The follwing is a press release from the National Gun Safe Coalition - a group comprised of safe manufacturers and anti-gun groups.  Is this bill a good idea?  Or is it a camel's nose under the tent that will lead to federally mandated lock-ups of firearms or worse?


U.S. Senate's Leading Voices on Gun Debate Join in Bi-Partisan Legislation to Promote Responsible Gun Ownership
Tuesday August 2, 2005
Sens. Hatch, Schumer & Craig Introduce Child Protection and Home Safety Act to Stem Tide of Injury & Death from Poor Firearm Storage

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- As the nation's loss from gun violence escalates to more than $100 billion per year, according to some studies, leading U.S. Senators on both sides of the gun debate have joined to introduce the Child Protection and Home Safety Act of 2005. Sens. Orrin G. Hatch, R-UT, Charles E. Schumer, D-NY and Larry Craig, R-ID, a National Rifle Association (NRA) trustee, introduced the bill Friday. There has also been strong support of this bill by other influential congressional members such as Sens. Conrad Burns, R-MT, Blanche Lincoln, D-AR, and Gordon Smith, R-OR. Sen. Smith has been on the forefront of youth suicide prevention as the author of "The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act," while Sen. Lincoln is the former senate co-chair of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus and Sen. Burns who has been a long time supporter of lenient gun policies.

The key feature of the legislation is a 25-percent tax credit towards the purchase of a qualified gun safe, in order to promote responsible gun ownership. The bill will encourage proper storage of firearms in a residential setting to reduce the alarming rates of youth suicide, unintentional injuries and deaths, and homicides with stolen firearms.

In the United States, approximately 50-percent of all households contain a firearm. Statistics have shown that an improperly stored firearm kills one child every three hours in the United States, making it the second leading cause of deaths among children. A loaded, accessible firearm in a residential home contributed to 55-percent of all suicides, and nearly one-third of all violent crime in the U.S. is committed with a gun stolen from the homes of law-abiding citizens.

A House version of the bill, H.R. 947 was introduced on Feb. 17th by U.S. Reps. Ron Lewis, R-KY, Dennis Cardoza, D-CA, Rob Bishop, R-UT, Bob Etheridge, D-NC, Ray LaHood, R-IL, G.K. Butterfield, D-NC, and Roscoe Bartlett, R-MD. It was referred to the House Ways & Means Committee for further discussion.

"While we must always be vigilant in protecting our rights -- including and especially our Second Amendment rights -- it is also critical that we encourage responsible exercise of those rights," said Sen. Hatch. "Quality gun safes can provide the security our children and our communities deserve. And by means of a tax credit, this bill encourages gun safety while preserving Second Amendment liberties."

Sen. Craig agrees that this bill will raise awareness and place an emphasis on an area that needs much attention. "As the Senate passed legislation recognizing that dealers and manufacturers of firearms should not be held liable for the actions of a criminal, this legislation underscores that firearm safety begins at home. Enabling more Americans to purchase gun safes keeps guns away from unsuspecting children and out of criminal's hands," said Sen. Craig.

"In Montana, we have a strong belief in the principles of individual freedom and responsibility, especially when it comes to gun ownership, and this bill offers incentives that will keep our children and our homes safe at the same time," said Sen. Burns. "It's a real-world solution to a real-world problem, and I'm happy to offer it my full support."

"I am proud to be working with Senators Hatch and Craig on this sensible gun safety legislation," said Sen. Schumer. "The bottom line is that families need to make certain that if they own guns, those guns don't fall into the wrong hands. Guns in the hands of children or in the hands of criminals is an accident or a crime waiting to happen and I am hopeful that we can get this common sense gun safety legislation passed quickly through the Congress."

"This bill is one of the most important steps Congress can take to save the lives of millions of Americans, particularly children, from the improper storage of firearms in homes," said Caren Turner, spokesperson for the National Gun Safe Coalition. "The importance of this issue to our society is showcased by the fact that we have been able to garner the support of both ends of the spectrum relating to gun ownership. It is a tribute to Senators Hatch, Schumer and Craig that they've come together as leaders on this critical bill."

The National Gun Safe Coalition (NGSC) is an organization dedicated to encouraging and educating the general public about responsible firearm ownership, while actively pursuing government policy-makers to pass federal legislation to provide incentives for the purchase of a gun safe. The NGSC believes that gun owners should be offered sensible options to prevent unauthorized access to firearms. By working with concerned legislators to endorse a 25 percent tax credit towards the purchase of a qualified residential gun safe, the NGSC is helping increase awareness of the critical role gun safes play in protecting children from firearms, reducing firearm-related teenage suicides, and reducing the incidence of firearm theft from America's homes. To learn more about the organization visit www.gunsafecoalition.org.

   CONTACT: Shira Zackai / Stan Steinreich
            Steinreich Communications
            (201)498-1600

            Ariella Herman
            National Gun Safe Coalition
            (202)466-2511


Source: National Gun Safe Coalition

biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050802/nytu034.html?.v=16

tagd

I hate social engineering.
That's what this is.
However, since it exists, it is nice to see us benefitting from it for once.

if the Democraps are giving away tax credits that's not even earned in the form of Earned Income Credit, then we should get free $ too for buying safes.

This'll be a good bill to watch.  What possible objections can come of it, other than the usual "this credit will steal money from Granny's Social Security Fund" or some bullshit?

I am all for it

This scares the crap out of me. I can just see all the anti-gun amendments that can get attached to it.

It's all the BS amendmenta that they will tack on is what scare me.

In WA state gun safes are (sales) tax free.

As already stated...  Watch out for the ammendments.

Amendments?  Two can play at that game.  Let's attach our own amendments and see how much the libs want this.  

Quoted: This scares the crap out of me. I can just see all the anti-gun amendments that can get attached to it.

Plus a BILLION.

UNDER HANDED GUN REGISTRATION!!!!!!!!!!!   YOU GET A TAX CREDIT FOR GUN SAFE = YOU HAVE GUNS!!  The IRS then knows YOU have guns for the rest of eternity.  When it comes time for the .gov to come take your guns....they just look up tax records.

We won't have a leg to stand on because OUR OWN GREED to get money back (that was stolen from us anyway) will have sealed our doom.  You will be registering the fact that you own guns.  The second that the IRS knows they can "AUDIT" you and find out what is IN THE SAFE!!!

ETA: HA! I own a CHAMPION Safe which looks like they have not rolled into that ball of turds.  though it does have an S&G lock.

Quoted: ...........................Plus a BILLION. UNDER HANDED GUN REGISTRATION!!!!!!!!!!!   YOU GET A TAX CREDIT FOR GUN SAFE = YOU HAVE GUNS!!  The IRS then knows YOU have guns for the rest of eternity. ............... .

Maybe not. Anyone with half a brain who wants a safe for any OTHER reason will buy a "Gun Safe" and get a 25% credit. Of course, the price of "Gun Safes" will probably increase 40% with the increase in demand. Not to worry. The Chicoms are bankrolling our ridiculous deficit. For now.

Once child killed by gun violence every three hours. Sure, if you include gang members up to 25 years old.



I do not want any handouts from the government, nor do I want to pay for someone else's gun safe. Freeking socialists!

I  forsee the price of approved gunsafes increasing right about 25%.