PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Sep 26, 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Cop-Killer Bullets Title II: Domestic Violence Gun Violence Control Act - Title I: Cop-Killer Bullets - Amends the Federal criminal code to expand the definition of "armor piercing ammunition" to include a projectile that may be used in a handgun and that the Secretary of the Treasury determines to be capable of penetrating body armor. Requires the Secretary to determine whether a projectile is capable of penetrating body armor in accordance with regulations providing for uniform testing of such projectiles against Body Armor Exemplar standards for protection of law enforcement officers. Title II: Domestic Violence - Defines "crime involving domestic violence" as a crime of violence committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian (spouse) of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which such crime was committed. Prohibits persons under indictment for, or convicted in any court of, a crime involving domestic violence from: (1) selling or otherwise disposing of any firearm or ammunition to specified classes of individuals, such as drug addicts and illegal aliens; or (2) possessing or shipping or transporting in interstate or foreign commerce any firearm or ammunition; or (3) receiving any firearm or ammunition which has been so shipped or transported. Authorizes the Secretary to prescribe regulations providing for effective receipt and secure storage of firearms relinquished by or seized from such persons. Excludes persons convicted of a crime involving domestic violence from administrative relief from certain firearm prohibitions.
People & committees
Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-16] · D–CA
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Aug 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze H.R.4208 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine H.R.4208 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine H.R.4208 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine H.R.4208 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.