
Gun owners continue to be anxious about their right to bear arms which they feel was given to them in the Constitution. The leading threat today comes from a bill being sponsored by an Illinois congressman that would apply to handguns and all rifles with a detachable ammunition feeding device.
Rep. Bobby Rush, a Democrat from Illinois, is sponsoring the Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009. It would establish a federal gun license and registry program that would help the government track information on gun ownership and gun sales across the United States. Presently under the U.S. Code, this kind of registry is specifically banned under a provision that was enacted by President Reagan and the 99th Congress.
Under Rush's bill, in order to get a license, a person must submit a photo, thumbprint, their address, a release of their mental health records and other information to the United States Attorney general. Current gun owners would have two years to acquire a license. The alternative would be to forfeit their guns to the government.
As in the past, the bill that is being offered by Rush is not being considered by the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security and no legislative action seems to be planned. Gun owners interested in keeping track of the bill can contact their member of the U.S. House of Representatives.