S.119 - No Retaining Every Gun In a System That Restricts Your Rights Act (119th Congress)
Summary
S.119, the "No Retaining Every Gun In a System That Restricts Your Rights Act," aims to amend Title 18 of the United States Code. The bill seeks to discontinue the federal government's collection of firearm transaction records from discontinued firearms businesses.
It also mandates the destruction of already collected records. The bill requires the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to destroy these records within 90 days of the Act's enactment and submit a report to Congress specifying the number of records destroyed.
Expected Effects
If enacted, S.119 would limit the federal government's ability to track firearm transactions from businesses that are no longer operating. This could reduce the amount of data available for law enforcement to investigate gun-related crimes.
It may also affect the ability to study gun-related trends and patterns. The destruction of existing records would make it impossible to access historical data on firearm transactions from discontinued businesses.
Potential Benefits
- Reduces the potential for government overreach in collecting and maintaining records of firearm transactions.
- Protects the privacy of individuals who purchased firearms from businesses that have since closed.
- Aligns with the Second Amendment by limiting federal regulation of firearms.
- Could reduce the administrative burden and costs associated with storing and maintaining these records.
- Prevents potential misuse of firearm transaction data by the government.
Potential Disadvantages
- Hinders law enforcement's ability to trace firearms used in crimes, potentially making it more difficult to solve gun-related cases.
- Reduces the availability of data for research on gun violence and firearm-related trends.
- May make it more difficult to identify and prevent illegal firearm trafficking.
- Could be perceived as weakening efforts to regulate firearms and reduce gun violence.
- May create a loophole that allows individuals to purchase firearms anonymously through discontinued businesses.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's alignment with the US Constitution is debatable. Proponents may argue it aligns with the Second Amendment by reducing federal oversight of firearm transactions. They might also cite the Fourth Amendment, arguing that the retention of these records constitutes an unreasonable search and seizure.
Opponents may argue that the bill undermines the government's ability to regulate firearms and ensure public safety, potentially conflicting with the government's responsibility to "insure domestic Tranquility" as stated in the Constitution's preamble. The Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8) grants Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce, which could be interpreted to include firearm sales.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).