Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act of 2017

To provide an amnesty period during which veterans and their family members can register certain firearms in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans’ Heritage Firearms Act of 2017 2. Amnesty period for veterans to register qualifying firearms (a) Registration Subject to such regulations as the Attorney General may prescribe, the applicable veteran or a member of the family of such a veteran, who owns and possesses a qualifying firearm, may register the firearm in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (described in section 5841 (b) Qualifying firearm (1) In general For purposes of this section, the term qualifying firearm (A) before October 31, 1968; and (B) by a veteran, while the veteran was a member of the Armed Forces and was stationed outside the continental United States. (2) Presumption of validity In the absence of clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, the Attorney General shall accept as true and accurate any affidavit, document, or other evidence submitted by an individual to establish that a firearm meets the requirements of paragraph (1). (c) Hearings If the Attorney General determines that an individual may not register a firearm under subsection (a) during the amnesty period, the Attorney General, on the request of such individual, shall— (1) provide the individual any evidence on which the Attorney General’s decision is based; and (2) promptly hold a hearing to review the determination. (d) Limited immunity (1) Criminal liability under title 18 An individual who registers a firearm under subsection (a) of this section— (A) shall be treated, for purposes of subsections (a)(3) and (o) of section 922 of title 18, United States Code, as having lawfully acquired and possessed the firearm before the date of the enactment of chapter 44 of such title and of each provision of that chapter; and (B) shall not be liable for any violation of that chapter which— (i) is based solely on the ownership, possession, transportation, importation, or alteration of the firearm by the individual; and (ii) occurred before or concurrent with the registration. (2) Criminal liability under internal revenue code Except as provided in paragraph (3), an individual who registers a firearm under subsection (a) shall not be liable for a violation of chapter 53 or 75 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to the firearm which occurred before or concurrent with the registration. (3) Transfer tax liability Paragraph (2) shall not affect the liability of any individual for any transfer tax imposed under section 5811 (4) Attempts to register In the case of an applicable veteran or a member of such a veteran’s family who attempts to register a qualifying firearm in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record at a time other than during the amnesty period, paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) shall apply with respect to the individual if the individual surrenders the firearm to a law enforcement agency not later than 30 days after notification by the Attorney General of potential criminal liability for continued possession of the firearm. (e) Forfeiture A firearm registered under subsection (a) shall not be subject to seizure or forfeiture under chapter 53 or 75 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or chapter 44 (f) Notice; forms; mailbox rule (1) Notice of amnesty period The Attorney General shall provide clear printed notices providing information regarding the amnesty period and registering a firearm during the period. To the extent feasible, the Attorney General shall ensure that the notices are posted in post offices, law enforcement buildings, and businesses of licensed firearms dealers. (2) VA Outreach The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall carry out an outreach program and develop a communications strategy to provide to veterans information regarding the amnesty period and registering a firearm during the period, including by posting notices in facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs and on the Internet website of the Department. (3) Forms The Attorney General shall make available any forms necessary for registering a firearm in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. To the extent feasible, the Attorney General shall make such forms available in the locations referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2) and through the Internet website for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. (4) Mailbox rule For purposes of this section, the Attorney General shall treat any form that is postmarked during the amnesty period as received during the amnesty period. (g) Definitions In this section: (1) Amnesty period The term amnesty period (2) Firearm The term firearm section 5845 (A) any device described in subsection (f)(1) of such section; or (B) any combination of parts— (i) designed or intended for use in converting any device into a device described in subparagraph (A); or (ii) from which a device described in subparagraph (A) may be readily assembled. (3) Applicable veteran The term applicable veteran (4) Veteran The term veteran (5) Family (A) In general The term family (B) Special rules For purposes of subparagraph (A): (i) A spouse of an individual who is legally separated from the individual under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance shall be treated as the spouse of the individual. (ii) Individuals related by the half blood or by legal adoption shall be treated as if they are related by the whole blood. (6) Continental united states The term continental United States 3. Transfer of firearms to museums (a) Transfer of forfeited firearms to museums (1) In general The Attorney General shall transfer each firearm which has been forfeited to the United States to the first qualified museum that submits a request for the firearm in such form and manner as the Attorney General may specify. (2) Destruction of forfeited firearms prohibited The Attorney General shall not destroy any firearm which has been forfeited to the United States until the end of the 5-year period beginning on the date of the forfeiture. (3) Catalogue of firearms With respect to each firearm that is available to be transferred to a museum under paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall, not later than 60 days after the forfeiture of the firearm, publish information which identifies the firearm (including a picture) on the web page of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The information shall be available to the public without cost and without restriction. (4) Registration of firearms Any firearm transferred under paragraph (1) to a qualified museum shall be registered to the transferee in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (described in section 5841 (5) Firearm In this subsection, the term firearm chapter 44 (6) Qualified museum In this subsection, the term qualified museum (A) any museum owned or operated by a unit of Federal, State, or local government; and (B) any museum which— (i) is open to the public; (ii) is incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation under applicable State law; (iii) may possess a firearm in the collection of the museum under the laws of the State in which the collection is displayed; (iv) holds a license under chapter 44 (v) certifies to the Attorney General that— (I) the museum is not engaged in the trade or business of buying or selling firearms; (II) with respect to the transfer of any firearm under paragraph (1), the museum is not requesting the transfer of the firearm for purpose of sale; and (III) the museum shall, not later than 90 days after the museum ceases operations, file an application pursuant to chapter 53 (b) Transfer of machineguns to museums Section 922(o)(2) of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking or (2) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and (3) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following: (B) a transfer to or by, or possession by, a museum that is open to the public and incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation under applicable State law; or .

Summary: Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act of 2017 This bill provides a 90-day amnesty period during which veterans and their family members can register in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record any firearm acquired before October 31, 1968, by a veteran while a member of the Armed Forces stationed outside the continental United States. The bill: (1) grants such an individual limited immunity under the federal criminal code and the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the acquisition, possession, transportation, or alteration of such firearm before or concurrent with such registration; and (2) extends such immunity to a veteran who attempts to register a qualifying firearm outside of the amnesty period if the veteran surrenders the firearm within 30 days after being notified of potential criminal liability for continued possession. The Department of Justice (DOJ) shall provide clear notice of, and the Department of Veterans Affairs shall carry out an outreach program and develop a communications strategy to provide veterans information regarding, the amnesty and registration period. DOJ shall: (1) transfer each firearm qualifying as a curio or relic that has been forfeited to the United States to the first qualified museum that requests it, and (2) publish information identifying each such firearm that is available to be transferred to a museum. The bill: (1) prohibits DOJ from destroying any such firearm that has been forfeited until five years after the forfeiture, and (2) requires that any firearm transferred to a qualified museum be registered to the transferee. The prohibition against transfer or possession of a machine-gun shall not apply to a transfer to or by, or to possession by, a museum that is open to the public and incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation under applicable state law.