Destroy Zombie Guns Act
Summary
The Destroy Zombie Guns Act aims to improve firearm destruction practices by amending Title 18 of the United States Code. It mandates that anyone in the business of destroying firearms must destroy every component of the firearm. The bill also defines 'engaged in the business' as someone who regularly destroys firearms for profit.
Expected Effects
This act will likely increase the cost and oversight associated with firearm destruction. It introduces penalties, including fines, imprisonment, and license revocation, for non-compliance. This could lead to fewer firearms being improperly destroyed and potentially recovered for illegal use.
Potential Benefits
- Ensures complete destruction of firearms, reducing the risk of usable parts falling into the wrong hands.
- Provides a clearer definition of who is 'engaged in the business' of firearm destruction, increasing accountability.
- Establishes penalties for non-compliance, deterring improper destruction practices.
- May reduce gun violence by limiting the availability of functional firearm components from destroyed weapons.
- Could improve public safety by preventing the re-emergence of 'zombie guns'.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- May increase the cost of firearm destruction, potentially burdening businesses and individuals.
- Could lead to a decrease in the number of businesses willing to destroy firearms due to increased regulation.
- The term 'every component' may be open to interpretation, leading to potential legal challenges.
- May not significantly impact overall gun violence if improperly destroyed firearms are not a major source of crime guns.
- Could create additional administrative burden for the Attorney General's office.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The Destroy Zombie Guns Act appears to align with the Constitution, particularly regarding Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce (Article I, Section 8). The Second Amendment right to bear arms is not directly infringed, as the law focuses on the destruction of firearms rather than their possession or use. However, potential challenges could arise if the regulations are deemed overly burdensome or infringe on other constitutional rights.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).