THV Working For You At 6:30: The Truth About H.R. 45

Liz Massey

4 months ago

On Monday, we told you the facts about a bogus and misleading email about a Senate bill that's been circulating the web regarding listing your firearms on your tax return. Well another THV viewer brought to our attention that the email also refers to another bill, H.R. 45.

Robert from Searcy was concerned that people would get confused. So in tonight's THV Working for You we wanted to clarify and reveal the facts for you.

H.R. or House Bill 45 is not an old bill. It was just introduced this year in January by Democratic Representative Bobby Rush of Chicago. On February 9th it was referred to a subcommittee. And eight months later it's still sitting there with no action scheduled.

According to factcheck.org which is a nonpartisan, non profit "consumer advocate" website which aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. That's the way the vast majority of bills die and the way this same legislation died last year after Rush introduced it in the previous congress.

Now here's what H.R. 45 which is also referred to as "Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009" is basically about. It would provide for the implementation of a system of licensing for purchasers of certain firearms and for a record of sale system for those firearms and for other purposes. So basically it would require a federal license to own "any handgun" or "any semiautomatic firearm that can accept any detachable ammunition feeding device."

Now to be issued a firearm license you would have to submit the following to the Attorney General. Among other things, a current photograph, your name, address and birthplace. A thumbprint and the safe storage of firearms, especially in the vicinity of those under 18. And you'd also have to allow for the release of any mental health records.

Now just like Senate Bill S. 20-99 that we talked about on Monday and was introduced back in 2000, H.R. 45 comes with many misleading claims.

For example, you have to submit to a physical and mental evaluation at anytime. That's not true. Also, the right of inspection to make sure you're in compliance with the law would apply to "any place in which firearms or firearm products are manufactured, stored, or held for "distribution in commerce," not in ordinary households."

Again, H.R. 45 is still just sitting there in committee and the fact that it doesn't have a co-sponsor means it may not ever be brought to a vote before Congress much less passed. The point to remember is don't believe everything you read. If you have question, feel free to call your Senators or Congressmen or look it up on the Senate's or House's websites. You can also go to thomas.gov and type in the bill and you can see the status of it and even read it for yourself.