U.S. Senate Legislation This legislation, and the accompanying summary is taken directly from the United States Senate homepage. To search for the full text of any of these bills, visit www.senate.gov, and search for the corresponding bill number. (Updated 6-16-2003)

Pro Gun Bills S.659 Title: A bill to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages resulting from the misuse of their products by others. Sponsor: Sen Craig, Larry E. [ID] (introduced 3/19/2003) Cosponsors: 52 Related Bills: H.R.1036 Latest Major Action: 3/19/2003 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. SUMMARY AS OF: 3/19/2003--Introduced. Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act - Prohibits any qualified civil liability action from being brought in any State or Federal court and requires pending actions to be dismissed. Defines such an action to: (1) include an action brought against a manufacturer or seller of a firearm, ammunition, or a component of a firearm that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce, or against a trade association of such manufacturers or sellers, for damages resulting from the criminal or unlawful misuse of a firearm; and (2) exclude an action brought against persons who transfer a firearm knowing that it will be used to commit a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime; an action brought against a seller for negligent entrustment or negligence per se; an action in which a manufacturer or seller of a firearm willfully violated a State or Federal statute applicable to the sale or marketing of the firearm and the violation was a proximate cause of the harm for which relief is sought; an action for breach of contract or warranty in connection with the purchase of the firearm; or an action for physical injuries or property damage resulting directly from a defect in design or manufacture of the firearm when used as intended.

Anti Gun Bills S.217 Title: A bill to reinstate felony penalties for licensed gun dealers who fail to maintain records of sales. Sponsor: Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] (introduced 1/23/2003) Cosponsors: 1 Latest Major Action: 1/23/2003 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. SUMMARY AS OF: 1/23/2003--Introduced. Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to increase the penalty from one year to five years imprisonment (thus reinstating criminal felony penalties) for knowingly making false statements, representations, or entries in firearms records or for otherwise failing to maintain such records. S.969 Title: A bill to enhance the security and safety of the Nation by increasing the time allowed to track terrorists during periods of elevated alert, closing loopholes that have allowed terrorists to acquire firearms, maintaining records of certain handgun transfers during periods of heightened terrorist risk, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] (introduced 5/1/2003) Cosponsors: 3 Latest Major Action: 5/1/2003 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. S.469 Title: A bill to amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to require ballistics testing of all firearms manufactured and all firearms in custody of Federal agencies. Sponsor: Sen Kohl, Herb [WI] (introduced 2/27/2003) Cosponsors: 7 Latest Major Action: 2/27/2003 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. SUMMARY AS OF: 2/27/2003--Introduced. Technological Resource to Assist Criminal Enforcement (TRACE) Act - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to require a licensed manufacturer or importer of firearms to: (1) test fire manufactured or imported firearms as specified by the Attorney General; (2) prepare ballistics images of the fired bullet and cartridge casings; (3) make the records available to the Attorney General for entry into an electronic database; and (4) store the fired bullet and cartridge casings. Directs the Attorney General to assist firearm manufacturers and importers in complying with these requirements by: (1) acquiring, installing, and upgrading ballistics equipment and bullet and cartridge casing recovery equipment; (2) hiring or designating sufficient personnel to develop and maintain a ballistics database; (3) providing education about the role of ballistics; and (4) providing for the coordination among law enforcement, regulatory agencies, and the firearm industry to curb firearm-related crime and illegal firearm trafficking. Requires the Attorney General to: (1) establish an electronic database through which State and local law enforcement agencies can promptly access ballistics records that shall not include any identifying information regarding dealers, collectors, or purchasers of firearms; (2) require training for all ballistics examiners; (3) conduct mandatory ballistics testing of all firearms obtained or in the possession of the Department of Justice; and (4) report to Congress on the implementation of this Act. Prohibits the use of ballistics information of individual guns for prosecutorial purposes unless officials have a reasonable belief that a crime has been committed and that ballistics information would assist in the investigation. S.429.IS Title: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to regulate certain 50 caliber sniper weapons in the same manner as machine guns and other firearms, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] (introduced 2/24/2003) Cosponsors: 6 Latest Major Action: 2/24/2003 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. SUMMARY AS OF: 2/24/2003--Introduced. Anti-Terrorism Military Sniper Weapon Reclassification Act of 2003 - Amends Chapter 53 (Machine Guns, Destructive Devices, and Certain Other Firearms) of the Internal Revenue Code to include in the definition of the term "firearm" a 50 caliber sniper weapon. S.866 Title: A bill to amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to require the provision of a child safety lock in connection with the transfer of a handgun and provide safety standards for child safety locks. Sponsor: Sen Kohl, Herb [WI] (introduced 4/10/2003) Cosponsors: 6 Latest Major Action: 4/10/2003 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. SUMMARY AS OF: 4/10/2003--Introduced. Child Safety Lock Act of 2003 - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to prohibit a licensed manufacturer, importer, or dealer from selling, delivering, or transferring a handgun without a locking device to any person other than a licensed manufacturer, importer, or dealer, with exceptions for law enforcement and governmental entities. Specifies that nothing in this Act shall be construed to create a cause of action against any firearms dealer or any other person for civil liability, or establish any standard of care. Makes evidence regarding compliance or noncompliance with this Act inadmissible in a proceeding of any court, agency, board, or other entity, except with respect to an action to enforce this Act. Sets forth civil penalties (in addition to any administrative penalties) for related violations, including suspension or loss of license. Amends the Consumer Product Safety Act to direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to establish a consumer product safety standard for locking devices. S.448 Title: A bill to leave no child behind. Sponsor: Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] (introduced 2/26/2003) Cosponsors: 9 Latest Major Action: 2/26/2003 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. Amends the Federal criminal code to: (1) provide for the regulation of firearms transfers at gun shows; and (2) require child handgun safety locks on firearms. Amends the Consumer Product Safety Act to require child handgun safety locks. Prohibits weapons transfers to juveniles and imports of large capacity ammunition feeding devices. Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to establish grants for: (1) State and local domestic violence offender recordkeeping improvements; and (2) local and antigun violence media campaigns. Provides for regulation of Internet firearms transfers. Prohibits multiple handgun sales or purchases. This bill also covers numerous other aspects of education policy, and other non-firearm related subjects. To get the full text, go to www.senate.gov, and search for bill number S.448

Gun Crime Bills S.1243 Gun Trafficking Penalties Enhancement Act of 2003 (Introduced in Senate)[S.1243.IS] SHORT TITLE(S) AS INTRODUCED: Gun Trafficking Penalties Enhancement Act of 2003 OFFICIAL TITLE AS INTRODUCED: A bill to amend section 924, title 18, United States Code, to increase the maximum term of imprisonment for interstate firearms trafficking and to include interstate firearms trafficking in the definition of racketeering activity, and for other purposes. S.1062 Title: A bill to amend section 924 of title 18, United States Code, to increase the maximum term of imprisonment for offenses involving stolen firearms. Sponsor: Sen Campbell, Ben Nighthorse [CO] (introduced 5/14/2003) Cosponsors: (none) Latest Major Action: 5/14/2003 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. SUMMARY AS OF: 5/14/2003--Introduced. Stolen Gun Penalty Enhancement Act of 2003 - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to increase the maximum penalties for knowingly transporting or shipping in interstate or foreign commerce, receiving, possessing, concealing, storing, bartering, selling, or disposing of stolen firearms or ammunition. Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to amend the Federal sentencing guidelines to reflect the amendments made by this Act.