Bill Summary
The Crime Gun Tracing Modernization Act of 2020 is a bill that seeks to amend section 923 of title 18, United States Code. This amendment would require the National Tracing Center of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to create and maintain an electronic, searchable database of records related to firearms, such as importation, production, shipment, receipt, sale, or other disposition. This database must be established within 3 years of the bill's enactment and must be accessible to all licensed firearm dealers. The National Tracing Center would also have remote access to and may query or search the databases of state and political subdivision firearms registration and pawnbroker records systems. However, the database may only be used for specific purposes, such as obtaining information related to crimes or foreign intelligence. Additionally, the database must be electronically searchable by certain criteria but not by personally identifiable information. This amendment would take effect despite any other laws or restrictions.
Possible Impacts
1. The establishment of electronic, searchable databases for firearm records could make it easier for law enforcement to track and investigate crimes involving firearms. This could potentially lead to more successful prosecutions and a decrease in gun violence.
2. The provision that allows the National Tracing Center to access and search databases of firearms registration systems or pawnbroker records systems could raise concerns about privacy and government surveillance. This could potentially affect people's trust in the government and their willingness to register firearms.
3. The limitation on electronic searches by personally identifiable information could make it more difficult for law enforcement to track and investigate individuals who may be involved in illegal firearm activities. This could potentially lead to a decrease in successful investigations and prosecutions.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3348 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3348
To amend section 923 of title 18, United States Code, to require an
electronic, searchable database of the importation, production,
shipment, receipt, sale, or other disposition of firearms.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 27, 2020
Mr. Leahy introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend section 923 of title 18, United States Code, to require an
electronic, searchable database of the importation, production,
shipment, receipt, sale, or other disposition of firearms.
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 ``Crime Gun Tracing Modernization Act
of 2020''.
SEC. 2. ELECTRONIC, SEARCHABLE DATABASES.
Section 923(g) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(8)(A) In this paragraph, the term `foreign intelligence
information' has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801).
``(B) Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this
paragraph, the National Tracing Center of the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives shall establish and maintain
electronic, searchable databases of all records within its possession
of the importation, production, shipment, receipt, sale, or other
disposition of firearms required to be submitted to the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives by persons licensed under
this chapter.
``(C) Each licensee under this chapter may provide the National
Tracing Center with electronic access, consistent with the requirements
of this paragraph, to all records within the licensee's possession that
are required to be kept under this chapter.
``(D) A licensee may voluntarily relinquish possession of any non-
electronic record required to be kept under this chapter to the Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
``(E) The National Tracing Center--
``(i) shall have remote access to and may query, search, or
otherwise access the electronic databases described in this
paragraph; and
``(ii) may, with the permission of a State, or political
subdivision of a State, have remote access to, and may query,
search, or otherwise access the databases of the firearms
registration system or pawnbroker records system of the State
or political subdivision.
``(F) The National Tracing Center may query, search, or otherwise
access the electronic databases described in this paragraph for only
the following purposes:
``(i) To obtain information related to any Federal, State,
local, tribal, or foreign crime.
``(ii) To obtain information that is--
``(I) foreign intelligence information; or
``(II) necessary to understand, or assess the
importance of, foreign intelligence information.
``(G) The databases established under this paragraph--
``(i) shall be electronically searchable by date of
disposition, license number, and the information identified on
each firearm or other firearm descriptor, including the
manufacturer, importer, model, serial number, type, and caliber
or gauge;
``(ii) shall not be electronically searchable by the
personally identifiable information of any individual; and
``(iii) shall include in search results the entire contents
of the relevant records kept by the licensee.
``(H) This paragraph shall take effect notwithstanding any other
provision of law, including any temporary or permanent restrictions
placed on funds made available to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives, or the Department of Justice.''.
<all>