I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 420 
To provide an amnesty period during which veterans and their family mem-
bers can register certain firearms in the National Firearms Registration 
and Transfer Record, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 25, 2011 
Mr. REHBERG (for himself and Mr. BOSWELL) 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 provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans’ Heritage 
Firearms Act of 2011’’. 
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SEC. 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 fire-
arm in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer 
Record (described in section 5841 of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986) during the amnesty period. 
(b) QUALIFYING FIREARM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this section, 
the term ‘‘qualifying firearm’’ means any firearm 
which was acquired— 
(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 ab-
sence of clear and convincing evidence to the con-
trary, the Attorney General shall accept as true and 
accurate any affidavit, document, or other evidence 
submitted by an individual to establish that a fire-
arm meets the requirements of paragraph (1). 
(c) HEARINGS.—If the Attorney General determines 
that an individual may not register a firearm under sub-
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section (a) during the amnesty period, the Attorney Gen-
eral, 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 deter-
mination. 
(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 sub-
sections (a)(3) and (o) of section 922 of title 
18, United States Code, as having lawfully ac-
quired 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. 
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(2) CRIMINAL
LIABILITY
UNDER
INTERNAL 
REVENUE CODE.—Except as provided in paragraph 
(3), an individual who registers a firearm under sub-
section (a) shall not be liable for a violation of chap-
ter 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 of the In-
ternal Revenue Code of 1986. 
(4) ATTEMPTS TO REGISTER.—In the case of 
an applicable veteran or a member of such a vet-
eran’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 At-
torney General of potential criminal liability for con-
tinued possession of the firearm. 
(e) FORFEITURE.—A firearm registered under sub-
section (a) shall not be subject to seizure or forfeiture 
under chapter 53 or 75 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
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1986 or chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, for 
a violation of any such chapter with respect to the firearm 
which occurred before or concurrent with the registration. 
(f) NOTICE; FORMS; MAILBOX RULE.— 
(1) NOTICE OF AMNESTY PERIOD.—The Attor-
ney General shall provide clear printed notices pro-
viding information regarding the amnesty period and 
registering a firearm during the period. To the ex-
tent feasible, the Attorney General shall ensure that 
the notices are posted in post offices, law enforce-
ment buildings, buildings of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs, and businesses of licensed firearms 
dealers. 
(2) FORMS.—The Attorney General shall make 
available any forms necessary for registering a fire-
arm in the National Firearms Registration and 
Transfer Record. To the extent feasible, the Attor-
ney General shall make such forms available in the 
locations referred to in paragraph (1) and through 
the Web site for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
Firearms, and Explosives. 
(3) MAILBOX RULE.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, the Attorney General shall treat any form that 
is postmarked during the amnesty period as received 
during the amnesty period. 
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