Texas Legislative Alert – H.B. 3143

Let’s make a few phones ring off the hook for this one folks. This is the main portion of Texas House Bill 3143.

AN ACT

                relating to the creation of certain offenses concerning firearm sales at gun shows; authorizing a fee.

                                       SECTION 2.   Chapter 46, Penal Code, is amended by adding

                Sections 46.065 and 46.066 to read as follows:
Sec. 46.065.  CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO SALES AT GUN         SHOWS. 
(a)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly sells a firearm to another person in exchange for money or other consideration at a gun show without complying with the national  instant criminal background check system in the manner required by 18 U.S.C. Section 922 before completing the sale. A person who conducts a criminal background check as required by this subsection may charge a fee in an amount equal to the cost incurred by the person to obtain the background check.
 (b)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly  sells a firearm to another person in exchange for money or other  consideration at a gun show and the person does not maintain a record of the sale.

Never mind the fact that currently an FFL can not perform a background check on firearms (s)he does not own; we need to defeat this attempt because it is bad law. Criminals will still use straw purchasers to buy firearms so this stops nothing.

If you don’t already know who represents you in Austin, you can find out here.

According to the Legislative assistant in Rep. Patrick’s office it appears this bill stands little chance of getting out of committee    But let’s make sure it is buried under an avalanche of  comments, emails and calls from Texans anyways. The more the Reps hear from us opposing bills like this, the fewer of them will be introduced.