Bill Text: MA S986 | 2009-2010 | 186th General Court | Introduced
Bill Title: Establish the Massachusetts armor piercing law
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-01-20 - Public Hearing date 1/27 at 11:00 AM in Hearing Room A1 [S986 Detail]
Download: Massachusetts-2009-S986-Introduced.html
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
James E. Timilty
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To the
Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying bill:
An Act establishing the Massachusetts armor piercing law.
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PETITION OF:
|
Name: |
District/Address: |
|
James E. Timilty |
Bristol and Norfolk |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS
SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. S01421 OF 2007-2008.]
The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts
_______________
In the Year Two Thousand and Nine
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An Act establishing the Massachusetts armor piercing law.
Be
it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court
assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 140 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 132 the following section: -
Section 133. MASSACHUSETTS ARMOR-PIERCING LAW
A. Definitions
As used in this chapter--
(1) The term "person" and the term "whoever" include any
individual, corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, society, or
joint stock company.
(2) The term "importer" means any person
engaged in the business of importing or bringing firearms or ammunition into
the United States for purposes of sale or distribution; and the term
"licensed importer" means any such person licensed under the
provisions of this chapter.
(3) The term "manufacturer" means any person engaged in the business
of manufacturing firearms or ammunition for purposes of sale or distribution;
and the term "licensed manufacturer" means any such person licensed
under the provisions of this chapter.
(4)(a) The term "ammunition" means ammunition or cartridge cases,
primers, bullets, or propellent powder designed for use in any firearm.
(b) The term "armor piercing ammunition" means--
(i) a projectile or projectile core which may be used in a handgun and which is constructed entirely (excluding the presence of traces of other substances) from one or a combination of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper, or depleted uranium; or
(ii) a full jacketed projectile larger than .22 caliber designed and intended for use in a handgun and whose jacket has a weight of more than 25 percent of the total weight of the projectile.
(c) The term "armor piercing ammunition"
does not include shotgun shot required by Federal or State environmental or
game regulations for hunting purposes, a frangible projectile designed for
target shooting, a projectile which the Attorney General finds is primarily
intended to be used for sporting purposes, or any other projectile or
projectile core which the Attorney General finds is intended to be used for
industrial purposes, including a charge used in an oil and gas well perforating
device.
(5) The term "Attorney General" means the Attorney General of the
United States .
B. It shall be unlawful -
(1) for any person to manufacture, import, or possess armor piercing ammunition, except that this paragraph shall not apply to -
(a) the manufacture, importation, or possession of such ammunition for the use of the United States or any department or agency thereof or any State or any department, agency, or political subdivision thereof;
(b) the manufacture or possession of such ammunition for the purpose of exportation; and
(c) any manufacture, importation, or possession for the purposes of testing or experimentation authorized by the Attorney General;
(2) for any manufacturer or importer to sell or deliver armor piercing ammunition, except that this paragraph shall not apply to -
(a) the sale or delivery by a manufacturer or importer of such ammunition for use of the United States or any department or agency thereof or any State or any department, agency, or political subdivision thereof;
(b) the sale or delivery by a manufacturer or importer of such ammunition for the purpose of exportation;
(c) the sale or delivery by a manufacturer or importer of such ammunition for the purposes of testing or experimenting authorized by the Attorney General.
C. Whoever violates the provisions of this section shall be sentenced to the state prison for any term of years, but not less than ten years.
