To provide for the establishment of a national database of ballistics information about firearms for use in fighting crime, and to require firearms manufacturers to provide ballistics information about new firearms to the national database.

February 6, 2001

Mr. ANDREWS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

To provide for the establishment of a national database of ballistics information about firearms for use in fighting crime, and to require firearms manufacturers to provide ballistics information about new firearms to the national database.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Gun Ballistics Safety Act of 2001'.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL FIREARMS BALLISTICS DATABASE.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT- The Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (in this section referred to as the `Director') shall establish an electronic database designed to contain information on the ballistic characteristics of firearms, which shall be known as the `National Firearms Ballistics Database'.

(b) FIREARMS BALLISTICS INFORMATION REQUIREMENT- The Director shall, by regulation, prescribe the type of ballistics information required by section 922(z) of title 18, United States Code, to be provided to the National Firearms Ballistics Database, and the form and manner in which the information is to be so provided.

(c) USE OF DATABASE INFORMATION- The Director shall ensure that the information in the National Firearms Ballistics Database is made available, on request, to any law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer.

(d) NOTICE- On establishment of the National Firearms Ballistics Database, the Director shall notify each licensed manufacturer and the chief law enforcement officer of each State of the establishment.

(e) DEFINITIONS- In this section:

(1) FIREARM- The term `firearm' has the meaning given in section 921(a)(3) of title 18, United States Code.

(2) FIREARM MANUFACTURER- The term `firearm manufacturer' means any person who manufactures a firearm.

(3) LICENSED MANUFACTURER- The term `licensed manufacturer' has the meaning given in section 921(a)(10) of title 18, United States Code.

(4) STATE- The term `State' has the meaning given in section 921(a)(2) of title 18, United States Code.

SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT THAT FIREARM MANUFACTURER OBTAIN AND PROVIDE BALLISTICS INFORMATION TO THE NATIONAL FIREARMS BALLISTICS DATABASE.

(a) IN GENERAL- Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after subsection (y) the following:

`(z) Within 30 days after a person manufactures a firearm, the person shall provide to the National Firearms Ballistics Database the ballistics information prescribed under section 2(b) of the Gun Ballistics Safety Act of 2001 with respect to the firearm.'.

(b) PENALTIES-

(1) CRIMINAL PENALTIES- Section 924(a) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(7) Whoever knowingly violates section 922(z) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.'.

(2) LICENSE REVOCATION- Section 923(e) of such title is amended by inserting after the 2nd sentence the following: `The Secretary shall, after notice and opportunity for hearing, revoke any license issued under this section if the Secretary determines that the holder of the license has violated section 922(z).'.

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this section shall apply to conduct engaged in after the 30-day period that begins with the date of the enactment of this Act.

END