Foreign National Firearms Background Check Enhancement Act

Bill: 117-hr-2971
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Crist, Charlie [D-FL-13]
Introduced: 2021-05-04
Policy area: Immigration
Latest action: action_date: 2021-11-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-05-04
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Foreign National Firearms Background Check Enhancement Act</strong></p> <p>This bill modifies the exceptions to a provision that generally prohibits a nonimmigrant visa holder from obtaining a firearm or ammunition. </p> <p>Current law provides certain exceptions to this prohibition against a nonimmigrant receiving a firearm or ammunition, such as for a nonimmigrant who has a U.S. hunting license.</p> <p>This bill narrows the exceptions by, among other changes, requiring a nonimmigrant with a hunting license to get a waiver from the Department of Justice (DOJ) before receiving a firearm. The person transferring the firearm to a nonimmigrant visa holder must verify the validity of the waiver with DOJ. </p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2971 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 4, 2021 Mr. Crist (for himself, Mr. Rutherford , and Mrs. Demings ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to require an alien lawfully admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa to obtain the approval of the Attorney General before receiving a firearm, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Foreign National Firearms Background Check Enhancement Act . 2. Requirement that alien lawfully admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa obtain the approval of the Attorney General before receiving a firearm (a) In general Section 922(y) of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (2)— (A) by striking all that precedes subparagraph (B) and inserting the following: (2) Exceptions Subsections (d)(5)(B) and (g)(5)(B) do not apply to the transfer or other disposition of a firearm to, or the possession or receipt of a firearm by, an alien who has been lawfully admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa, if— (A) (i) the alien has obtained a valid waiver issued by the Attorney General under paragraph (3), and, in the case of a transfer or other disposition, the transferor has received a copy of the waiver and verified the validity of the waiver with the Attorney General; and (ii) the alien— (I) is admitted to the United States for lawful hunting or sporting purposes or is in possession of a hunting license or permit lawfully issued in the United States; or (II) has resided in the United States for a continuous period of not less than 180 days before the date on which the petition is submitted under this paragraph; ; (B) in each of subparagraphs (B) and (C), by inserting the alien is before an official ; and (C) in subparagraph (D), by inserting the alien is before a foreign ; and (2) in paragraph (3)— (A) in subparagraph (A)— (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking subsection and inserting subsections (d)(5) and ; and (ii) in clause (i), by striking (C) and inserting (B) ; (B) in subparagraph (B)— (i) by striking under subparagraph (B) shall— and all that follows through (ii) and inserting shall ; (ii) by striking , absent the application of subsection (g)(5)(B), ; and (iii) by inserting (d) or before (g) ; (C) in subparagraph (C), by striking subsection and inserting subsections (d)(5)(B) and ; and (D) by adding at the end the following: (D) Validity of waiver A waiver issued under this paragraph shall be valid for a term set by the Attorney General, which shall be not longer than 1 year from the date the petition for the waiver is approved. . (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.