I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8631 
To establish competitive grant programs to incentivize the safe and responsible 
storage of firearms, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 20, 2020 
Mr. GOLDEN (for himself and Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To establish competitive grant programs to incentivize the 
safe and responsible storage of firearms, 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 ‘‘Responsible Ownership 
of Firearms Act of 2020’’. 
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) since 1999, more than 15,000 law enforce-
ment agencies have partnered with nonprofit organi-
zations to distribute more than 38 million firearm 
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safety education kits, which include firearm locking 
devices and informational materials, to firearm own-
ers in all 50 States and 5 U.S. territories; 
(2) in addition to providing for the secure stor-
age of countless firearms, these actions have raised 
awareness about safe and responsible firearm owner-
ship and the importance of storing firearms securely 
when not in use, which has proven effective in pre-
venting unauthorized access to firearms thereby re-
ducing and preventing accidents, theft, and misuse, 
including suicide; and 
(3) Federal investment in enhancing and ex-
panding these efforts is critical to educating a 
broader proportion of the public while keeping oper-
able firearms out of the hands of those who cannot 
be trusted to use them responsibly. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMPETITIVE GRANT PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this program is to re-
duce the rates of accidental death, theft, criminal misuse, 
and suicide through the safe and responsible storage of 
firearms when not in use. 
(b) 
ESTABLISHMENT.—The 
Attorney 
General, 
through the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the Office 
of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice shall 
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establish a competitive grant program to make funds 
available to nonprofit organizations to purchase firearm 
safety education kits for distribution to the public. 
(c) ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out this section, the Di-
rector of the Bureau of Justice Assistance shall make 
available grants to nonprofit organizations to partner with 
local, State, or tribal law enforcement agencies to: 
(1) purchase and distribute firearm locking de-
vices to firearm owners; and 
(2) develop and distribute educational materials 
on safe and responsible gun ownership, safe firearm 
storage and firearm safety in general. 
The educational materials shall not include information in-
tended to prevent, preclude, or dissuade the legal use, pos-
session, or ownership of firearms. 
(d) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.— 
(1) An entity eligible to receive funding under 
this section shall be— 
(A) a nonprofit organization; and 
(B) identified as having the technical and 
logistical experience, and financial capabilities 
needed to carry out activities under subsection 
(c). 
(2) The Attorney General, through the Depart-
ment of Justice Office of Justice Programs, shall 
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prioritize for receipt of a grant under this Act eligi-
ble entities that have a history of effectively partici-
pating in activities set forth in subsection (c). 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$50,000,000, to be available until expended. 
SEC. 4. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 
Nothing in this Act, or any amendment made by this 
Act, shall be construed to— 
(1) authorize the establishment, directly or indi-
rectly, of a national firearms registry; or 
(2) promote or require mandatory firearm stor-
age requirements. 
Æ 
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