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Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act

Public Law 103-159 · H.R. 1025 · 103rd Congress · began in the House

Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Nov 30, 1993 · Crime and Law Enforcement

Major law

Sponsor: Rep. Chuck Schumer (D-NY-9)

Cosponsors (155): Rep. James Sensenbrenner,

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 238 yea, 187 nay238–187
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: Brady Handgun Control

Title II: Multiple Firearm Purchases to State and Local Police

Title III: Federal Firearms License Reform

Title I: Brady Handgun Control - Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to: (1) require the Attorney General, within five years, to establish a national instant criminal background check system (system) for firearm licensees to contact for information on whether receipt of a firearm by a prospective transferee would violate Federal or State law; and (2) establish an interim five-day waiting period for handgun purchases and procedures for checking with the chief law enforcement officer of the place of residence of the purchaser (police official) for such information.

(Sec. 102) Prohibits, under the interim procedures, any licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer from transferring a handgun to an unlicensed individual unless: (1) the transferor has received a statement of eligibility from the individual, verified the individual's identity, and notified the police official and during the next five business days the transferor either has not received information that the transfer would violate the law or has received notice that the transfer would not violate the law; (2) the individual has presented a statement from the police official that he or she requires a handgun because of a threat to a family member; or (3) applicable State law requires, before any transfer, verification that possession of a handgun by the purchaser would not be unlawful. Requires notified police officials to make a reasonable effort to make the relevant determinations within five days.

Prohibits the transfer of a firearm to an unlicensed individual after the system is established unless the transferor has verified the individual's identity and contacted the system and either: (1) the system has provided the transferor with a unique identification number for the transfer; or (2) three business days have elapsed and the system has not notified the transferor that the transfer would violate the law.

Permits a transfer (before or after the system is established) if: (1) the individual has presented a permit issued in the past five years by a State that verifies that the individual is legally qualified; (2) the Secretary of the Treasury has approved the transfer under specified provisions of the Internal Revenue Code; or (3) the Secretary has certified that compliance with the applicable background check requirements is impracticable.

Requires the destruction of records pertaining to any transfer to an eligible individual.

Sets penalties of up to a $1,000 fine, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, for violations of this Act.

(Sec. 103) Directs the Attorney General to: (1) determine a timetable by which each State should be able to provide criminal records on an on-line capacity basis to the system; (2) expedite the upgrading of State records in the Federal criminal records system maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the development of hardware and software to link State systems to the national system, and the FBI's revitalization initiatives for technologically advanced fingerprint and criminal records identification; and (3) notify each licensee and the chief law enforcement officer of each State upon establishment of the national system.

Provides for the correction of erroneous information in the system and for regulations to ensure the privacy and security of system information.

Prohibits any Government entity from using the system to establish any system for the registration of firearms, except with respect to persons prohibited from receiving a firearm.

Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 106) Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to permit the use of formula grants under the drug control and system improvement grant program for the improvement of State record systems and the sharing with the Attorney General of specified records for the purpose of implementing this Act.

Directs the Attorney General, through the Bureau of Justice Statistics, to make grants to States for the creation of a computerized criminal history record system or improvement of an existing system and for assistance in the transmittal of criminal records to the national system.

Title II: Multiple Firearm Purchases to State and Local Police - Requires each Federal firearms licensee to submit a report of multiple sales or other dispositions of firearms to the department of State police or State law enforcement agency of the State or local law enforcement agency of the local jurisdiction in which the sale or other disposition took place. Prohibits agency disclosure of any such form or contents and requires each such department or agency to: (1) destroy any form containing such information and any record of the contents within 20 days after such form is received, except with respect to a purchaser who is prohibited from receipt of a firearm; and (2) certify to the Attorney General (at six-month intervals) that no disclosure contrary to such requirements has been made and that all such forms and records have been destroyed.

Title III: Federal Firearms License Reform - Federal Firearms License Reform Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit any common or contract carrier from requiring or causing any label, tag, or other written notice to be placed on the outside of any container indicating that it contains a firearm.

