TASERS Act

#4740 | HR Congress #116

Last Action: Referred to the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce. (10/21/2019)

Bill Text Source: Congress.gov

Summary and Impacts
Original Text

Bill Summary



The TASER Access, Safety, and Effectiveness Review and Study Act, also known as the TASERS Act, is a bill that aims to direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in collaboration with other government agencies, to conduct a study on the safety and efficacy of tasers and firearms. This study will gather information on the number of successful self-defense attempts and accidental discharges or misfires with each type of weapon, as well as the types and severity of injuries sustained and the long-term health implications of being shot by a firearm or electrocuted by a taser. The results of this study will be compiled into a report and submitted to Congress with any recommendations from the Commission. The bill also includes definitions of the terms "firearm" and "taser" for clarity.

Possible Impacts



1. The study conducted under this act could potentially impact people who own or use tasers and firearms. The results and recommendations of the study could lead to changes in safety regulations and usage guidelines for these weapons.

2. People who have been injured by tasers or firearms may be affected by the long-term health implications reported in the study. This could lead to changes in medical treatment and care for those who have been shot or electrocuted.

3. Law enforcement agencies and officers may be affected by the conclusions and recommendations of the study. This could impact their training and usage of both tasers and firearms in their line of duty.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4740 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4740

To direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in consultation with 
     the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and 
    Explosives, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and 
 Prevention, and the Director of the National Institutes of Health, to 
conduct a study on the safety and efficacy of tasers and firearms, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 18, 2019

   Mr. Rush introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in consultation with 
     the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and 
    Explosives, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and 
 Prevention, and the Director of the National Institutes of Health, to 
conduct a study on the safety and efficacy of tasers and firearms, and 
                          for other purposes.

    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 ``TASER Access, Safety, and 
Effectiveness Review and Study Act'' or the ``TASERS Act''.

SEC. 2. STUDY ON TASER AND FIREARM SAFETY.

    (a) Study.--The Consumer Product Safety Commission, in consultation 
with the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and 
Explosives, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, and the Director of the National Institutes of Health, 
shall conduct a national study of firearms and tasers to determine--
            (1) the number of successful self-defense attempts with 
        each type of weapon;
            (2) the number of accidental discharges or misfires with 
        each type of weapon;
            (3) the types of injuries sustained, and their severity 
        with each type of weapon; and
            (4) the long-term health implications of being shot by a 
        firearm or electrocuted by a taser.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Consumer Product Safety Commission shall submit to the 
Congress a written report containing the--
            (1) results of the study; and
            (2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Commission.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Firearm.--The term ``firearm'' has the meaning given to 
        the term in section 921(a)(3)(A) of title 18, United States 
        Code.
            (2) Taser.--The term ``taser'' means a hand-held device 
        designed to expel by means of an explosive two electrical 
        contacts (barbs) connected by two wires attached to a high-
        voltage source.
                                 <all>