HR 4900- Why no vote?

[bigmoon]

H.R.4900
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2007 (Introduced in House)


Lots of Democratic co-sponsors but why won't the leadership allow a vote?

A positive vote on this bill could really help in the election

[spin]

1. The Democratic leadership doesn't allow votes...

or even discussion on other important issues such as drilling offshore for oil.

And this attitude could hurt Democrats in the fall election. The American people want to see some action and some solutions to the important problems that they face.

The Republicans sense a rare opportunity to paint the Democratic leadership in a bad light and are taking advantage of it. I believe the Democratic leadership has fumbled an opportunity to impress voters of both parties and has failed to stand up the the Bush administration on many important issues.

Pelosi and Reid have squandered an opportunity to demand something more, something better. The Democratic leaders should have announced that Congress would stay in session until an energy bill was hammered out. C-Span would become the all-energy, all-the-time network as Congress debated — really debated — the merits of various energy proposals. In the course of that debate, American voters would come to see who were the statesmen and who were the obstructionists.
http://www.vindy.com/news/2008/aug/04/democrats-promised-change-delivered-more-of-the/

[jody]

2. What specific parts of H.R. 4900 do you believe would help Dems? n/t

[tburnsten]

3. Could you please post the text?

at least some of it, it will further the discussion, since many (not I!) are too lazy or busy to track it down themselves

[spin]

4. Text here...

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-h4900/text

Summary:

Representatives Steve King (R-Iowa) and Zack Space (D-Ohio), have introduced H.R. 4900 the “Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2007.” The bill would roll back unnecessary restrictions, correct errors, and codify longstanding congressional policies in the firearms arena. This bipartisan bill is a vital step to modernize and improve BATFE operations.

Of highest importance, H.R. 4900 totally rewrites the system of administrative penalties for licensed dealers, manufacturers and importers of firearms. Today, for most violations, BATFE can only give a federal firearms license (FFL) holder a warning, or totally revoke his license.

H.R. 4900 would allow fines or license suspensions for less serious violations, while still allowing license revocation for the kind of serious violations that would block an investigation or put guns in the hands of criminals. This prevents the all-too-common situations where BATFE has punished licensees for insignificant technical violation—such as improper use of abbreviations, or filing records in the wrong order.
http://www.nraila.org/Issues/FactSheets/Read.aspx?id=224&issue=018 (Warning...NRA link)

I found it interesting that the bill was co-sponsored by a Democrat. Zack Space is a 1st term Democrat from Ohio 18th District.

[tburnsten]

5. Looks good, it should go to the floor

The BATFE really should lighten up a little bit, there is no realistic justification for slamming FFLs over the tiny clerical errors that they do, when they could be spending their time and budget going after gang weaponry. I think they should team up with other agencies from the DOJ and local/state organizations, and then go on a massive undertaking to disarm all the criminal elements they can, and resell any ordinary weapons at auction, maybe on something like gunbroker, to help fund themselves.

[jody]

6. Thanks for the link. I also agree the bill has provisions that would help Dems in key districts win

votes.