Since 2003, Congress has passed a series of laws that have incrementally restricted ATF's ability to enforce gun laws and made it harder for municipalities to bring lawsuits against gun dealers. Several bills, including H.R. 5672, the so-called Tiahrt Amendments, H.R.1384, H.R. 5005, and H.R. 5551 currently pending in Congress would tighten those restrictions and make them permanent.

What can mayors do?
Coalition members can call or write their representatives and senators and tell them how they feel about these bills. Download a sample letter. Coalition members can also reach out to members of relevant committees in Congress. Over the past year, members of the coalition have written to Congress to express opposition to these bills. Learn more via the Coalition Takes Action section.

• What does the bill do? The Tiahrt Amendments are riders that have been attached to annual US Department of Justice appropriations bill. These riders restrict cities' and states' access to and use of ATF gun trace data. On several occasions over the last four fiscal years, the Tiahrt provisions have been inserted into the US Department of Justice appropriations bill without a vote or full debate. 
  Read the text of the amendments
  
  
• What is the status of the bill? The House passed legislation, which included the Tiahrt Amendments, on June 29, 2006. Subsequently, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed identical language. The full Senate is expected to take up the measure.

• What does the bill do? H.R. 5005 makes permanent restrictions on disclosure and use of ATF trace data similar to those under the current Tiahrt Amendment. The bill thus limits the ability of state and local government officials to share trace data with each other.
  Read the bill text
  
  

• What is the status of the bill? The House Judiciary Committee approved H.R. 5005 on September 13, 2006. No further action has occurred.

• What does the bill do? H.R. 1384 permits gun dealers to sell handguns to customers who do not live in their state and allows gun dealers to sell handguns at gun shows nationwide. This legislation provides gun traffickers an expanded pool of possible recruits for straw-purchasing operations and gives irresponsible gun dealers more venues in which to buy and sell guns to traffickers. 
  Read the bill text
  
  
• What is the status of the bill? The House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security approved the measure by voice vote on May 18, 2006. No further action has occurred.

• What does the bill do? H.R. 5551 takes H.R.1384 a step further by removing requirements for sellers to obey the laws of the gun buyer's home state. In effect, the bill helps local criminals cut out the middleman and set up their own trafficking operations.
  Read the bill text
  
  
• What is the status of the bill? On June 7, 2006, Representative Rick Renzi (R-AZ) introduced H.R. 5551. The measure has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee. No further action has occurred.