PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.

Terrorist Apprehension Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Nov 18, 2003

Terrorist Apprehension Act - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to provide that if the national instant criminal background check system (NICS) determines that a prospective firearms transferee is listed in the Violent Gang and Terrorist Organization file or a similar terrorist watch list, regardless of the eligibility of such person to purchase a firearm, NICS shall provide this information to the employee at the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Criminal Justice Information Services Division that is accessing it (NICS operator).

Directs the NICS operator, upon receiving this information, to immediately provide the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the terrorist task force and State and local law enforcement in the jurisdiction in which the firearm purchase is being attempted with: (1) the name, date of birth, and any other identifying information reported by the prospective transferee; (2) the time and place of the attempted firearm purchase; and (3) the type of weapon, if known, that the prospective transferee attempted to purchase. Requires the NICS operator to also immediately provide that information to the agency that placed the name of the suspected terrorist on the terrorist watch list.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ] · D–NJ

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
6 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

  2. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S15066-15067)

  3. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

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.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1882 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.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1882 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.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1882 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.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.1882 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.

View full prompt & sources