II

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 2110

To establish a Federal matching grant program for State and local law

enforcement agencies to assist in upgrading firearms, providing training,

and purchasing ammunition.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

MAY 12 (legislative day, MAY 2), 1994

Mr. GORTON introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred

to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To establish a Federal matching grant program for State

and local law enforcement agencies to assist in upgrading

firearms, providing training, and purchasing ammunition.

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 ‘‘Law Enforcement Offi5 cer Protection Act’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

7 The Congress finds that—
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•S 2110 IS

1 (1) law enforcement officers must be adequately

2 equipped to protect the public and themselves

3 against violent criminals;

4 (2) as the Federal Government pursues strate5 gies to keep firearms out of the hands of violent

6 criminals, those who enforce the law at the State

7 and local level must be prepared to respond to vio8 lence;

9 (3) some State and local law enforcement agen10 cies are faced with criminals with superior firearms

11 that endanger the lives of law enforcement officers

12 and of the public that they are sworn to protect;

13 (4) some State and local law enforcement agen14 cies are not able to convert or upgrade their fire15 arms due to State or local budget limitations;

16 (5) law enforcement officers should not have to

17 purchase their firearms used for official duty with

18 personal funds; and

19 (6) it is in the interest of the Federal Govern20 ment to provide minor financial assistance to those

21 State and local law enforcement agencies in need of

22 a weapons upgrade in order to protect themselves

23 and the public against violent crime.
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•S 2110 IS

1 SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM.

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General shall estab3 lish a Federal matching grant program to provide finan4 cial assistance to State and local law enforcement agencies

5 for the purpose of upgrading or converting their standard6 issue firearms.

7 (b) AMOUNT OF GRANTS.—The Attorney General

8 may make a single grant to a State or local law enforce9 ment agency in an amount, not to exceed $300,000, equal

10 to the amount of non-Federal funds expended by or com11 mitted to the agency for the purpose of upgrading or con12 verting firearms on or after March 15, 1994 and before

13 March 15, 1995.

14 (c) USE OF GRANT MONEYS.—Grant moneys shall be

15 used for—

16 (1) the purchase of standard-issue firearms that

17 are considered an upgrade from current standard18 issue firearms used by the State or local law enforce19 ment agency;

20 (2) the training necessary to use the upgraded

21 firearms in accordance with public safety and profes22 sional standards; and

23 (3) the purchase of ammunition, if necessary,

24 for training and practice consistent with official

25 duties.
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1 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

2 There are authorized to be appropriated such sums

3 as are necessary to carry out this Act.

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