H.R. 260
     "Gun Show Background Check Act of 2003".
     This bill says that there are sales of firearms between private individuals that do not require a background check like those conducted through FFL dealers. 
     The authors attempt to stretch the meaning of interstate commerce to gain jurisdiction over them by using the specious argument that because the raw materials shipped in interstate commerce, therefore the gun is interstate commerce by its parts composition, even if it was assembled in and never left the state.
   Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary

H.R. 1036
     "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act". 
     This bill's intention is to "prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages resulting from the misuse of their products by others."
     With over 243 original co-sponsors,  this reckless lawsuit preemption legislation has more than a majority in the U.S. House already.
      Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Currently in the U.S. House of Representatives

Pro Gun Bills

H.R. 31
Introduced by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (MD 6th-R)
     The Citizens' Self-Defense Act of 2001, would reaffirm the right of an individual to obtain a firearm for self-defense and to use the firearm to protect himself, his family, and his home.

H.R. 123
Introduced by Rep. Bob Barr (GA 7th-R)
    Would prohibit a federal or state action against a firearms manufacturer or seller for criminal actions committed by third parties using their firearms.

H.R. 382
Introduced by Rep. Cliff Stearns (FL 6th-R)
     Would provide a national standard under which non-residents of a state may carry certain concealed firearms in the state.

H.R. 950
Introduced by Rep. John Hostettler (IN 8th-R)
     The Smith-Hostettler SAFE Act, would grant national reciprocity for concealed carry license holders and for residents of states like Vermont which do not require concealed carry licenses.

H.R. 1023
Introduced by Rep. Jennifer  Dunn (WA 8th-R)
     Would expand the permissible purposes under section 505 of the Incentive Grants for Local Delinquency Prevention Programs Act to allow money to be used for "court supervised initiatives that address the illegal possession of firearms by juveniles."
 

Currently in the U.S. Senate:

Pro Gun Bills

S. 79
Introduced by Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC)
Would remove the anti-gun animus of the Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994 and redirect the act toward a more balanced effort to provide for safe schools, particularly schools plagued with illicit drug problems. 

S. 442
Introduced by Sens. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Would allow law enforcement personnel to carry concealed firearms nationwide. 

S. 514
Introduced by Sen. Bob Smith (R-NH)
The Smith-Hostettler SAFE Act -- would grant national reciprocity for concealed carry license holders and for residents of states like Vermont which do not require concealed carry licenses. 

S. 619
Introduced by Sens. Mike Dewine (R-OH), Kay-Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX), John Warner (R-VA), George Allen (R-VA), Jesse Helms (R-NC), Charles Hagel (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Rick Santorum (R-PA), Jeff Sessions(R-AL)

Would set aside up to $30,000,000 a year for states that establish mandatory prison sentences of at least five years for carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, as defined by the Attorney General. 

Anti Gun Bills

S. 16:
Introduced by Sens. Thomas Daschle (D-SD), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Joseph Biden (D-DE), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), John Breaux (D-LA), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Jon Corzine (D-NJ), John Rockefeller (D-WV), Carl Levin (D-MT), Tim Johnson (D-SD), John Kerry (D-MA), Edward Kennedy(D-MA)

The 21st Century Law Enforcement, Crime Prevention, and Victims Assistance Act - would: Extend: (1) the community policing (COPS) program by providing for hiring more police and prosecutors; (2) Project Exile; and (3) the Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative.
     Impose a gun ban for juveniles convicted or adjudicated delinquent for violent crimes. Requires revocation of a firearms dealer's license for failing to have secure gun safety devices available for sale with firearms. Requires criminal background checks for all gun sales at gun shows.
     Establish new crimes and increases penalties for killing Federal officers. Enhances the penalty for assaults and threats against Federal officials engaged in official duties. Provides a limited protective function privilege for Secret Service agents.
     Prohibit the interstate franchising of street gangs. Increases penalties for crimes involving the use of body armor or laser-sighting devices. Doubles the maximum criminal penalties for: (1) using or threatening physical violence against witnesses; and (2) voluntary manslaughter. Provides for jurisdiction over foreign banks engaged in money laundering that have U.S. accounts and for criminal forfeiture for money laundering conspiracies.
     Provide: (1) a model Bill of Rights for crime victims in the Federal system; and (2) assistance for shelters and transitional housing for victims of domestic violence. Makes available to States grants for victim-related training and notification systems. Authorizes grants for pilot programs to operate Victim Ombudsman Information Centers.
     Establish new offenses and increases penalties for crimes against senior citizens. Reauthorizes the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act and creates a new juvenile justice block grant program. 

