HR 257 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To prevent children’s access to firearms.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

January 7, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To prevent children’s access to firearms.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Child Gun Safety and Gun Access Prevention Act of 2009’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. INCREASING YOUTH GUN SAFETY BY RAISING THE AGE OF HANDGUN ELIGIBILITY AND PROHIBITING YOUTH FROM POSSESSING SEMIAUTOMATIC ASSAULT WEAPONS.

Section 922(x) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (1)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘juvenile’ and inserting ‘person who is less than 21 years of age’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking ‘or’ at the end of subparagraph (A);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B) and inserting a semicolon; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) a semiautomatic assault weapon; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) a large capacity ammunition feeding device.’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (2)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘a juvenile’ and inserting ‘less than 21 years of age’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking ‘or’ at the end of subparagraph (A);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B) and inserting a semicolon; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) by inserting at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) a semiautomatic assault weapon; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) a large capacity ammunition feeding device.’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in paragraph (3)(A), by inserting ‘temporary’ before ‘possession’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking ‘juvenile’ and inserting ‘person who is less than 21 years of age’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) in paragraph (3)(C), by striking ‘juvenile; or’ and inserting ‘person who is less than 21 years of age;’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) by striking subparagraph (D) of paragraph (3) and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) the possession of a handgun or ammunition by a person who is less than 21 years of age taken in defense of that person or other persons against an intruder into the residence of that person or a residence in which that person is an invited guest; or’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) by adding at the end of paragraph (3) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) a temporary transfer of a handgun or ammunition to a person who is at least 18 years of age and less than 21 years of age, or the temporary use or possession of a handgun or ammunition by a person who is at least 18 years of age and less than 21 years of age, if the handgun and ammunition are possessed and used by the person--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) in the course of employment, in the course of ranching or farming related to activities at the residence of the person (or on property used for ranching or farming at which the person, with the permission of the property owner or lessee, is performing activities related to the operation of the farm or ranch), target practice, hunting, or a course of instruction in the safe and lawful use of a handgun; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) in accordance with State and local law.’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘juvenile’ each place it appears and inserting ‘person who is less than 21 years of age’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. ENHANCED PENALTY FOR YOUTH POSSESSION OF HANDGUNS AND SEMIAUTOMATIC ASSAULT WEAPONS AND FOR THE TRANSFER OF SUCH WEAPONS TO YOUTH.

Section 924(a)(6) of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(6)(A) A juvenile who violates section 922(x) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than one year, or both, and for a second or subsequent violation, or for a first violation committed after an adjudication of delinquency or after a State or Federal conviction for an act that, if committed by an adult, would be a serious violent felony (as defined in section 3559(c) of this title), shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) A person other than a juvenile who knowingly violates section 922(x)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than five years, or both; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) if the person sold, delivered, or otherwise transferred a handgun, ammunition, semiautomatic assault weapon, or large capacity ammunition feeding device to a person who is less than 21 years of age knowing or having reasonable cause to know that such person intended to carry or otherwise possess or discharge or otherwise use the handgun, ammunition, semiautomatic assault weapon, or large capacity ammunition feeding device in the commission of a crime of violence, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. GUN STORAGE AND SAFETY DEVICES FOR ALL FIREARMS.

(a) Secure Gun Storage or Safety Devices by Federal Firearms Licensees- Section 922(z) of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(z) It shall be unlawful for any licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer to sell, transfer, or deliver any firearm to any person (other than a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer) unless the transferee is provided with a secure gun storage or safety device.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Penalties- Section 924(p) of such title is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(p) The Attorney General may, after notice and opportunity for hearing, suspend or revoke any license issued under this chapter or may subject the licensee to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 if the holder of such license has knowingly violated section 922(z). The actions of the Attorney General under this subsection may be reviewed only as provided in section 923(f).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall be effective 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. RESPONSIBILITY OF ADULTS FOR DEATH AND INJURY CAUSED BY CHILD ACCESS TO FIREARMS.

Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(aa)(1) In this subsection, the term ‘child’ means an individual who has not attained the age of 18 years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), any person who--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) keeps a loaded firearm, or an unloaded firearm and ammunition for the firearm, any one of which has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce, within any premises that is under the custody or control of that person;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) knows, or recklessly disregards the risk, that a child is capable of gaining access to the firearm; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C)(i) knows, or recklessly disregards the risk, that a child will use the firearm to cause death or serious bodily injury (as defined in section 1365 of this title) to the child or any other person; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) knows, or recklessly disregards the risk, that possession of the firearm by the child is unlawful under Federal or State law,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





if the child uses the firearm to cause death or serious bodily injury to the child or any other person, shall be imprisoned not more than 3 years, fined under this title, or both.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) Paragraph (2) shall not apply if--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) at the time the child obtained access, the firearm was secured with a secure gun storage or safety device;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) the person is a peace officer, a member of the Armed Forces, or a member of the National Guard, and the child obtains the firearm during, or incidental to, the performance of the official duties of the person in that capacity;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) the child uses the firearm in a lawful act of self-defense or defense of 1 or more other persons; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) the person has no reasonable expectation, based on objective facts and circumstances, that a child is likely to be present on the premises on which the firearm is kept.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. REQUIREMENT THAT CHILD BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT DURING A GUN SHOW.

(a) Prohibitions- Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(bb)(1) The parent or legal guardian of a child shall ensure that, while the child is attending a gun show, the child is accompanied by an adult.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) It shall be unlawful for a person to conduct a gun show to which there is admitted a child who is not accompanied by an adult.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) In this subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) The term ‘child’ means an individual who has not attained 18 years of age.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) The term ‘adult’ means an individual who has attained 18 years of age.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Penalties- Section 924(a) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(8) Whoever violates section 922(bb) in a State shall be punished in accordance with the laws of the State that apply to persons convicted of child abandonment.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. GRANTS FOR GUN SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

(a) Program Authority- The Attorney General is authorized to provide grants to units of local government to enable law enforcement agencies to develop and sponsor gun safety classes for parents and their children.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Application-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Any unit of local government that desires to receive a grant award under this section shall submit an application to the Attorney General at such time, in such manner and containing such information as the Attorney General may reasonably require.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONTENTS- Each application referred to in paragraph (1) shall include an assurance that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) funds received under this section shall be used only to provide funds to law enforcement agencies to provide gun safety classes; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) gun safety classes will be offered at times convenient to parents, including evenings and weekends.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Regulations- The Attorney General shall issue any regulations necessary to carry out this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 8. EDUCATION: NATIONWIDE FIREARMS SAFETY PROGRAMS.

It is the sense of Congress that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) each school district should provide or participate in a firearms safety program for students in grades kindergarten through 12 and should consult with a certified firearms instructor before establishing the curriculum for the program; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) participation by students in a firearms safety program should not be mandatory if the district receives written notice from a parent of the student to exempt the student from the program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink