CONGRESS FOR VOTERS

Ben Cline (R-VA)

Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act

H.R. 5874 · House bill Crime and Law Enforcement

A Republican bill with 112 Republican cosponsors · See all 112 cosponsors

Last activity — Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

In committee

Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.

The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.

Its path through Congress

  1. Introduced
  2. In Committee

What this bill would do

This bill is called the Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act. It ensures that specific federal government operations relating to firearms law enforcement and firearm export licensing continue during a lapse in appropriations. Under this bill, these operations, functions, and services are deemed to relate to an emergency involving the safety of human life or the protection of property. The employees carrying out these specific functions are deemed to be excepted employees during a government shutdown. The affected services include the National Instant Criminal Background Check System and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It also covers the Bureau of Industry and Security and the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls regarding firearms and firearm-related products.

Yes· 3 of 7

  • Scored +7

    Would gun owners be better off under this?

    Ensures legal acquisition and background checks are not halted by government shutdowns.

  • Scored +5

    Would business owners be better off under this?

    Ensures firearm exporters and dealers can operate without shutdown disruptions.

  • Scored +5

    Does this protect the right to own guns?

    Ensures citizens can continue to legally acquire firearms via background checks during a shutdown.

The opposite

No question was scored the opposite.