BLAST Act
Bill journey · stage 2 of 5
Under committee review
What it doesSummary introduced in senate (Oct 10, 2002)
Directs the Attorney General and the Secretary to assist firearm manufacturers and importers in complying with these requirements through: (1) the acquisition, disposition, and upgrades of ballistics equipment and bullet and cartridge casing recovery equipment; (2) the hiring or designation of personnel necessary to develop and maintain a ballistics database; (3) providing education about the role of ballistics; and (4) providing for the coordination among law enforcement, regulatory agencies, and the firearm industry to curb firearm-related crime and illegal firearm trafficking.
Requires the Attorney General and the Secretary to: (1) establish a computer system through which State and local law enforcement agencies can promptly access ballistics records; (2) encourage training for ballistics examiners; (3) report to Congress on the impact of this Act on criminal investigations, arrests, indictments, and prosecutions; and (4) conduct mandatory ballistics testing of all firearms obtained by or in the possession of their respective agencies.
Prohibits the use of ballistics information of individual guns for prosecutorial purposes unless officials have a reasonable belief that a crime has been committed and that ballistics information would assist in the investigation.
What just happenedOct 10, 2002
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10376-10377)
Who’s behind it
- Oct 10, 2002IntroReferral
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10376-10377)
Judiciary Committee - Oct 10, 2002IntroReferralB00100
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10375-10376)
- Oct 10, 2002IntroReferral10000
Introduced in Senate