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S 1612 104th Congress Senate Crime and Law Enforcement Ammunition Assault Bombs Capital punishment Drug abuse Explosives Firearms Machine guns Mandatory sentences Murder Narcotic traffic Recidivists Sentences (Criminal procedure) Sentencing guidelines Violence Weapons

A bill to provide for increased mandatory minimum sentences for criminals possessing firearms, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 13, 1996 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 104th Congress ended
It never became law before the 104th Congress (1995–1996) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 11 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 4, 1996
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.
Oct 4, 1996
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Oct 4, 1996
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Oct 4, 1996
Received in the House.
Oct 3, 1996
Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
Oct 3, 1996
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
Oct 3, 1996
Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S12390)
Oct 3, 1996
Senate Committee on Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Mar 13, 1996
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Mar 13, 1996
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1976-1977)
Mar 13, 1996
Introduced in Senate
 Amendments to this bill 1

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
SAMDT 5,433 — To provide a complete substitute. Agreed to Oct 3, 1996
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Revises Federal criminal code provisions regarding using or carrying a firearm, and using or carrying a firearm while in possession of armor piercing ammunition capable of being fired in that firearm, during and in relation to a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime to make penalties under such provisions applicable to possessing a firearm under such circumstances.

Directs the United States Sentencing Commission: (1) to review and, if appropriate, amend the sentencing guidelines and policy statements of the Commission to enhance the sentence of any defendant who discharges a firearm during or in relation to any crime of violence or drug trafficking crime; and (2) in carrying out such provision, to ensure that there is reasonable consistency with other Federal sentencing guidelines, avoid duplicative punishment for substantially the same offense, and take into account any mitigating circumstances that might justify an exception.

What's happening now October 4, 1996

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 4181 Identical bill To provide for increased mandatory minimum sentences for criminals possessing firearms, and for other purposes.
 Bill text 3 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
Grassley, Chuck
Iowa · Mar 20, 1996
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1612: A bill to provide for increased mandatory minimum sentences for criminals possessing firearms, and for other purposes.. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-1612/
MLA
"S. 1612: A bill to provide for increased mandatory minimum sentences for criminals possessing firearms, and for other purposes.." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-1612/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1612, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-1612/.
Markdown link
[S. 1612: A bill to provide for increased mandatory minimum sentences for criminals possessing firearms, and for other purposes.](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-1612/)
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