Undetectable Firearms Modernization Act
Bill: H.R.1477 | Sponsor: Rep. Dean, Madeleine (D-PA)
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
Undetectable Firearms Modernization Act
This bill revises the federal statutory framework regulating the manufacture, possession, sale, import, shipment, delivery, receipt, or transfer of undetectable firearms.
Current law requires firearms to be detectable by walk-through metal detectors after the removal of grips, stocks, and magazines. Specifically, firearms must be as detectable as a security exemplar (i.e., a piece of stainless steel that is 3.7 ounces and in a shape resembling a handgun). There are exceptions, including for firearms manufactured for or sold to U.S. military or intelligence agencies.
This bill requires firearms to contain detectable material after the removal of all parts other than major components. It defines detectable material as material that produces a magnetic field equivalent to that produced by 3.7 ounces of stainless steel. The bill also revises and broadens the exceptions to include firearms (1) received by, in the possession of, or under the control of the United States; or (2) produced pursuant to a contract with the United States.

To modernize the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Undetectable Firearms Modernization 
Act''.

SEC. 2. MODERNIZATION OF THE PROHIBITION ON UNDETECTABLE FIREARMS.

    Section 922(p) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``grips, 
                stocks, and magazines, is not as detectable as the 
                Security Exemplar, by walk-through metal detectors 
                calibrated and operated to detect the Security 
                Exemplar'' and inserting ``all parts other than major 
                components, does not contain detectable material''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``when 
                subjected to inspection by the types of x-ray machines 
                commonly used at airports, does not generate'' and 
                inserting the following: ``if subjected to inspection 
                by the types of detection devices commonly used at 
                airports for security screening, would not generate'';
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(B) the term `major component', with respect to a 
        firearm--
                    ``(i) means the slide or cylinder, or the frame or 
                receiver of the firearm; and
                    ``(ii) in the case of a rifle or shotgun, includes 
                the barrel of the firearm; and''; and
                    (B) by striking subparagraph (C) and the proviso 
                that follows and inserting the following:
            ``(C) the term `detectable material' means material that 
        produces a magnetic field that is equivalent in strength to the 
        magnetic field produced by 3.7 ounces of 17-4 PH stainless 
        steel.'';
            (3) in paragraph (3)--
                            (A) in the first sentence, by inserting 
                        after ``of a firearm'' the following: ``, 
                        including a prototype,''; and
                            (B) by striking the second sentence; and
            (4) in paragraph (5), by striking ``shall not apply to any 
        firearm which'' and all that follows and inserting the 
        following: ``shall not apply to--
            ``(A) any firearm received by, in the possession of, or 
        under the control of the United States; or
            ``(B) the manufacture, importation, possession, transfer, 
        receipt, shipment, or delivery of a firearm by a licensed 
        manufacturer or licensed importer pursuant to an existing 
        contract with the United States.''.
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