[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 42 (Thursday, March 21, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E370]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  FIREARMS RISK PROTECTION ACT OF 2013

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 21, 2013

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today, I am proud 
to introduce an important piece of legislation: the Firearms Risk 
Protection Act (FRPA). This bill will require gun owners to purchase 
liability coverage and to show proof of that coverage when they 
purchase a firearm. This is an idea whose time has come. In fact, 
lawmakers in several states including Massachusetts and Illinois have 
introduced similar legislative proposals.
  In the wake of horrific tragedies like those at Newtown, Aurora, and 
Tucson, we as a society and we as lawmakers must provide answers. We 
must respect Americans' rights to own guns but limit gun violence and 
gun death. We must continue to enable guns to be used in a lawful and 
safe manner by responsible citizens and we must keep guns out of the 
hands of others. We must make sure the atrocities we have witnessed 
never happen again.
  This federal requirement would serve as a market-based solution to 
holding gun owners liable for the weapons they own. As with car 
insurance premiums, higher risk gun owners will face higher premiums. 
Actuarial determinations will be made by insurance companies, as those 
experts are in the best position to make those determinations based on 
sound data analysis.
  Under the Firearms Risk Protection Act (FRPA), state regulated 
insurance companies would be able to extend coverage to their 
customers--this is not a federal insurance program. Additionally, this 
bill poses no specific requirements on insurance companies themselves, 
but instead, imposes a fine of $10,000 if during the sale of a weapon 
the seller does not confirm coverage or the buyer has not purchased it.
  As lawmakers, we must stand ready to work on solutions to curtail our 
nation's gun violence and requiring liability coverage for gun owners 
should be part of the solution. I urge my colleagues to join in 
supporting this important piece of legislation.

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