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View Full Version : Current gun legislation in Congress


SUBMAN1
03-18-09, 09:05 PM
Reading up on this stuff tonight. Figured I'd share:

-S

H.R. 17, H.R. 45, H.R. 197, H.R. 257, H.R. 442 & H.R. 495

H.R. 17 (Bartlett): This bill would reaffirm the right to use firearms for self-defense and for defense of one’s home and family.


H.R. 45 (Rush): This bill would require a license for handguns and semiautomatics, including those currently possessed. The applicant must be thumbprinted and sign a certification that, effectively, the firearm will not be kept in a place where it would be available for the defense of the gun owner’s family. The applicant must also make available ALL of his psychiatric records, pass an exam, and pay a fee of up to $25. The license may be renewed after five years and may be revoked. Private sales would be outlawed, and reports to the attorney general of all transactions would be required, even when, as the bill allows, the AG determines that a state licensing system is sufficiently draconian to substitute for the federal license. With virtually no exceptions, ALL firearms transactions (involving semiautos, handguns, long guns, etc.) would be subject to a Brady check. In addition, the bill would make it unlawful in nearly all cases to keep any loaded firearm for self-defense. A variety of “crimes by omission” (such as failure to report certain things) would be created. Criminal penalties of up to ten years and almost unlimited regulatory and inspection authority would be established.


H.R. 197 (Stearns): This bill would establish national standards for concealed carry reciprocity, but would not protect residents of pro-gun states like Vermont and Alaska which do not require paper permits.


H.R. 257 (Jackson Lee): This bill would take the already Byzantine restrictions on teaching your kids the responsible use of firearms and extend them from handguns to semi-autos; increase the age of applicability from 18 to 21; and increase potential penalties to up to 10 years in prison.
In addition, the bill prohibits unaccompanied minors from gun shows, and subjects parents to up to 3 years in prison for keeping an unloaded gun (with ammunition in the vicinity) if a jury finds that they disregarded a risk, that a kid (including a burglar) would get a hold of the gun and the unauthorized user causes injury. This provision effectively eliminates having guns available for self defense.


H.R. 442 (Rehberg): This bill would provide amnesty for a veteran who acquired a “souvenir” (such as a machine gun) while serving overseas, so long as it is registered during a 90-day grace period.


H.R. 495 (Rodriguez, Teague, Engel, Reyes): This bill would authorize $15,000,000 for two years to the BATFE for the purpose of enhancing its project to thwart the transportation of firearms across the Mexican border.


H.R. 1074 (Scalise): This bill would allow for the interstate sale of firearms, provided that the laws of the State in which the transfer is conducted and the State of residence of the transferee are complied with, in addition to federal law.

FIREWALL
03-18-09, 09:13 PM
Are you like that guy on "Twilight zone" with the thick glasses looking up statistics all the time that became 3 ft. tall ?

Do you spend all your time looking up this stuff.

I honestly don't mean to insult you as I enjoy some of your finds.

But.... Is this all you do here at SubSim ?

UnderseaLcpl
03-18-09, 09:30 PM
Seems to me that looking up the record of resolutions and bills in congress and discussing them is something we (as a nation) could use a great deal more of.

It isn't as if Sub has to devote an inordinate amount of time to finding things like this, either. He's probably subscribed to newsletters, and it isn't difficult to look up congressional records. It might take twenty minutes to find this kind of information every day if you do it right. I waste more time than that just sailing out of Lorient every day. :arrgh!:

August
03-18-09, 10:17 PM
Seems to me that looking up the record of resolutions and bills in congress and discussing them is something we (as a nation) could use a great deal more of.

It isn't as if Sub has to devote an inordinate amount of time to finding things like this, either. He's probably subscribed to newsletters, and it isn't difficult to look up congressional records. It might take twenty minutes to find this kind of information every day if you do it right. I waste more time than that just sailing out of Lorient every day. :arrgh!:

20 minutes? More like 20 seconds to read a newsletter or website that has done the work for him. I get that stuff from the NRA all the time.

GoldenRivet
03-18-09, 10:24 PM
Are you like that guy on "Twilight zone" with the thick glasses looking up statistics all the time that became 3 ft. tall ?

oooh thats a good episode :O:

SUBMAN1
03-20-09, 01:11 PM
oooh thats a good episode :O:I must have missed that one. I did watch one the other day about an airliner (707) going back in time though. I will actually watch an episode on occasion on a second monitor while I'm doing other things.

-S

sharkbit
03-20-09, 02:26 PM
I'm don't own a gun but that H.R. 45 scares the hell outta me! :o

Digital_Trucker
03-20-09, 02:36 PM
I'm don't own a gun but that H.R. 45 scares the hell outta me! :o


Rightfully so.:timeout: Why should it be illegal to keep a firearm to protect ones home?

Kapt Z
03-20-09, 06:10 PM
Rightfully so.:timeout: Why should it be illegal to keep a firearm to protect ones home?

They're trying to legislate away accidents. Just like helmet laws, cell phone use while driving....

Too many stories in the news about little Bobby finding Daddy's 9mm and accidentally blowing little Judy's head off.

