H.R. 6258: Disarm Hate Act

This bill, known as the Disarm Hate Act, aims to make it illegal for individuals convicted of misdemeanor hate crimes to acquire firearms. Here is a breakdown of its key provisions:

Definitions

The bill introduces specific definitions regarding what constitutes a "misdemeanor hate crime." According to the bill:

• A person is considered convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime if they have been found guilty of an offense that qualifies as a misdemeanor under federal, state, or tribal law, and the offense was motivated by hate or bias against a person's race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
• This includes cases where physical force was used or threats to physical safety were made.

Prohibition on Firearm Acquisition

The bill outlines that anyone convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime, or who has received an enhanced sentence for such a crime, will be prohibited from obtaining a firearm. Additionally, the following conditions apply:

• Convictions will only count if the offender was represented by counsel or knowingly waived that right.
• If the conviction is later expunged, set aside, or if the individual's civil rights are restored (with provisions for specific legal conditions), they may regain the right to possess firearms.

Changes to Existing Laws

The bill amends existing laws concerning firearm possession and sales:

• It adds convictions for misdemeanor hate crimes to the list of disqualifications from acquiring or possessing firearms.
• This change impacts how sellers and distributors handle firearm transactions, as they must now ensure that individuals with such convictions are prevented from purchasing firearms.

Effective Dates and Enforcement

The bill does not specify the exact timeline for implementation or how enforcement would be conducted, but it emphasizes that these new regulations would apply to any individual convicted of these misdemeanor offenses going forward.

Relevant Companies

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