Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends the federal criminal code regarding firearms and explosives, changes the civil penalties for violating firearm regulations and directs the Attorney General to establish guidelines for investigations.

Highlights:

• Modifies existing law from allowing the Attorney General to immediately revoke firearm licenses, after proper notification to the licensee, to a system of fines based upon the severity of the violation and the prior record of the firearm's licensee (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the Attorney General to make preliminary decisions to approve or deny a federal firearms license application and gives applicants the right to a hearing for license denials (Sec. 3).

• Requires the Attorney General to create specific guidelines for investigations, inspections and examinations made by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (Sec. 5).

• Instructs the Inspector General of the Department of Justice to review the operations of gun show enforcement programs on residency checks of firearm purchasers; the Inspector General shall report these findings within one year to the Judiciary Committees of both the House and Senate (Sec 6.).

• Sets limits on who can have access to the information gathered from individual firearm licenses (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text