Appropriations Bill Passes Without Anti-Gun Amendments

On Thursday, May 8, 2014, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee approved the FY15 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill.  This bill contains a number of pro-gun general provisions and will now head to the U.S. House floor for consideration.

During the mark up of the bill, multiple anti-gun amendments were offered.  Fortunately for gun owners, all were defeated.  The amendments offered ranged from a provision requiring employees of a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) to be pre-approved by the U.S. Attorney General, to a provision allowing the ATF to compel FFLs to conduct annual physical inventories.  The first amendment offered would have provided no limitation on the information the Attorney General could have requested from FFL employees, nor on what could have been done with the information.  The second amendment offered would have been nothing more than a duplicative and burdensome requirement, since FFLs must already keep and maintain records documenting the receipt and disposition of firearm in their inventories.    
Representative John Carter (R-TX) offered a pro-gun amendment that would prohibit the use of funds to maintain a federal database on multiple rifle and shotgun sales to an individual. This amendment passed by a vote of 29-18. 

The National Rifle Association would like to thank those members of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee who voted for the Carter Amendment, as well as those who voted against the anti-gun amendments.  We will continue to keep you updated as the appropriations process moves forward.