Fitzgerald Passes Legislation to Change Definition of Firearms

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05) issued the following statement after H.R. 3269, the Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act, passed out of the House Judiciary Committee. This bipartisan legislation would be the first ever legislation to change the definition of what qualifies as a firearm.

Specifically the bill revises the definition of a “firearm” in the Gun Control Act of 1968 to exempt certain less-than-lethal projectile devices, like tasers, not designed or not likely to cause death or serious bodily injury.

“Ensuring the safety of officers and the communities they serve is paramount, and the introduction of advanced less-than-lethal technologies has revolutionized the way law enforcement agencies approach encounters and minimized the use of deadly force,” said Rep. Fitzgerald. “A great example of this technology that we commonly see used today are tasers. Unfortunately, due to outdated government regulations, these technologies have been inadvertently classified as firearms, subjecting them to stringent regulations that impede their efficient deployment by law enforcement agencies. By establishing a separate legal definition for less-than-lethal projectile devices, this bill aims to create a cohesive federal approach to regulating these technologies while making them accessible in the interest of public safety."

Watch the Congressman speak on the bill here.

BACKGROUND: Congressman Scott Fitzgerald had the opportunity to test one of these devices recently, to gain firsthand experience on how this technology is safely deployed and how it can be used as an alternative to deadly force.

Following the demonstration, Rep. Fitzgerald said,“the less-than-lethal technologies of today, like tasers, will serve as a building block for future products that will be used by the law enforcement agencies across the U.S. I was grateful to have an opportunity to see firsthand the cutting-edge technology being developed to reduce law enforcement deaths. We need to pass legislation that spurs more innovation like this, and H.R. 3269 does precisely that.”

Bill text can be found here.