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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 2, 2022 01:04 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Perry S. Warren |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Lost and Stolen Firearms |
| Every two minutes, a firearm is stolen in the United States, adding to the hundreds of thousands of firearms that are lost or stolen every year. A majority of stolen firearms find their way into the black market and are later used in the commission of a crime. A study conducted in Pittsburgh uncovered that approximately one-third of all firearms recovered at crime scenes had been stolen from the lawful owner. For this reason, I will be introducing legislation to require firearm owners to report the loss or theft of a firearm to law enforcement within 24 hours of the discovery of the loss or theft. Failure to report a lost or stolen firearm would result in a civil penalty. The simple step of requiring firearm owners to report the loss or theft of a firearm to law enforcement can assist in reducing the flow of firearms to the black market. Moreover, the reporting of lost and stolen firearms increases the likelihood that a lost or stolen firearm will be returned to its lawful owner. Additionally, reporting will protect lawful owners of lost or stolen firearms from criminal accusations if their firearm is later used in a crime. Please join me in reducing theft and violence, increasing the likelihood of recovery of a lost or stolen firearm, protecting firearm owners from inaccurate accusations of involvement in a crime committed with a lost or stolen firearm, and providing a civil remedy for victims of crimes committed with unreported lost or stolen firearms. |
Introduced as HB712