I 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1047 

To require the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to 

make video recordings of the examination and testing of firearms and 

ammunition, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 14, 2017 

Mr. JODY B. HICE of Georgia (for himself, Mr. ROTHFUS, Mr. GRAVES of 

Georgia, Mr. MEADOWS, Mr. FARENTHOLD, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. WEBER

of Texas, Mr. DESANTIS, Mr. JONES, and Mr. FRANKS of Arizona) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To require the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and 

Explosives to make video recordings of the examination 

and testing of firearms and ammunition, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Fairness in Firearm 

5 Testing Act’’. 

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1 SEC. 2. VIDEO RECORDING OF EXAMINATION AND TESTING 

2 OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION BY THE BU3 REAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS, 

4 AND EXPLOSIVES. 

5 Section 1111 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 

6 (6 U.S.C. 531) is amended by adding at the end the fol7 lowing: 

8 ‘‘(e) ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING

9 EXAMINATION AND TESTING OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNI10 TION.— 

11 ‘‘(1) VIDEO RECORDING REQUIRED.—The Bu12 reau shall make a video recording of the entire proc13 ess of the examination and testing by the Bureau of 

14 an item for the purpose of determining, pursuant to 

15 section 921(a)(3), 922(o), 922(p), or subsection 

16 (a)(3), (a)(4), (d), or (e) of section 925 of title 18, 

17 United States Code, or section 5845(a) of the Inter18 nal Revenue Code of 1986, whether the item is a 

19 firearm and if so, the type of firearm, or of deter20 mining pursuant to section 921(a)(17) of title 18, 

21 United States Code, whether the item is ammuni22 tion, and shall not edit or erase any recording made 

23 pursuant to this paragraph. 

24 ‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY.— 

25 ‘‘(A) TO OWNERS.—On request of a person 

26 who claims an ownership interest in an item 

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1 with respect to which a recording is made under 

2 paragraph (1), the Bureau shall make available 

3 to the person, without charge, a digital video 

4 disc that contains a copy of the recording. 

5 ‘‘(B) TO DEFENDANTS.—The Bureau shall 

6 make available to a defendant in a criminal pro7 ceeding involving an item with respect to which 

8 a recording is made under paragraph (1) a dig9 ital video disc that contains a copy of the re10 cording. 

11 ‘‘(3) ADMISSIBILITY AS EVIDENCE.—An item 

12 which the Bureau has determined is a firearm or a 

13 type of firearm or ammunition pursuant to any pro14 vision of law specified in paragraph (1) shall not be 

15 admissible as evidence in any judicial or administra16 tive proceeding unless— 

17 ‘‘(A) the Bureau has complied with para18 graph (2) with respect to the item; or 

19 ‘‘(B) such compliance has been waived, in 

20 writing, by the person against whom the item is 

21 offered as evidence.’’. 

Æ 

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