Mixed Results From Today's Judiciary Committee Meeting (g un control, confirmations)

No Lawyers - Only Guns and Money ^ | 7 March, 2013 | John Richardson

[marktwain]

There is both good news and bad news from today's Senate Judiciary Committee business meeting. The meeting agenda had votes on six nominees for US District Court judgeships and four gun control bills.

First, five out of the six the judicial nominees were passed out of committee on voice votes. However, Kenneth John Gonzales, the US Attorney for New Mexico and a nominee for a District Court judgeship, was held over. This would appear to mean that according to Committee Rules at least one member of the Judiciary Committee requested that the vote on Gonzales be held over until the next committee meeting. As I mentioned yesterday, Gonzales and his office have been pursuing a vendetta against the Reese family of Deming, New Mexico. Check out the Tea Party of Luna County for complete info on the prosecution of the Reeses.

Second, three of the four gun control bills were held over. The bad news is that Chairman Patrick Leahy's S. 54 - Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2013 made it out of the committee. It passed on a 11 to 7 vote. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was the only Republican to vote for the bill.

Grassley did have an amendment to the bill that would require the Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, or Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division to personally review and approve any "Fast and Furious" type of operation. This amendment was adopted unanimously.

The full results of the business meeting with links to the amendments is below:

The Senate Judiciary Committee held an executive business meeting to consider pending nominations and legislation on March 7, 2013. The Committee was not able to complete action on pending matters and the meeting recessed subject to the call of the Chair.

Agenda

I. Nominations

Sheri Polster Chappell, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida Ordered Reported by Voice Vote

Kenneth John Gonzales, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Mexico Held Over

Michael J. McShane, to be United States District Judge for the District of Oregon Ordered Reported by Voice Vote

Nitza I. Quinones Alejandro, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Ordered Reported by Voice Vote

Luis Felipe Restrepo, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Ordered Reported by Voice Vote

Jeffrey L. Schmehl, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Ordered Reported by Voice Vote

II. Legislation

S.150, Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 (Feinstein) Held Over

Amendment ALB13141(Grassley) As Amended, Adopted by Voice Vote

Second Degree Amendment ALB13196 (Coons) Adopted by Unanimous Consent

Amendment ALB13190 (Grassley) Failed by Roll Call Vote, 9-9

Amendment OLL13115 (Cornyn) Failed by Roll Call Vote, 9-9

S.54, Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2013 (Leahy) Ordered Reported by Roll Call Vote, 11-7

Substitute Amendment HEN13250 (Leahy) Adopted by Unanimous Consent

Amendment ALB13193 (Grassley) Adopted by Unanimous Consent

S.374, Protecting Responsible Gun Sellers Act of 2013 (Schumer) Held Over

S.146, School Safety Enhancements Act of 2013 (Boxer) Held Over

[marktwain]

I have read that Leahy's bill has some very burdensome aspects.

[grobdriver]

The bill:
S.54: Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2013. ("trafficking = "private interstate sales") Sponsor: Sen Leahy, Patrick J., Passed out of the Senate Judiciary committee

The meat:
SEC. 3. PUNISHING AND DETERRING STRAW PURCHASING OF FIREARMS.

(a) In General- Chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`Sec. 932. Straw purchasing of firearms

`(a) Any person (other than a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer) who knowingly purchases any firearm for, on behalf of, or with intent to transfer it to, any other person, if that firearm has moved in or otherwise affected interstate or foreign commerce, or attempts or conspires to do so, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 20 years or both. For purposes of this section, the term `purchases' includes the receipt of any firearm from pawn or on consignment by a person who does not own the firearm.

`(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to any firearm that is lawfully purchased by a person--

`(1) to be given as a bona fide gift to a recipient who provided no service or tangible thing of value to acquire the firearm, unless the person knows or has reason to believe such recipient is prohibited by Federal, State, or local law from possessing, receiving, selling, shipping, transporting, transferring, or otherwise disposing of the firearm; or

`(2) to be given to a bona fide winner of an organized raffle, contest, or auction conducted in accordance with law and sponsored by a national, State, or local organization or association, unless the person knows or has reason to believe such recipient is prohibited by Federal, State, or local law from possessing, purchasing, receiving, selling, shipping, transporting, transferring, or otherwise disposing of the firearm.

`(c) If any violation of subsection (a) is committed knowing or with reasonable cause to believe that any firearm involved will be used to commit a crime of violence, the person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than 30 years.