[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1612 Referred in House (RFH)]







104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 1612


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 4, 1996

               Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

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                                 AN ACT


 
   To broaden the scope of certain firearms offenses, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FIREARMS OFFENSES.

    (a) In General.--Sections 924(c)(1) and 929(a)(1) of title 18, 
United States Code, are each amended by striking ``uses or carries'' 
and inserting ``possesses''.
    (b) Amendment of Sentencing Guidelines.--
            (1) In general.--Pursuant to its authority under section 
        994 of title 28, United States Code, the United States 
        Sentencing Commission shall review and, if appropriate, amend 
        the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and the policy statements of 
        the Commission to provide an appropriate sentence enhancement 
        with respect to any defendant who discharges a firearm during 
        or in relation to any crime of violence or any drug trafficking 
        crime.
            (2) Consistency.--In carrying out this subsection, the 
        United States Sentencing Commission shall--
                    (A) ensure that there is reasonable consistency 
                with other Federal Sentencing Guidelines;
                    (B) avoid duplicative punishment for substantially 
                the same offense; and
                    (C) take into account any mitigating circumstances 
                that might justify an exception to any amendment made 
                under paragraph (1).
            (3) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
        terms ``crime of violence'' and ``drug trafficking crime'' have 
        the same meanings as in section 924(c) of title 18, United 
        States Code.

            Passed the Senate October 3, 1996.

            Attest:

                                                    GARY SISCO,

                                                             Secretary.