Trafficking Reduction And Criminal Enforcement (TRACE) Act

To prevent the illegal sale of firearms, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Trafficking Reduction And Criminal Enforcement (TRACE) Act 2. Regulatory requirement to mark firearms with second, hidden serial number (a) In general Within 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall promulgate final regulations that require each firearm manufactured in the United States on or after the effective date of the regulation, to be marked with a serial number that is located inside the receiver of the firearm or that is visible only in infrared light, in addition to the serial number with which the firearm is otherwise required by law to be marked. (b) Definition of receiver Section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (3)— (A) by inserting , including an unfinished frame or receiver such weapon (B) by striking or (D) any destructive device ; (D) any destructive device; or (E) any combination of parts designed or intended for use in converting any device into a firearm and from which a firearm may be readily assembled (2) in paragraph (10)— (A) by striking and the the (B) by inserting ; and the term manufacturing firearms (3) by inserting after paragraph (29) the following: (30) The term frame or receiver (A) means the part of a firearm that can provide the action or housing for the hammer, bolt, or breechblock and firing mechanism; (B) includes a frame or lower receiver blank, casting, or machined body that requires further machining or molding to be used as part of a functional firearm, and which is designed and intended to be used in the assembly of a functional firearm; and (C) does not include a piece of material that has had— (i) its size or external shape altered solely to facilitate transportation or storage; or (ii) solely its chemical composition altered. . 3. Requirement to preserve instant criminal background check records for 180 (a) In general Section 922(t)(2)(C) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the 180-day period that begins with the date the system complies with subparagraphs (A) and (B), destroy (b) Conforming amendment Section 511 of division B of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 ( 34 U.S.C. 40901 Public Law 112–55 (1) by striking for— (1) (2) by striking the semicolon and all that follows and inserting a period. (c) Regulations Within 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall prescribe regulations to implement the amendments made by this section. 4. Requirement that licensed firearms dealers conduct physical check of their firearms business inventory (a) In general Section 923(g) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (8) Each licensee shall conduct a physical check of the firearms inventory of the business of the licensee licensed under this chapter, in accordance with regulations which shall be prescribed by the Attorney General. . (b) Conforming amendment The matter under the heading Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Salaries and Expenses 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 113–6 (c) Regulations Within 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall prescribe regulations to implement section 923(g)(8) of title 18, United States Code. 5. Elimination of limitations on use of gun trace information (a) Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 The matter under the heading Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Salaries and Expenses 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 112–55 (b) Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 The 6th proviso under the heading Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Salaries and Expenses 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 111–117 beginning in fiscal year 2010 and thereafter in fiscal year 2010 (c) Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 The 6th proviso under the heading Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Salaries and Expenses 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 111–8 beginning in fiscal year 2009 and thereafter in fiscal year 2009 (d) Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 The 6th proviso under the heading Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Salaries and Expenses 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 110–161 beginning in fiscal year 2008 and thereafter in fiscal year 2008 (e) Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 The 6th proviso under the heading Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Salaries and Expenses 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 109–108 with respect to any fiscal year (f) Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 The 6th proviso under the heading Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Salaries and Expenses 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 108–447 with respect to any fiscal year (g) Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003 Section 644 of division J of the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003 ( 5 U.S.C. 552 Public Law 108–7 or any other Act with respect to any fiscal year

Summary: Trafficking Reduction And Criminal Enforcement (TRACE) Act This bill modifies provisions related to firearms tracing. First, the bill directs the Department of Justice to promulgate regulations that require each firearm manufactured in the United States to be marked with a serial number that is located inside the firearm's receiver or that is visible only in infrared light, in addition to the serial number mark otherwise required. Next, it requires National Instant Criminal Background Check System records to be maintained for at least 180 days. The bill also requires each licensed firearms dealer to conduct a physical check of their firearms business inventory. Finally, it removes limitations on the use of firearms tracing data by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.