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116th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1943

To regulate firearm silencers and firearm mufflers.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 24, 2019

Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Blumenthal, and Mr. Kaine) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To regulate firearm silencers and firearm mufflers.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the “Help Empower Americans to Respond Act of 2019” or the “HEAR Act”.

SEC. 2. Definitions.

Section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (3), by striking “(C) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or (D)” and inserting “or (C)”; and

(2) by inserting after paragraph (29) the following:

“(30) The term ‘qualified law enforcement officer’ has the meaning given the term in section 926B.”.

SEC. 3. Restrictions on firearm silencers and firearm mufflers.

(a) In general.—Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after subsection (u) the following:

“(v) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), it shall be unlawful for a person to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, a firearm silencer or firearm muffler.

“(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to—

“(A) the importation for, manufacture for, sale to, transfer to, or possession by the United States or a department or agency of the United States or a State or a department, agency, or political subdivision of a State, or a sale or transfer to or possession by a qualified law enforcement officer employed by the United States or a department or agency of the United States or a State or a department, agency, or political subdivision of a State for purposes of law enforcement (whether on or off duty), or a sale or transfer to or possession by a campus law enforcement officer for purposes of law enforcement (whether on or off duty);

“(B) the importation for, or sale or transfer to a licensee under title I of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) for purposes of establishing and maintaining an on-site physical protection system and security organization required by Federal law, or possession by an employee or contractor of such licensee on site for such purposes or off site for purposes of licensee-authorized training or transportation of nuclear materials; or

“(C) the importation for, manufacture for, sale to, transfer to, or possession by a licensed manufacturer or licensed importer for the purposes of testing or experimentation authorized by the Attorney General.

“(3) For purposes of paragraph (2)(A), the term ‘campus law enforcement officer’ means an individual who is—

“(A) employed by a private institution of higher education that is eligible for funding under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.);

“(B) responsible for the prevention or investigation of crime involving injury to persons or property, including apprehension or detention of persons for such crimes;

“(C) authorized by Federal, State, or local law to carry a firearm, execute search warrants, and make arrests; and

“(D) recognized, commissioned, or certified by a government entity as a law enforcement officer.”.

(b) Seizure and forfeiture of firearm silencers and firearm mufflers.—Section 924(d) of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking “or (k)” and inserting “(k), or (v)”; and

(2) in paragraph (3)(E), by inserting “922(v),” after “922(n),”.

SEC. 4. Penalties.

Section 924(a)(1)(B) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking “or (q)” and inserting “(q), or (v)”.

SEC. 5. Use of Byrne grants for buy-back programs for firearm silencers and firearm mufflers.

(a) In general.—Section 501(a)(1) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10152(a)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(I) Compensation for surrendered firearm silencers and firearm mufflers, as those terms are defined in section 921 of title 18, United States Code, under the buy-back program for firearm silencers and firearm mufflers required under section 5(b) of the Help Empower Americans to Respond Act of 2019”..”.

(b) Requirement.—During the 90-day period described in section 6, the Attorney General shall establish and implement a buy-back program, to be carried out across the United States, to purchase firearm silencers and firearm mufflers (as defined in section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code) from individuals seeking to comply with the requirements of this Act and the amendments made by this Act.

SEC. 6. Effective date.

The amendments made by sections 2, 3, and 4 shall take effect on the date that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 7. Severability.