NRA-ILA Applauds The Efforts Of U.S. Representatives Steve King & Zack Space
Each are responsible for introducing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2009.
Fairfax, VA –-(AmmoLand.com)- Washington, DC –-(AmmoLand.com)- We would like to applaud the efforts of U.S. Representatives Steve King (R-Iowa), and Zack Space (D-Ohio) for their pro-Second Amendment advocacy in introducing H.R. 2296: The “Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2009” (a companion bill—S. 941—was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)).
These bipartisan bills are mainly aimed at one problem: Around the country, gun stores—small and large—have been threatened with closure over minor, unintentional record-keeping violations. The bills would roll back unnecessary restrictions, correct errors, and codify longstanding congressional policies in the firearms arena. These bipartisan bills are a vital step to modernize and improve BATFE operations. Of highest importance, H.R. 2296 and S. 941 rewrite the system of administrative penalties for licensed dealers, manufacturers and importers of firearms. Today, for most violations, BATFE can only give a federal firearms license (FFL) holder a warning, or completely revoke his license.
H.R. 2296 and S. 941 would allow fines or license suspensions for less serious violations, while still allowing license revocation for the kind of serious violations that would block an investigation or put guns in the hands of criminals. This will help prevent the all-too-common situations where BATFE has revoked licenses for insignificant technical violations—such as improper use of abbreviations, or filing records in the wrong order.
S. 941 represents the first time such BATFE reform legislation has been introduced in the Senate. However, the House passed similar legislation (H.R. 5092) in the 109th Congress, by a 277-131 vote. A majority of the House—224 congressmen—cosponsored a similar bill in the 110th Congress. A fact sheet on H.R. 2296/S. 941 can be found here.
As of this writing, H.R. 2296 has 174 cosponsors, and S. 941 has 12 cosponsors. NRA members and gun owners should contact Reps. Space and King and thank them for sponsoring H.R. 2296, and for their ongoing support of our Second Amendment rights. And please be sure to contact your U.S. Representative and Senators, and ask them to cosponsor and support H.R. 2296 and S. 941! You can call your U.S. Senators at (202) 224-3121, and your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121.
Contact Information for Rep. Space: 315 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515-3518; Phone: (202) 225-6265; Fax: (202) 225-3394; Web Site: www.space.house.gov
Contact Information for Rep. King: 1609 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515-1505; Phone: (202) 225-4426; Fax: (202) 225-3193; Web Site: www.house.gov/steveking
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Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation’s leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military.