunition, to require licensing of ammunition dealers, and to require reporting regarding bulk purchases of ammunition.
  • HR 142 The Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act: To require face to face purchases of ammunition, to require licensing of ammunition dealers, and to require reporting regarding bulk purchases of ammunition.
  • HR 238 The Fire Sale Loophole Closing Act: To amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to restrict the ability of a person whose Federal license to import, manufacture, or deal in firearms has been revoked, whose application to renew such a license has been denied, or who has received a license revocation or renewal denial notice, to transfer business inventory firearms. 
  • HR 34 The Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act: 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.
  • HR 93 The Fire Sale Loophole Closing Act: To amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to restrict the ability of a person whose Federal license to import, manufacture, or deal in firearms has been revoked, whose application to renew such a license has been denied, or who has received a license revocation or renewal denial notice, to transfer business inventory firearms.
  • HR 404 The Straw Purchaser Penalty Enhancement Act: To enhance criminal penalties for straw purchasers of firearms.
  • HR 236 The Crackdown on Deadbeat Gun Dealers Act: To ensure greater accountability by licensed firearms dealers. 
  • S 34 The Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act: A bill to increase public safety by permitting the Attorney General to deny the transfer of firearms or the issuance of firearms and explosives licenses to known or suspected dangerous terrorists.

Relating to Gun Buybacks

Relating to Concealed Carry

Relating to Veterans and Active Duty Servicemembers

  • HR 3199 Safe Military Bases Act: To safeguard military and civilian personnel on military bases by repealing bans on military personnel carrying firearms.
  • HR 577 The Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act: To clarify the conditions under which certain persons may be treated as adjudicated mentally incompetent for certain purposes. 
  • HR 449 The Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act: To provide an amnesty period during which veterans and their family members can register certain firearms in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. 
  • HRes 40 House Resolution expressing that active duty military personnel who are stationed or residing in the District of Columbia should be permitted to exercise fully their rights under the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Relating to Licensing, Registration and Tracking Purchases

Related to Hunting and Recreational Shooting

Other Bills

Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

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