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S 1983 108th Congress Senate

SNIPER Act of 2003

Official title: A bill to amend title 18 of the United States Code, to enhance the authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to enforce the complia… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to amend title 18 of the United States Code, to enhance the authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to enforce the compliance of gun dealers with Federal firearms laws, and for other purposes.

Introduced: December 9, 2003 Introduced by: Schumer, Charles E. Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement Firearms controlForeign Trade and International FinanceGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment paperwork
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This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 9, 2003
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Dec 9, 2003
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action December 9, 2003

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

So No Innocent Person Ever Repeats the Sniper Tragedy Act of 2003 (SNIPER Act of 2003) - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to: (1) authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to inspect the inventory and records of a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer without reasonable cause or warrant not more than four times (currently, once) during any 12-month period; and (2) require such persons to maintain records of disposition of ammunition, except on .22 caliber rimfire ammunition.

Provides for enhanced penalties for violations. Subjects violators to revocation or suspension of any applicable license or a fine. Directs the Attorney General to send warning letters to alleged violators, issue notices of revocation, suspension, or imposition of a civil fine, and conduct proceedings, as appropriate.

Repeals an exemption from Brady Act requirements involving gun sales to instate residents.

Technological Resource to Assist Criminal Enforcement Act (TRACE Act) - Amends the Brady Act to require a licensed manufacturer or importer to: (1) test fire firearms manufactured or imported by certain licensees; (2) prepare ballistics images of the fired bullet and cartridge casings; (3) make the records available to the Attorney General for entry into an electronic database (established by this Act); and (4) store the fired bullet and cartridge casings as specified.

Directs the Attorney General to: (1) conduct mandatory ballistics testing of all firearms in the custody of Federal agencies; and (2) establish, within each Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives field division, a gun crime task force.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1983: SNIPER Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-1983/
MLA
"S. 1983: SNIPER Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-1983/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1983, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-1983/.
Markdown link
[S. 1983: SNIPER Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-1983/)
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