Honorable James White, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB52 by Reynolds (Relating to the creation of certain criminal offenses concerning firearm sales at gun shows; authorizing a fee.), As Introduced
The provisions of the bill addressed by this analysis would amend the Penal Code as it relates to the unlawful transfer of weapons. Under the provisions of the bill, the sale of a gun at a gun show without complying with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System or without maintaining a record of the sale, as well as the allowance, by the gun show promoter, of gun sales without such background checks, or the failure of the gun show promoter to notify local law enforcement of the gun show, to arrange for background checks, or to post legal notice of the background check requirements, would be punishable as a Class A misdemeanor.
A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $4,000, confinement in a county jail for a term not to exceed one year, or both.
This analysis assumes implementing the provisions of the bill would not result in a significant impact on the demand for state correctional resources.