Responsible Ownership of Firearms Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.4136 | Sponsor: Rep. Golden, Jared F. (D-ME)
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
Responsible Ownership of Firearms Act of 2021
This bill directs the Bureau of Justice Assistance to award competitive grants to nonprofit organizations to purchase and distribute firearm locking devices to firearm owners and distribute educational materials on firearm safety.

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 Representatives 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 2021''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) Since 1999, more than 15,000 law enforcement agencies 
        have partnered with nonprofit organizations to distribute more 
        than 40,000,000 firearm safety education kits, which include 
        firearm locking devices and informational materials, to firearm 
        owners in all 50 states and 5 U.S. territories.
            (2) In addition to providing for the secure storage of 
        countless firearms, these actions have raised awareness about 
        safe and responsible firearm ownership and the importance of 
        storing firearms securely when not in use, which has proven 
        effective in preventing unauthorized access to firearms thereby 
        reducing and preventing accidents, theft, and misuse, including 
        suicide.
            (3) Federal investment in enhancing and expanding these 
        efforts is critical to educating a broader proportion of the 
        public while keeping operable firearms out of the hands of 
        those who cannot be trusted to use them responsibly.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this program is to reduce 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 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 Director 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 devices 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 intended to 
prevent, preclude, or dissuade the legal use, possession, 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 Department of Justice 
        Office of Justice Programs, shall prioritize for receipt of a 
        grant under this Act eligible entities that have a history of 
        effectively participating 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 indirectly, of 
        a national firearms registry; or
            (2) promote or require mandatory firearm storage 
        requirements.
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