Here Comes Gun Control

Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) has introduced legislation that could have a huge impact on gun owners.

House Resolution 127 (HR 127), also known as the Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act, is named for a 17-year-old Pakistani foreign exchange student who was killed during a 2018 school shooting in Sante Fe, Texas, in which nine others also died.

I’ve read the legislation (it’s free online), and here are some of the provisions it contains.

Federal Firearm Registration – Every gun owner must register each of their firearms with the federal government.

They must submit documentation listing “the make, model, and serial number of the firearm, the identity of the owner of the firearm, the date the firearm was acquired by the owner, and where the firearm is or will be stored.” Equally ominous is this government database will be made “accessible to all members of the public, all Federal, State, and local law enforcement authorities, all branches of the United States Armed Forces, and all State and local governments.” This means anyone - neighbors, employers, journalists, teachers, ex-spouses, etc. – can access the database to see what firearms YOU own.

Federal Firearm Licensing – No one can own a firearm or ammo without a federal license. To qualify for the license, a person must be: 21 years of age (for all guns, not just handguns – eliminates youth firearm ownership); complete 24 hours of firearm and safety training from a course approved by the U.S. Attorney General; pass a federal background check; have government-supplied firearm liability insurance (fee is $800 a year); and pass a psychological examination conducted by a licensed psychologist approved by the U.S. Attorney General. If you want to own a “Military Style Firearm,” The bill specifically states “as part of the psychological evaluation, the licensed psychologist interviews any spouse of the individual, any former spouse of the individual, and at least 2 other persons who are a member of the family of, or an associate of, the individual to further determine the state of the mental, emotional, and relational stability of the individual in relation to firearms.” Yup. To keep your AR, threaded-barrel firearm, or shotgun that holds more than five rounds your spouse or ex-spouse must agree with two other family members that you’re mentally fit to have one.

Ammunition – You cannot buy ammunition without a federal license. You may not own a detachable magazine capable of holding more than 10 rounds. You may not “possess ammunition that is 0.50 caliber or greater.” You also may not give, share or sell share ammo you own to anyone else unless the Attorney General is notified you’re doing so.

HR 127 is just the first of several gun-control bills in the works, and it stands a good chance of passing. It may survive court challenges because it technically does not ban firearms or prohibit carrying them. It simply establishes fees and rules for ownership, just like the government does with other legal products. The goal is to make owning firearms cost-prohibitive for consumers and so burdensome for retailers that they decide it’s not worth the red tape, fees and hassle. Mess up just one technicality and you’re off to federal prison.