S. 25
     Introduced by Sens. Diane Feinstein (D-CA), Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
     The Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2001 would:
     Amend the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to prohibit a person from possessing a firearm unless that person has been issued a firearm license under this Act or a State system certified under this Act and such license has not been invalidated or revoked. Prescribes license application, issuance, and renewal requirements.
      Prohibit transferring or receiving a qualifying firearm unless the recipient presents a valid firearms license, the license is verified, and the dealer records a tracking authorization number. Prescribes firearms transfer reporting and record keeping requirements. Directs the Secretary to establish and maintain a Federal record of sale system.
       Prohibit: (1) transferring a firearm to any person other than a licensee, unless the transfer is processed through a licensed dealer in accordance with national instant criminal background check system requirements, with exceptions; (2) a licensed manufacturer or dealer from failing to comply with reporting and record keeping requirements of this Act; (3) failing to report the loss or theft of the firearm to the Secretary within 72 hours; (4) failing to report to the Secretary an address change within 60 days; or (5) keeping a loaded firearm, or an unloaded firearm and ammunition for the firearm, knowing or recklessly disregarding the risk that a child is capable of gaining access, if a child uses the firearm and causes death or serious bodily injury.
         Prescribe penalties for violations of firearms provisions covered by this Act.
         Direct the Secretary to: (1) establish and maintain a firearm injury information clearinghouse; (2) conduct continuing studies and investigations of firearm-related deaths and injuries; and (3) collect and maintain current production and sales figures of each licensed manufacturer.
          Authorize the Secretary to certify State firearm licensing or record of sale systems.

S. 134
Introduced by Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA)
Would prohibit the import of semiautomatic magazines. 

S. 330
Introduced by Sen. Robert Torricelli (D-NJ)
Would give BATF complete regulatory authority over the design, manufacture, and performance of firearms and ammunition. BATF could (1) order recalls, (2) ban firearms, (3) conduct unlimited inspections. In addition, manufacturers would be required to label firearms and notify BATF of new models. "Stockpiling" would be prohibited. Violations would be punishable by (1) a civil penalty of up to $20,000 for firearm, (2) injunctions, (3) seizure, (4) a private right to sue, (5) up to 2 years in prison. 

S. 406
Introduced by Sen. Robert Torricelli (D-NJ) 
Would impose a one-gun-a-month restriction on the purchase of handguns. 

S. 416
Introduced by Sens. John Kerry (D-MA), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Herb Kohl (D-WI)
Would give the Consumer Product Safety Commission the jurisdiction to promulgate regulations governing trigger locks. 

S. 436
Introduced by Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) et al.
     Would impose civil penalties on any licensee who transferred a handgun without a trigger lock. Not surprisingly, the government would exempt itself. The Consumer Product Safety Commission would be authorized to promulgate rules relating to trigger locks.

S. 505
Introduced by Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA)
     Would treat 50 caliber firearms like machine guns, requiring registration and licensure. It would attempt to create fear of 50 caliber firearms by dubbing them "military sniper weapons." 

S. 609
Introduced by Sen. Robert Torricelli (D-NJ)
     Would (1) treat firearms parts like destructive devices for purposes of shipment, (2) outlaw assembling a firearm by someone other than an FFL, (3) increase to $500 the fee for firearms manufacturers, and (4) expand the category of machinegun parts which would be treated like assembled machineguns. 

S. 610
Introduced by Sen. Robert Torricelli (D-NJ)
     Would establish a $10,000,000 program for the purchase and destruction of firearms. 

S. 649
Introduced by Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA)
     Would expand the referral policy under section 14602 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act from referral for bringing a firearm into a school to referral for bringing any weapon into a school. 

S. 695
Introduced by Sens. Byran Dorgan (D-ND), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Robert Byrd (D-WV)
     Would standardize school report cards, and, in the process, require reporting to parents with respect to any firearm brought into the school by a student.

S.469
     "A bill to amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to require ballistics testing of all firearms manufactured and all firearms in custody of Federal agencies."
     "Technological Resource to Assist Criminal Enforcement (TRACE) Act - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to require a licensed manufacturer or importer of firearms to: (1) test fire manufactured or imported firearms as specified by the Attorney General; (2) prepare ballistics images of the fired bullet and cartridge casings; (3) make the records available to the Attorney General for entry into en electronic database; and (4) store the fired bullet and cartridge casings."
     "Directs the Attorney General to assist firearm manufacturers and importers in complying with these requirements by: (1) acquiring, installing, and upgrading ballistics equipment and bullet and cartridge casing recovery equipment; (2) hiring or designating sufficient personnel to develop and maintain a ballistics database; (3) providing education about the role of ballistics; and (4) providing for the coordination among law enforcement, regulatory agencies, and the firearm industry to curb firearm-related crime and illegal firearm trafficking."
     "Requires the Attorney General to: (1) establish an electronic database through which State and local law enforcement agencies can promptly access ballistics records that shall not include any identifying information regarding dealers, collectors, or purchasers of firearms; (2) require training for all ballistics examiners; (3) conduct mandatory ballistics testing of all firearms obtained or in the possession of the Department of Justice; and (4) report to Congress on the implementation of this Act.
     Prohibits the use of ballistics information of individual guns for prosecutorial purposes unless officials have a reasonable belief that a crime has been committed and that ballistics information would assist in the investigation." Status:  02/27/2003: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

*Above items and descriptions are courtesy of and copyright of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.