Rep. Diana DeGett’s bill isn’t the only one lurking in Congress. There’s no shortage of legislation out there that would to restrict the rights of firearms owners. One kind reader has been trawling the Congressional record looking for relevant legislation and compiling a handy dandy list. While the full text of each bill isn’t yet available, we do have the titles. Oh, and pay attention to the sponsors . . .
- H.R.141 Latest Title: To require criminal background checks on all firearms transactions occurring at gun shows. Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] (introduced 1/3/2013) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 1/3/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- H.R.21 Latest Title: To provide for greater safety in the use of firearms. Sponsor: Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] (introduced 1/3/2013) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 1/3/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- H.R.93 Latest Title: 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States Code, to restrict the ability of a person whose Federal license to import, manufacture, or deal in firearms has been revoked, whose application to renew such a license has been denied, or who has received a license revocation or renewal denial notice, to transfer business inventory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, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Cicilline, David N. [RI-1] (introduced 1/3/2013) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 1/3/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- H.R.137 Latest Title: 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. Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] (introduced 1/3/2013) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 1/3/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- H.R.72 Latest Title: To provide for emergency deployments of United States Border Patrol agents and to increase the number of DEA and ATF agents along the international border of the United States to increase resources to identify and eliminate illicit sources of firearms into Mexico for use by violent drug trafficking organizations and for other lawful activities, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Jackson Lee, Sheila [TX-18] (introduced 1/3/2013) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 1/3/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- H.R.34 Latest Title: 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, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] (introduced 1/3/2013) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 1/3/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- H.R.138 Latest Title: To prohibit the transfer or possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] (introduced 1/3/2013) Cosponsors (1) Latest Major Action: 1/3/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- H.R.142 Latest Title: To require face to face purchases of ammunition, to require licensing of ammunition dealers, and to require reporting regarding bulk purchases of ammunition. Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] (introduced 1/3/2013) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 1/3/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- H.R.133 Latest Title:To repeal the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 and amendments to that Act. Sponsor: Rep Massie, Thomas [KY-4] (introduced 1/3/2013) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 1/3/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
We can safely assume that the vast majority of these will never see the light of day. Even with less controversial bills, the going rate is a 6% probability that legislation ever sees the light of a plenary session and vote, and 1% that it even passes. And in my opinion, the probability of any of these passing right now is damn near zero. But the ground work is being laid for the midterm elections, enabling those in tough races to profit from the legislation that they’ve authored that would have done something if only congress would have acted — something to promise for the next session.
Politics, man.