MODEL BILLS

Firearms Arsenal Disclosure Act

Summary: The Firearms Arsenal Disclosure Act requires individuals to disclose to law enforcement when they personally own an unusually large number of firearms and applies to them the recordkeeping, safe storage and other requirements that apply to licensed firearms dealers.

Based on the Gun Violence Prevention Act, S. 1878 (1994). For background information, see this column.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act shall be called the “Firearms Arsenal Disclosure Act.”

SECTION 2. PURPOSE

This law is enacted to protect public safety.

SECTION 3. FIREARMS LICENSE DISCLOSURE

After section XXX, the following new section XXX shall be inserted:

(A) DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT

1) It shall be unlawful for a person to possess more than 20 [or pick another number like 50 or 100] firearms or more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition unless the person:

a) is a federally licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer; or

b) has filed and maintained an annual Firearms Arsenal Disclosure form with the [office of the state Attorney General].

2) A Firearms Arsenal Disclosure form shall be a sworn under penalties of perjury and require the following information:

a) Name, address, date of birth, phone number and email address of the arsenal owner;

b) That the arsenal owner is at least 21 years of age;

c) That the arsenal owner is not prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm under federal, state or local law;

d) Number of firearms owned on the date of filing;

e) If the number of rounds of ammunition owned on the date of filing equals or exceeds 1,000, then the number within 100 of the total;

f) Such other information that, pursuant to regulations, the [office of the state Attorney General] requires in order to prevent arsenal owners from avoiding disclosure by such means as temporarily conveying and then taking back ownership.

(B) ADMINISTRATION

1) The information from Firearms Arsenal Disclosure forms shall be reported to the public, including breakdowns by zip code, but all personal information about individual arsenal owners other than zip codes shall be kept confidential.

2) Any person who is required to file a Firearms Arsenal Disclosure form shall be subject to all obligations and requirements pertaining to licensed firearms dealers, pursuant to [cite state law if applicable, otherwise federal law].

3) The [office of the state Attorney General] shall promulgate such rules and regulations necessary to enforce this section.

(C) ENFORCEMENT

Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a penalty not to exceed one year in jail and/or a fine not to exceed $50,000.

SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE

This law shall become effective on XXXXXX 1, 2020.