Prohibits: (1) any common or contract carrier from delivering in interstate or foreign commerce any firearm without obtaining written acknowledgement of receipt of the package containing the firearm; and (2) stealing or unlawfully taking or carrying away from a licensed firearms importer, manufacturer, or dealer any firearm in the licensee's business inventory that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce (subject to penalties of up to a $10,000 fine, ten years' imprisonment, or both, for violations).

(Sec. 303) Increases license application fees for firearms dealers who do not deal in destructive devices.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 103rd Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 238 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

238 yea187 nay8 present or did not vote

Dimension 2
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(182)

  • Rep. Craig WashingtonD-TX-18
  • Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-9
  • Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12
  • Rep. Maxine WatersD-CA-35
  • Rep. Barbara-Rose CollinsD-MI-15
  • Rep. John ConyersD-MI-14
  • Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-15
  • Rep. Jerrold NadlerD-NY-8
  • Rep. Alcee HastingsD-FL-23
  • Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
  • Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
  • Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-11
  • Rep. Donald PayneD-NJ-10
  • Rep. Ed TownsD-NY-10
  • Rep. Nancy PelosiD-CA-8
  • Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-13
  • Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-16
  • Rep. Patsy MinkD-HI-2
  • Rep. Major OwensD-NY-11
  • Rep. Nydia VelázquezD-NY-12
  • Rep. William CoyneD-PA-14
  • Rep. Bobby RushD-IL-1
  • Rep. Cynthia McKinneyD-GA-11
  • Rep. Xavier BecerraD-CA-30
  • Rep. Carrie MeekD-FL-17
  • Rep. Jim McDermottD-WA-7
  • Rep. Daniel HamburgD-CA-1
  • Rep. David BoniorD-MI-10
  • Rep. John LewisD-GA-5
  • Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
  • Rep. José SerranoD-NY-16
  • Rep. Neil AbercrombieD-HI-1
  • Rep. Lucille Roybal-AllardD-CA-33
  • Rep. Thomas FogliettaD-PA-1
  • Rep. Lucien BlackwellD-PA-2
  • Rep. John OlverD-MA-1
  • Rep. Allan SwiftD-WA-2
  • Rep. William FordD-MI-13
  • Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-17
  • Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
  • Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
  • Rep. Bobby ScottD-VA-3
  • Rep. Floyd FlakeD-NY-6
  • Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
  • Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-29
  • Rep. Esteban TorresD-CA-34
  • Rep. Bob FilnerD-CA-50
  • Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-15
  • Rep. Lynn WoolseyD-CA-6
  • Rep. Cleo FieldsD-LA-4
  • Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-32
  • Rep. Eva ClaytonD-NC-1
  • Rep. George BrownD-CA-42
  • Rep. Mel ReynoldsD-IL-2
  • Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
  • Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
  • Rep. Lane EvansD-IL-17
  • Rep. William JeffersonD-LA-2
  • Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
  • Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-26
  • Rep. Michael SynarD-OK-2
  • Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6
  • Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-10
  • Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-5
  • Rep. Maurice HincheyD-NY-26
  • Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
  • Rep. Sam FarrD-CA-17
  • Rep. Sam GejdensonD-CT-2
  • Rep. Corrine BrownD-FL-3
  • Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
  • Rep. Kweisi MfumeD-MD-7
  • Rep. Luis GutiérrezD-IL-4
  • Rep. Albert WynnD-MD-4
  • Rep. Alan WheatD-MO-5
  • Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-3
  • Rep. Walter TuckerD-CA-37
  • Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-2
  • Rep. Elizabeth FurseD-OR-1
  • Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-24
