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HR 4214 114th Congress House

Gun Violence Prevention and Safe Communities Act of 2015

Official title: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the excise tax and special occupational tax in respect of firearms and to increase the transfer tax on any other weapon, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 16, 2016 Introduced by: Davis, Danny K. Democratic · Illinois See on congress.gov
Taxation Crime preventionCriminal justice information and recordsEducation programs fundingElementary and secondary education
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Firearms and explosivesInflation and pricesJuvenile crime and gang violenceLaw enforcement administration and fundingManufacturingResearch administration and fundingRetail and wholesale tradesSales and excise taxesViolent crime
This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) 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 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 23, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
Jan 15, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Dec 16, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Dec 11, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Dec 10, 2015
Introduced in House
Dec 10, 2015
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, the Judiciary, Energy and Commerce, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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 Latest action March 23, 2016

Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Gun Violence Prevention and Safe Communities Act of 2015

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the excise tax on the sale of firearms by manufacturers, producers, or importers, to: (1) increase the rate of such tax to 20% on pistols, revolvers, and other firearms and on any lower frame or receiver for a firearm; and (2) impose a 50% tax on shells and cartridges. The bill exempts any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States from such tax.

The bill allocates revenues from the increased excise tax under this Act for law enforcement and public safety grant programs, including programs for research on gun violence and its prevention.

The bill: (1) increases the occupational tax on importers, manufacturers, and dealers in firearms and the transfer tax on firearms; and (2) modifies the definition of "firearm" for excise tax purposes to include a semiautomatic pistol chambered for cartridges and configured with receivers commonly associated with rifles and capable of accepting detachable magazines.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 9
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4214: Gun Violence Prevention and Safe Communities Act of 2015. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4214/
MLA
"H.R. 4214: Gun Violence Prevention and Safe Communities Act of 2015." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4214/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4214, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4214/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4214: Gun Violence Prevention and Safe Communities Act of 2015](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4214/)
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