Ballistics, Law Assistance, and Safety Technology Act (BLAST)

Summary

Ballistics, Law Assistance, and Safety Technology Act (BLAST) - Title I: Blast - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to require a licensed manufacturer or importer to: (1) test fire firearms manufactured or imported by such licensees as specified by the Secretary of the Treasury by regulation; (2) prepare ballistics images of the fired bullet and cartridge casings; (3) make the records available to the Secretary for entry in a computerized database; and (4) store the fired bullet and cartridge casings in such a manner and for such a period as specified by the Secretary by regulation. Specifies that nothing herein 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 title. Directs the Attorney General and the Secretary to assist firearm manufacturers and importers in complying through: (1) the acquisition, disposition, and upgrades of ballistics equipment and bullet recovery equipment to be placed at or near the sites of licensed manufacturers and importers; (2) the hiring or designation of personnel necessary to develop and maintain a database of ballistics images of fired bullets and cartridge casings, research, and evaluation; (3) providing education about the role of ballistics as part of a comprehensive firearm crime reduction strategy; and (4) 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. Directs 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 stored under this title, as soon as such a capability is available; and (2) encourage training for all ballistics examiners. Sets forth reporting requirements. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary and the Attorney General to conduct mandatory ballistics testing of all firearms obtained or in the possession of their respective agencies. (Sec. 103) Prohibits the use of ballistics information of individual guns in any form or database established by this Act 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. 104) Directs the Secretary and the Attorney General to establish in the jurisdictions selected a comprehensive firearm crime reduction strategy which shall: (1) provide for ballistics testing, in accordance with criteria set forth by the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network, of all firearms recovered during criminal investigations to identify the types and origins of the firearms, identify suspects, and link multiple crimes involving the same firearm; (2) require that all identifying information relating to firearms recovered during criminal investigations be promptly submitted to the Secretary in order to identify the types and origins of the firearms and to identify illegal firearms traffickers; (3) provide for coordination among Federal, State, and local law enforcement officials, firearm examiners, technicians, laboratory personnel, investigators, and prosecutors in the tracing and ballistics testing of firearms and the investigation and prosecution of firearms-related crimes, including illegal firearms trafficking; and (4) require analysis of firearm tracing and ballistics data in order to establish trends in firearm-related crime and firearm trafficking. Requires the Secretary and the Attorney General to select not fewer than ten jurisdictions for participation in the program. Sets forth provisions regarding selection criteria. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Exile - Directs the Attorney General and the Secretary to designate not less than 50 local jurisdictions in which to enforce aggressively Federal laws designed to prevent the possession by criminals of firearms. Authorizes the Attorney General and the Secretary, in order to provide assistance for the enforcement of Federal laws designed to prevent the possession by criminals of firearms, to: (1) direct the detailing of Federal personnel, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms investigators, to designated jurisdictions, subject to department or agency head approval; (2) coordinate activities with State and local officials, including facilitation of training of State and local law enforcement officers and prosecutors in designated jurisdictions to work with Federal prosecutors, agents, and investigators to identify appropriate cases for enforcement of Federal laws designed to prevent the possession by criminals of firearms; and (3) help coordinate public outreach in designated jurisdictions regarding penalties association with violation of Federal laws designed to prevent the possession by criminals of firearms. Sets forth provisions regarding criteria for designation, priority in considering which local jurisdictions to designate, reports, and evaluation. Authorizes appropriations.

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3 official files

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 29 March 2000

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• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 29 March 2000

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• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 29 March 2000

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