  • Rep. Anna EshooD-CA-14
  • Rep. Joseph KennedyD-MA-8
  • Rep. Thomas AndrewsD-ME-1
  • Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-5
  • Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-5
  • Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
  • Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18
  • Rep. Harry JohnstonD-FL-19
  • Rep. Thomas SawyerD-OH-14
  • Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1
  • Rep. David SkaggsD-CO-2
  • Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
  • Rep. Jack ReedD-RI-2
  • Rep. Louise SlaughterD-NY-28
  • Rep. Richard NealD-MA-2
  • Rep. Francis McCloskeyD-IN-8
  • Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
  • Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3
  • Rep. Richard DurbinD-IL-20
  • Rep. Chuck SchumerD-NY-9
  • Rep. Barbara KennellyD-CT-1
  • Rep. Thomas MantonD-NY-7
  • Rep. Carolyn MaloneyD-NY-14
  • Rep. George HochbruecknerD-NY-1
  • Rep. Robert BorskiD-PA-3
  • Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-11
  • Rep. Benjamin CardinD-MD-3
  • Rep. Jim MoranD-VA-8
  • Rep. Ron WydenD-OR-3
  • Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-9
  • Rep. John BryantD-TX-5
  • Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12
  • Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-12
  • Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
  • Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
  • Rep. Bob MenendezD-NJ-13
  • Rep. David PriceD-NC-4
  • Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-29
  • Rep. Sherrod BrownD-OH-13
  • Rep. Peter DeFazioD-OR-4
  • Rep. Karan EnglishD-AZ-6
  • Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
  • Rep. Mike KreidlerD-WA-9
  • Rep. Jerry KleczkaD-WI-4
  • Rep. Marty MeehanD-MA-5
  • Rep. Thomas BarrettD-WI-5
  • Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-2
  • Rep. Herbert KleinD-NJ-8
  • Rep. Robert TorricelliD-NJ-9
  • Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
  • Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
  • Rep. Michael McNultyD-NY-21
  • Rep. Peter DeutschD-FL-20
  • Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
  • Rep. Buddy DardenD-GA-7
  • Rep. Leslie ByrneD-VA-11
  • Rep. Lynn SchenkD-CA-49
  • Rep. James BacchusD-FL-15
  • Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
  • Rep. Maria CantwellD-WA-1
  • Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-6
  • Rep. George SangmeisterD-IL-11
  • Rep. Karen ShepherdD-UT-2
  • Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
  • Rep. Jane HarmanD-CA-36
  • Rep. Samuel CoppersmithD-AZ-1
  • Rep. John SprattD-SC-5
  • Rep. Jill Long ThompsonD-IN-4
  • Rep. Marjorie Margolies-MezvinskyD-PA-13
  • Rep. David MannD-OH-1
  • Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6
  • Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
  • Rep. Tim JohnsonD-SD
  • Rep. Paul McHaleD-PA-15
  • Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
  • Rep. Peter HoaglandD-NE-2
  • Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
  • Rep. Jim ChapmanD-TX-1
  • Rep. Eric FingerhutD-OH-19
  • Rep. Robert ClementD-TN-5
  • Rep. Cal DooleyD-CA-20
  • Rep. Douglas ApplegateD-OH-18
  • Rep. Scotty BaeslerD-KY-6
  • Rep. James TraficantD-OH-17
  • Rep. Richard LehmanD-CA-19
  • Rep. Timothy RoemerD-IN-3
  • Rep. Peter BarcaD-WI-1
  • Rep. Richard SwettD-NH-2
  • Rep. Michael AndrewsD-TX-25
  • Rep. Martin LancasterD-NC-3
  • Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
  • Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1
  • Rep. William LipinskiD-IL-3
  • Rep. James SlatteryD-KS-2
  • Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
  • Rep. David MingeD-MN-2
  • Rep. Tim ValentineD-NC-2
  • Rep. David McCurdyD-OK-4
  • Rep. James RowlandD-GA-8
  • Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-10
  • Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-4
  • Rep. Gary ConditD-CA-18
  • Rep. Earl HuttoD-FL-1

Republicans who voted yea(56)

