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Technological Resource to Assist Criminal Enforcement (TRACE) Act

Introduced: February 13, 2003 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 6, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Feb 13, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 13, 2003
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
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 a computerized 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 a computer system through which State and local law enforcement agencies can promptly access ballistics records; (2) require training for all ballistics examiners; (3) conduct mandatory ballistics testing of all firearms obtained by 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.

What's happening now March 6, 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Democratic 4