Space Works To Preserve Gunowners’ Rights and Eliminate Gun Tax

Washington, D.C. -- Standing up for the rights of gun owners, [Democrat] Congressman Zack Space (OH-18) today announced the introduction of the Comprehensive Firearms Reform Act of 2007. Space’s legislation would strike a blow against the excessive infringement of Second Amendment rights at the hands of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE).

This bill makes corrections to the BATFE’s jurisdiction to help ensure that overzealous bureaucrats can’t go after gun purchasers. BATFE regulations now are so restrictive that if a person writes “y” instead of “yes” on a gun purchase form, the application is frequently rejected.

Space’s bill also permanently repeals a federal gun tax that can be imposed when a purchaser goes through a background check.

“As a sportsman and member of the NRA, I know what it means to be a responsible gun owner,” Space said. “I am a strong advocate of responsible, legal gun ownership, and this legislation will make sure that we do not hinder the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens while working to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.”

“We can and will make it more difficult for criminals to get their hands on guns while making sure we protect the civil rights of Americans.”

This legislation would:

* Create a system to provide more flexibility in punishing those who violate gun sales laws.
* Establish a solid legal requirement for determining the willful
violation of the law.
* Creates specific sentencing guidelines for dangerous felons
convicted of a gun offense.
* Set limitations on the availability of electronic gun owner
information to protect the privacy of law-abiding citizens.
* Ban the federal background check tax.
* Allow security companies and ammunition manufacturers to purchase machineguns for product testing and international security personnel training.
* Ease the restriction on the importation of replacement parts for military-style semiautomatic rifles.

Space introduced HR 4900 with Republican Steve King of Iowa.

Congressman Space has represented Ohio’s 18th Congressional District since 2007.

Additional Information:
NRA-ILA Fact Sheet - H.R. 4900: The “Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2007”