H.R.1181 -- Protecting Gun Owners in Bankruptcy Act of 2011

Rep. Tim Griffin (R-Arkansas) along with Rep. Mark Critz (D-PA) have introduced a bill on March 17th that would protect up to $3,000 worth of a person's firearms from being taken in a bankruptcy proceeding.

Griffin is a freshman Republican representing the Little Rock, Arkansas are in Congress. He had served as a JAG Officer in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division and then as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. Griffin is A-rated by the NRA and was endorsed by them in 2010.

Critz, a Democrat, is from Johnstown and won the seat formerly held by the late Rep. Jack Murtha in a special election in May 2010. He went on to hold on to the seat in the 2010 general election. He had worked as the District Director for Murtha for many years. Critz is A-rated by the NRA and was endorsed by them in the 2010 general election. He is also a co-sponsor of HR 822 - National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity.

112th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1181

To amend title 11 of the United States Code to include firearms in the types of property allowable under the alternative provision for exempting property from the estate.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 17, 2011

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas (for himself and Mr. CRITZ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 11 of the United States Code to include firearms in the types of property allowable under the alternative provision for exempting property from the estate.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Protecting Gun Owners in Bankruptcy Act of 2011'.

SEC. 2. EXEMPTIONS.

Section 522 of title 11, the United States Code, is amended--

(1) in subsection (d) by adding at the end the following:

`(13) The debtor's aggregate interest, not to exceed $3,000 in value, in a single rifle, shotgun, or pistol, or any combination thereof.', and

(2) in subsection (f)(4)(A)--

(A) in clause (xiv) by striking `and' at the end,

(B) in clause (xv) by striking the period at the end and inserting `; and', and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

`(xvi) The debtor's aggregate interest, not to exceed $3,000 in value, in a single rifle, shotgun, or pistol, or any combination thereof.'.

SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.

(a) Effective Date- Except as provided in subsection (b), this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.

(b) Application of Amendments- The amendments made by this Act shall apply only with respect to cases commenced under title 11 of the United States Code on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.