I have my gun locked up so tight I would have to offer a intruder coffee and a donut while he waited for me to get it out. More chance in swinging one of my wife's pumps at him.;)

Digital_Trucker
03-20-09, 09:52 PM
No, wait, throwing shoes will soon be illegal also:D

And while they try to legislate away the gun accidents, thousands upon thousands are killed by drunk drivers (who they haven't been able to legislate away), cell phone talking drivers (who they haven't been able to legislate away), idiots who just plain don't know how to drive (who they haven't been able to legislate away), muggers (who they haven't been able to legislate away), home invaders (who they haven't been able to legislate away), rapists (who they haven't been able to legislate away), Al Gore (who they haven't been able to legislate away), etc., etc. ad nauseum (I think you see where I'm headed with this).

If they were to legislate away everything that could possibly harm us, nothing would exist (including us and them). Where does it end? (rhetorical question, admittedly with no answer).

Sea Demon
03-20-09, 09:54 PM
N
And while they try to legislate away the gun accidents, thousands upon thousands are killed by drunk drivers (who they haven't been able to legislate away),

:timeout: Don't give em' any ideas. Shhhh.

Kapt Z
03-21-09, 11:48 AM
No, wait, throwing shoes will soon be illegal also:D

And while they try to legislate away the gun accidents, thousands upon thousands are killed by drunk drivers (who they haven't been able to legislate away), cell phone talking drivers (who they haven't been able to legislate away), idiots who just plain don't know how to drive (who they haven't been able to legislate away), muggers (who they haven't been able to legislate away), home invaders (who they haven't been able to legislate away), rapists (who they haven't been able to legislate away), Al Gore (who they haven't been able to legislate away), etc., etc. ad nauseum (I think you see where I'm headed with this).

If they were to legislate away everything that could possibly harm us, nothing would exist (including us and them). Where does it end? (rhetorical question, admittedly with no answer).

My wife's pumps are definately deadly weapons, but boy does she look good in them.:sunny:

I agree you cannot legislate risk out of life. It's a natural reaction though. You hear cries for new laws everytime something bad happens.

I would cut through all the lawyer speak and just frame the law this way-

'You can have a gun in your home for self defense, but if you leave it out, loaded, someone other than you finds it and then happens to kill himself or someone else with it. You are going to be in deep s***t."

August
03-21-09, 12:51 PM
My wife's pumps are definately deadly weapons, but boy does she look good in them.:sunny:

Don't be a tease. Post pics.

Sailor Steve
03-21-09, 01:50 PM
I have my gun locked up so tight I would have to offer a intruder coffee and a donut while he waited for me to get it out.
I have a friend who took just the opposite tack. He kept his guns hidden where the kids couldn't reach them, but he could. When they were old enough, he took them shooting, taught them what's what and how dangerous they could be if not use properly, and that proper use required ready access. They are all three grown, never had an accident, never showd the guns to any friends and all still know what's what.

Kapt Z
03-21-09, 02:53 PM
Don't be a tease. Post pics.

Let's see-

Post her pics....?

or stay married.....?

:hmmm:

tease I'll have to be.:salute:

Kapt Z
03-21-09, 03:08 PM
I have a friend who took just the opposite tack. He kept his guns hidden where the kids couldn't reach them, but he could. When they were old enough, he took them shooting, taught them what's what and how dangerous they could be if not use properly, and that proper use required ready access. They are all three grown, never had an accident, never showd the guns to any friends and all still know what's what.

That makes sense to me. My brother-in-law does the same thing.

Personally, I just never imagined actually using my gun for defense so I don't bother with the 'easy access'. Heck, I don't even keep ammo in the house. I just pick a few boxes at the range.

sharkbit
03-23-09, 08:37 AM
I have a friend who took just the opposite tack. He kept his guns hidden where the kids couldn't reach them, but he could. When they were old enough, he took them shooting, taught them what's what and how dangerous they could be if not use properly, and that proper use required ready access. They are all three grown, never had an accident, never showd the guns to any friends and all still know what's what.

The key point in this statement is responsibility. Your friend is a responsible gun owner. Unfortuneately, there are too many people out there without a clue.
With freedom, comes responsibility. Isn't that what's it all about?
:salute:

Sailor Steve
03-23-09, 10:49 AM
True, but do you limit the freedom for everyone because some (or many) are irresponsible?

Digital_Trucker
03-23-09, 12:02 PM
True, but do you limit the freedom for everyone because some (or many) are irresponsible?

The US certainly doesn't do this in other cases.

sharkbit
03-23-09, 01:22 PM
True, but do you limit the freedom for everyone because some (or many) are irresponsible?

No, you should not.

Sailor Steve
03-23-09, 01:31 PM
The US certainly doesn't do this in other cases.
I agree, but they shouldn't. There are so many laws on the books designed to protect us from ourselves, I don't even know where to start my complaining.

Digital_Trucker
03-23-09, 01:49 PM
I agree, but they shouldn't. There are so many laws on the books designed to protect us from ourselves, I don't even know where to start my complaining.

Sorry if I was kind of vague, but I don't think they should either. Education is the key in almost every instance of people needing protection from themselves. From sex to driving to firearms to needlepoint:D

Sailor Steve
03-23-09, 02:41 PM
They let YOU do needlepoint??!! There oughta be a law!:rotfl:

Digital_Trucker
03-23-09, 02:49 PM
They let YOU do needlepoint??!! There oughta be a law!:rotfl:

Actually, no, I like crocheting more, but :har: