Dems Introduce New Gun Control Bill Requiring Psych Evaluations and Bans on Ammo
The bill could strip the gun owners' constitutionally protected right to keep arms
© press
A new gun control bill has been introduced by Democrat Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX) that seeks to ban certain ammunition and provide restrictions for the licensing of firearms.
H.R.127 states its purpose is to:
"Provide for the licensing of firearm and ammunition possession and the registration of firearms, and to prohibit the possession of certain ammunition.”
The bill calls on the U.S. Attorney General to establish a licensing and registration system through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
The move would give the government more power to monitor gun owners’ purchases while requiring the disclosure of the “make, model, and serial number” of the firearms.
The firearm owner must also tell the government “where the firearm is or will be stored.”
© press
Individuals must also complete “at least 24 hours of training" in order to obtain a license.
Gun owners could also be stripped of their license and must get their licenses renewed.
The bill also states that information collected from gun owners will be given to all Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and also provided to all branches of the United States Military.
Individuals must also be at least 21 years old and be required to undergo “a psychological evaluation," which could involve “other members of the household in which the individual resides.”
The bill could also strip the gun owners' constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms if they have been hospitalized with a wide range of psychiatric disorders, including depression.
© press
Approximately 17 million Americans suffered from a major depressive episode in 2017, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
But because of the coronavirus pandemic, that number may be far higher due to isolation and an increase in unemployment.
The bill also bans ammunition that is .50 caliber or larger while banning people from being able to possess magazines with the ability to hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
People will also need to pay an $800 fee to the government that insures them “against liability for losses and damages resulting from the use of any firearm by the person during the 1-year period that begins with the date the policy is issued.”
Lee has faced backlash in the past for lack of understanding of firearms:
In September, she said:
“I’ve held an AR-15 in my hand, I wish I hadn’t. It is as heavy as 10 boxes that you might be moving. And the bullet that is utilized, a .50 caliber, these kinds of bullets need to be licensed and do not need to be on the street.”
“I held an AR-15 in my hand, I wish I hadn’t. It is as heavy as 10 boxes that you might be moving. And the bullet that is utilized, a .50 caliber, these kinds of bullets need to be licensed and do not need to be on the street.” - Rep. @JacksonLeeTX18 pic.twitter.com/U71ir6BHZH
— Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) September 23, 2019
But AR-15s weigh around 10 or 11 pounds, while low-end ones can weigh 5.5-6.5
They don't fire a .50 caliber round; they fire a significantly smaller .223 caliber round.
