text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``So No Innocent Person Ever Repeats 
  the Sniper Tragedy Act of 2003'' or the ``SNIPER Act of 2003''.
  
  SEC. 2. ENFORCING COMPLIANCE WITH RECORD KEEPING REQUIREMENTS.
  
      (a) Inspections.--Section 923(g)(1) of title 18, United States 
  Code, is amended--
              (1) in subparagraph (B)(ii)(I), by striking ``once'' and 
          inserting ``4 times'';
              (2) in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking ``once'' and 
          inserting ``4 times'';
              (3) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E); 
          and
              (4) by inserting after subparagraph (C), the following:
                      ``(D) If a licensed importer, licensed 
                  manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector is 
                  found in violation of this chapter, or the related 
                  regulations, the Attorney General shall inspect or 
                  examine the inventory and records of such violator not 
                  less than once each year during the 3 years following 
                  such violation.''.
      (b) Ammunition Sales.--Section 923(g)(1)(A) is amended in the first 
  sentence by striking ``firearms at his'' and inserting ``firearms and 
  ammunition, except on .22 caliber rimfire ammunition, at such 
  licensee's''.
      (c) Penalty Enhancement.--Section 924(a)(1) of title 18, United 
  States Code, is amended--
              (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``or'' at the end;
              (2) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E); 
          and
              (3) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
              ``(D) willfully violates section 923(g); or''.
  
  SEC. 3. ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AGAINST VIOLATORS OF FEDERAL FIREARMS LAWS.
  
      (a) Suspensions.--Section 924 of title 18, United States Code, as 
  amended by section 2(c), is further amended by adding at the end the 
  following:
      ``(q) A licensed importer, manufacturer, dealer, or collector who 
  violates any provision of this chapter, or the related regulations, may 
  be subject to--
              ``(1) the revocation of any applicable license;
              ``(2) the suspension of any applicable license; or
              ``(3) a fine under this title.''.
      (b) Warning Letters; Notices; Fines.--Section 923(g) of title 18, 
  United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
      ``(8) If an inspection under paragraph (1) reveals that a licensee 
  has violated any provision of this chapter, or the related regulations, 
  the Attorney General shall--
              ``(A) issue a warning letter to the alleged violator, and 
          maintain a copy of such letter, along with any written report 
          prepared by the inspector--
                      ``(i) in the files of the appropriate Director of 
                  Industry Operations; and
                      ``(ii) at the headquarters of the Bureau of 
                  Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives;
              ``(B) issue a notice of revocation of the license and 
          conduct the appropriate proceedings; or
              ``(C) issue a notice of revocation, suspension, or 
          imposition of a civil fine, and conduct the appropriate 
          proceedings.''.
      (c) Timeliness of Enforcement Actions.--The Attorney General shall, 
  by regulation, require the Director of Industry Operations of the 
  Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to issue a final 
  decision within 120 days from the date on which a notice of revocation, 
  suspension, or imposition of a civil fine is mailed to a licensee (as 
  that term is defined in section 103(j)(1) of the Brady Handgun Violence 
  Prevention Act (18 U.S.C. 922 note).
      (d) Judicial Stays of Enforcement Actions.--Section 923(f)(3) of 
  title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking the period at the 
  end of the first sentence and inserting ``, and shall not postpone the 
  effective date of such decision unless so ordered by a United States 
  district court judge or magistrate who has jurisdiction over the 
  matter.''.
      (e) Enforcement Action not Dependent Upon Criminal Conviction.--
  Section 923(f) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking 
  paragraph (4).
  
  SEC. 4. RESTRICTION OF GUN SALES TO IN-STATE RESIDENTS.
  
      Section 922(b)(3) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
  striking ``(A) shall not apply'' and all that follows through ``and 
  (B)''.
  
  SEC. 5. BALLISTICS TESTING OF FIREARMS.
  