  • Rep. Constance MorellaR-MD-8
  • Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-20
  • Rep. Sherry BoehlertR-NY-23
  • Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-19
  • Rep. Christopher ShaysR-CT-4
  • Rep. Nancy JohnsonR-CT-6
  • Rep. Ronald MachtleyR-RI-1
  • Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4
  • Rep. Stephen HornR-CA-38
  • Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
  • Rep. Marge RoukemaR-NJ-5
  • Rep. Dean GalloR-NJ-11
  • Rep. Lincoln Diaz-BalartR-FL-21
  • Rep. Peter TorkildsenR-MA-6
  • Rep. Wayne GilchrestR-MD-1
  • Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
  • Rep. Peter BluteR-MA-3
  • Rep. Herbert BatemanR-VA-1
  • Rep. Jim GreenwoodR-PA-8
  • Rep. John PorterR-IL-10
  • Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18
  • Rep. Jan MeyersR-KS-3
  • Rep. Jim WalshR-NY-25
  • Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
  • Rep. Rick LazioR-NY-2
  • Rep. Michael CastleR-DE
  • Rep. Jim SaxtonR-NJ-3
  • Rep. Jack QuinnR-NY-30
  • Rep. Bob FranksR-NJ-7
  • Rep. Curt WeldonR-PA-7
  • Rep. Helen BentleyR-MD-2
  • Rep. Susan MolinariR-NY-13
  • Rep. Alex McMillanR-NC-9
  • Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-6
  • Rep. Scott KlugR-WI-2
  • Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
  • Rep. Tillie FowlerR-FL-4
  • Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-22
  • Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
  • Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-21
  • Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-10
  • Rep. Richard ZimmerR-NJ-12
  • Rep. Michael BilirakisR-FL-9
  • Rep. Michael HuffingtonR-CA-22
  • Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
  • Rep. Jim RamstadR-MN-3
  • Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
  • Rep. Michael OxleyR-OH-4
  • Rep. Elton GalleglyR-CA-23
  • Rep. Harris FawellR-IL-13
  • Rep. Pete HoekstraR-MI-2
  • Rep. Porter GossR-FL-14
  • Rep. Nick SmithR-MI-7
  • Rep. Cliff StearnsR-FL-6
  • Rep. William BakerR-CA-10
  • Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-9
Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 596 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

  • Judiciary Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee
Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 49 actions.

  1. Nov 30, 1993Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 103-159.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Nov 24, 1993Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
  6. FloorFloor · Second cloture motion on the conference report to accompany H.R. 1025 withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.
  7. FloorFloor · Cloture motion on the conference report to accompany H.R. 1025 withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.
  8. Nov 23, 1993Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers: Senate report and managers' statement held at the desk in Senate.
  9. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers: message on House action held at the desk in Senate.
  10. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by recorded vote: 238 - 187 (Roll no. 614).House roll call 614
  11. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  12. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by recorded vote: 238 - 187 (Roll no. 614).House roll call 614
  13. Resolving differencesResolving differences · The previous question was ordered without objection.
  14. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Brooks brought up conference report H. Rept. 103-412 by previously agreed to special order.
  15. FloorFloor · Second cloture motion on the conference report to accompany H.R. 1025 presented in Senate.
  16. FloorFloor · Cloture motion on the conference to accompany H.R. 1025 presented in Senate.
  17. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the conference report.
  18. Nov 22, 1993Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report H. Rept. 103-412 filed.
  19. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 103-412 filed.
  20. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate appointed conferees Stevens; Kempthorne in lieu of Hatch; Craig by unanimous consent.
  21. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conferees agreed to file conference report.
  22. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
  23. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  24. Resolving differencesResolving differences · The Speaker appointed conferees: Brooks, Hughes, Schumer, Sensenbrenner, and Gekas.
  25. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House instruct conferees Agreed to by voice vote.
  26. Resolving differencesResolving differences · The previous question was ordered without objection.
  27. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Sensenbrenner moved that the House instruct conferees.
  28. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to a conference Agreed to without objection.
  29. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Gejdenson moved that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to a conference.
  30. FloorFloor · PERMISSION TO CONSIDER CONFERENCE REPORT - Mr. Brooks asked unanimous consent to consider the conference report on H.R. 1025 and that all points of order against the conference report be waived. Agreed to without objection.
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.