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S 969 108th Congress Senate

Homeland Security Gun Safety Act of 2003

Official title: A bill to enhance the security and safety of the Nation by increasing the time allowed to track terrorists during periods of elevated alert, closing loopholes … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to enhance the security and safety of the Nation by increasing the time allowed to track terrorists during periods of elevated alert, closing loopholes that have allowed terrorists to acquire firearms, maintaining records of certain handgun transfers during periods of heightened terrorist risk, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 1, 2003 See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement Administrative procedureBusiness recordsCommerceCriminal investigation
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Criminal justice informationDepartment of JusticeEBB TerrorismEmergency ManagementExplosivesFederal law enforcement officersFirearmsFirearms controlFraudGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment paperworkIdentification of criminalsInternational AffairsLawLicensesReceiving stolen goodsRecruiting of employeesRetail tradeSearches and seizuresSentences (Criminal procedure)StandardsStorageTerrorismWarrants (Law)
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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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 1, 2003
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
May 1, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5655-5657)
May 1, 2003
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action May 1, 2003

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Homeland Security Gun Safety Act of 2003 - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to make certain requirements with respect to the destruction of records of firearms transfers inapplicable during periods in which the Homeland Security Advisory System threat condition is elevated, high, or severe.

Prohibits a licensed dealer from selling or delivering a firearm to a qualified purchaser if the dealer has reasonable cause to believe that: (1) the purchaser intends to transfer the firearm to an ineligible individual; or (2) the gun will be used in a crime.

Requires a chief law enforcement officer who determines that a person is ineligible to receive a handgun to notify the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) of the person's attempt to purchase a firearm.

Prohibits the sale to, or purchase by, an unlicensed individual of two or more handguns during any 30-day period.

Directs the Attorney General to prescribe security standards for the storage and display of firearms by licensed firearms dealers to prevent theft or other loss.

Authorizes inspections of the inventory and records of a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer at any time without reasonable cause or warrant.

Requires a licensed importer, dealer, or collector, before purchasing a firearm from an unlicensed person, to check the firearm against the Stolen Gun File of the National Crime Information Center.

Increases penalties for specified violations. Provides for: (1) mandatory license suspension when the licensee is charged with a crime; and (2) license suspension for at least 48 hours for failure to report a missing firearm.

Reduces from 50 pounds to five pounds of commercially manufactured black powder the threshold amount covered by certain explosives provisions.

Authorizes appropriations to hire new BATFE inspectors and agents.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Reed, Jack
Rhode Island · May 1, 2003
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 969: Homeland Security Gun Safety Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-969/
MLA
"S. 969: Homeland Security Gun Safety Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-969/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 969, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-969/.
Markdown link
[S. 969: Homeland Security Gun Safety Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-969/)
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