      (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Technological 
  Resource to Assist Criminal Enforcement Act'' or the ``TRACE Act''.
      (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
              (1) to increase public safety by assisting law enforcement 
          in solving more gun-related crimes and offering prosecutors 
          evidence to link felons to gun crimes through ballistics 
          technology;
              (2) to provide for ballistics testing of all new firearms 
          for sale to assist in the identification of firearms used in 
          crimes;
              (3) to require ballistics testing of all firearms in 
          custody of Federal agencies to assist in the identification of 
          firearms used in crimes; and
              (4) to add ballistics testing to existing firearms 
          enforcement programs.
      (c) Definition of Ballistics.--Section 921(a) of title 18, United 
  States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
      ``(36) Ballistics.--The term `ballistics' means a comparative 
  analysis of fired bullets and cartridge casings to identify the firearm 
  from which bullets and cartridge casings were discharged, through 
  identification of the unique markings that each firearm imprints on 
  bullets and cartridge casings.''.
      (d) Test Firing and Automated Storage of Ballistics Records.--
              (1) Amendment.--Section 923 of title 18, United States 
          Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
      ``(m)(1) In addition to the other licensing requirements under this 
  section, a licensed manufacturer or licensed importer shall--
              ``(A) test fire firearms manufactured or imported by such 
          licensees as specified by the Attorney General by regulation;
              ``(B) prepare ballistics images of the fired bullet and 
          cartridge casings from the test fire;
              ``(C) make the records available to the Attorney General 
          for entry into the electronic database established under 
          paragraph (3)(B); and
              ``(D) store the fired bullet and cartridge casings in such 
          a manner and for such a period as specified by the Attorney 
          General by regulation.
      ``(2) Nothing in this subsection creates a cause of action against 
  any Federal firearms licensee or any other person for any civil 
  liability except for imposition of a civil penalty under this section.
      ``(3)(A) The Attorney General shall assist firearm manufacturers 
  and importers in complying with paragraph (1) by--
              ``(i) acquiring, installing, and upgrading ballistics 
          equipment and bullet and cartridge casing recovery equipment to 
          be placed at locations readily accessible to licensed 
          manufacturers and importers;
              ``(ii) hiring or designating sufficient personnel to 
          develop and maintain a database of ballistics images of fired 
          bullets and cartridge casings, research, and evaluation;
              ``(iii) providing education about the role of ballistics as 
          part of a comprehensive firearm crime reduction strategy;
              ``(iv) providing for the coordination among Federal, State, 
          and local law enforcement and regulatory agencies and the 
          firearm industry to curb firearm-related crime and illegal 
          firearm trafficking; and
              ``(v) taking other necessary steps to make ballistics 
          testing effective.
      ``(B) The Attorney General shall--
              ``(i) establish an electronic database--
                      ``(I) through which State and local law enforcement 
                  agencies can promptly access the ballistics records 
                  stored under this subsection, as soon as such 
                  capability is available; and
                      ``(II) that shall not include any identifying 
                  information regarding dealers, collectors, or 
                  purchasers of firearms; and
              ``(ii) require training for all ballistics examiners.
      ``(4) The Attorney General shall conduct mandatory ballistics 
  testing of all firearms obtained or in the possession of their 
  respective agencies.
      ``(5) Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this 
  subsection, and annually thereafter, the Attorney General shall submit 
  to the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of 
  Representatives a report regarding the implementation of this section, 
  including--
              ``(A) the number of Federal and State criminal 
          investigations, arrests, indictments, and prosecutions of all 
          cases in which access to ballistics records, provided under the 
          system established under this section and under similar systems 
          operated by any State, served as a valuable investigative tool 
          in the prosecution of gun crimes;
              ``(B) the extent to which ballistics records are accessible 
          across jurisdictions; and
              ``(C) a statistical evaluation of the test programs 
          conducted pursuant to paragraph (4).
      ``(6) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of 
  Justice $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2008 to 
  carry out this subsection, to be used to--
              ``(A) install ballistics equipment and bullet and cartridge 
          casing recovery equipment;
              ``(B) establish sites for ballistics testing;
              ``(C) pay salaries and expenses of necessary personnel; and
              ``(D) conduct related research and evaluation.''.
              (2) Effective date.--
                      (A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                  subparagraphs (A) and (B), the amendment made by 
                  paragraph (1) shall take effect on the date on which 
                  the Attorney General, in consultation with the Board of 
                  the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network, 
                  certifies that the ballistics system used by the 
                  Department of Justice is sufficiently developed to 
                  support mandatory ballistics testing of new firearms.
                      (B) Ballistics testing.--Section 923(m)(1) of title 
                  18, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1), 
                  shall take effect 2 years after the date of enactment 
                  of this Act.
                      (C) Effective on date of enactment.--Section 
                  923(m)(4) of title 18, United States Code, as added by 
                  paragraph (1), shall take effect on the date of 
                  enactment of this Act.
      (e) Privacy Rights of Law Abiding Citizens.--Ballistics information 
  of individual guns in any form or database established by this section 
  may not be used for prosecutorial purposes unless law enforcement 
  officials have a reasonable belief that a crime has been committed and 
  that ballistics information would assist in the investigation of that 
  crime.
  
  SEC. 6. ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, 
                FIREARMS, AND EXPLOSIVES.
  
      (a) Gun Crime Task Forces.--
              (1) In general.--The Attorney General shall establish, 
          within each field division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
          Firearms, and Explosives, a group of inspectors, agents, and 
          support personnel to be known as the ``gun crime task force''.
              (2) Purpose.--The gun crime task forces established 
          pursuant to paragraph (1) shall investigate, and assist in the 
          regulation of, and if appropriate, the prosecution of, 
          licensees (as that term is defined in section 103(j)(1) of the 
          Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (18 U.S.C. 922 note)) and 
          unlicensed dealers, who are suspected of violating chapter 44 
          or 96 of title 18, United States Code.
      (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--
              (1) Gun crime task forces.--There are authorized to be 
          appropriated $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2005 
          through 2008 to carry out the provisions of subsection (a).
              (2) Industry operations.--There are authorized to be 
          appropriated $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2005 
          through 2008 to employ additional inspectors, regulators, and 
          employees in the Industry Operations field divisions of the 
          Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
target: So No Innocent Person Ever Repeats the Sniper Tragedy Act of 2003 (SNIPER Act of 2003) - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to: (1) authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to inspect the inventory and records of a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer without reasonable cause or warrant not more than four times (currently, once) during any 12-month period; and (2) require such persons to maintain records of disposition of ammunition, except on .22 caliber rimfire ammunition.
  
  Provides for enhanced penalties for violations. Subjects violators to revocation or suspension of any applicable license or a fine. Directs the Attorney General to send warning letters to alleged violators, issue notices of revocation, suspension, or imposition of a civil fine, and conduct proceedings, as appropriate.
  
  Repeals an exemption from Brady Act requirements involving gun sales to instate residents.
  
  Technological Resource to Assist Criminal Enforcement Act (TRACE Act) - Amends the Brady Act to require a licensed manufacturer or importer to: (1) test fire firearms manufactured or imported by certain licensees; (2) prepare ballistics images of the fired bullet and cartridge casings; (3) make the records available to the Attorney General for entry into an electronic database (established by this Act); and (4) store the fired bullet and cartridge casings as specified.
  
  Directs the Attorney General to: (1) conduct mandatory ballistics testing of all firearms in the custody of Federal agencies; and (2) establish, within each Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives field division, a gun crime task force.
feat_title: A bill to amend title 18 of the United States Code, to enhance the authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to enforce the compliance of gun dealers with Federal firearms laws, and for other purposes.