This amendment would assault the Second Amendment in a number of ways, such as by having the Attorney General and the Treasury Secretary "encourage law-abiding citizens to report the possession of illegal firearms to authorities," and mandating that the Attorney General study the feasibility of developing "a single fingerprint convicted offender database" to be maintained by the FBI and develop "a procedure for the collection of data identifying persons that are prohibited from possessing a firearm." The amendment would also require background checks at gun shows in which ten or more exhibitors are present or at least 20 percent of the exhibitors are selling guns. The Senate adopted the amendment on May 14, 1999 by a vote of 48 to 47 (Congressional Record, page S5326, roll call 118; we have assigned plusses to the "nays" and minuses to the yeas.").
Constitutional Vote: No
Sen. Orrin Hatch's (R-UT) amendment to S 254 Increased Gun Control (Rejected 48 to 47 on 5/14/1999, Roll Call 118). Would provide for "gun law enforcement, enhanced penalties, and facilitation of background checks at gun shows." See U.S. Const., amend. 2.
5/14/1999
Vote Date
View Bill
Vote Text
Sen. Orrin Hatch's (R-UT) amendment to S 254 Increased Gun Control (Rejected 48 to 47 on 5/14/1999, Roll Call 118). Would provide for "gun law enforcement, enhanced penalties, and facilitation of background checks at gun shows." See U.S. Const., amend. 2.