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87-571: Under the Gun Control Act of 1968, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) was given wide latitude on the enforcement of regulations pertaining to holders of Federal Firearms Licenses (FFL) (which enable an individual or a company to engage in a business pertaining to the manufacture or importation of firearms and ammunition , or the interstate and intrastate sale of firearms). Allegations of abuse by ATF inspectors after passage of

174-540: A Kansas man for illegal machine gun possession as unconstitutional under the Second Amendment . One of the law's provisions (codified in section 926A of Title 18, U.S. Code) federally codifies regulations around the transportation of firearms directly from one state to another, and pre-empts existing state regulations. Barring short stops for food and gasoline, persons not otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms may transport them from state to state, provided

261-586: A background check requirement of prospective gun purchasers by licensed sellers, and created a list of categories of individuals to whom the sale of firearms is prohibited: It would also be amended again in 1994 by the Violence Against Women Act to strengthen firearm bans against domestic abusers. The amended law stated: It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or otherwise dispose of any firearm or ammunition to any person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that such person— (1)

348-643: A ban on mail-order gun sales was discussed, but no law was passed until 1968. At the hearings NRA Executive Vice-President Franklin Orth supported a ban on mail-order sales, stating, "We do not think that any sane American, who calls himself an American, can object to placing into this bill the instrument which killed the president of the United States." Precursors of the passage of the Gun Control Act were Senate Bill 1975 in 1963, "A Bill to Regulate

435-416: A handgun to any individual less than 21 years of age. While the Gun Control Act prohibits the direct mail-ordering of firearms, a person may ship a gun via contract carrier (such as United Parcel Service (UPS), United States Postal Service , or FedEx ) to a gunsmith (who has an FFL) or the gunmaker's factory for repairs or modification. After the repair work is done, the gunsmith or the factory can ship

522-763: A historic law enacted in 1978 that established the Pinelands National Reserve in New Jersey. The federal law was followed by subsequent enactment of N.J. State legislation creating the New Jersey Pinelands Commission to manage and protect the resources of nearly a million acres (4,000 km²) of the Pinelands. Hughes also served on the House Select Committee on Aging , which he chaired in 1993,

609-449: A machinegun. (2) This subsection does not apply with respect to— (A) a transfer to or by, or possession by or under the authority of, the United States or any department or agency thereof or a State, or a department, agency, or political subdivision thereof; or (B) any lawful transfer or lawful possession of a machinegun that was lawfully possessed before the date this subsection takes effect. On April 10, 1986, House Amendment 777 passed

696-410: A medical marijuana card holder is a violation. Additionally, 18 U.S.C 922 (x) generally prohibits people under 18 years of age from possessing handguns or handgun ammunition with certain exceptions for employment, target practice, education, and a handgun possessed while defending the home of the juvenile or a home in which they are a guest. The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 created

783-615: A nationwide system to provide judges with better information about defendants before setting bail, and for monitoring defendants awaiting trial, the Dangerous Drug Diversion Control Act of 1984 (H.R. 5656) which strengthened federal authority to prevent the diversion of legal prescription drugs into the illicit market, the Computer Trespass Act of 1984 (H.R. 5616) which provided criminal penalties for counterfeiting access devices and for

870-562: A peaceful manner. The report also said that 75 percent of ATF prosecutions "were aimed at ordinary citizens who had neither criminal intent nor knowledge, but were enticed by agents into unknowing technical violations." It suggested that reform of federal firearms law such as proposed in S. 1030 "would be largely self-enforcing" and "would enhance vital protection of constitutional and civil liberties of those Americans who choose to exercise their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms." The Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986 (FOPA) addressed

957-841: A post he held until October, 1998 leading up to the historic turnover of the Panama Canal to Panamanian control . During his tenure in Congress, Hughes was a member of the House Judiciary Committee , where he chaired the Subcommittee on Crime (1981–1990) and the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property and Judicial Administration (1991–1994). Hughes also served on the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, which had jurisdiction over numerous issues of importance to his coastal district. Hughes

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1044-421: A provision that banned the sale to civilians of machine guns manufactured after the date of enactment, restricting sales of these weapons to the military and law enforcement. Thus, in the ensuing years, the limited supply of these arms available to civilians has caused an enormous increase in their price, with most costing in excess of $ 10,000. Regarding these fully-automatic firearms owned by private citizens in

1131-552: A scheme set up under the Act. The GCA was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 22, 1968, and is Title I of the U.S. federal firearms laws. The National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) is Title II. Both GCA and NFA are enforced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). 18 USC chapter 44 was first enacted by the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 . GCA repealed

1218-531: A sentence automatically reinstate rights to vote, sit on a jury, or serve in public office, no states restore gun ownership rights upon completion of a sentence. Some states reinstate rights depending on the crime convicted of, and others have a petition process. Those convicted of a federal offense must contact the Office of the Pardon Attorney, Department of Justice, to receive a presidential pardon. Under

1305-654: A term exceeding one year; (2) is a fugitive from justice; (3) is an unlawful user of or addicted to marihuana or any depressant or stimulant drug (as defined in section 201 (v) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) or narcotic drug (as defined in section 4731 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954)" The Gun Control Act of 1968 was amended in 1993 by the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act which introduced

1392-459: Is closer to police/combat-style competition and not comparable to more traditional types of sports), nor does it allow for collection for historical or design interest. The law also required that all newly manufactured firearms produced by licensed manufacturers in the United States and imported into the United States bear a gun serial number . Firearms manufactured before the Gun Control Act and firearms manufactured by non-FFLs remain exempt from

1479-655: Is disputed. Definitions of certain terms in the law include: The Act also forbade the U.S. Government agency from keeping a registry directly linking non- National Firearms Act firearms to their owners, the specific language of this law ( Federal Law 18 U.S.C. 926 ) being: No such rule or regulation prescribed [by the Attorney General] after the date of the enactment of the Firearms Owners Protection Act may require that records required to be maintained under this chapter or any portion of

1566-567: Is located in the most urbanized state in the nation, it is the largest tract of open space on the mid-Atlantic Coast with one of the cleanest aquifers in the world. To help protect the Pinelands' unique natural and cultural resources from encroaching development, in 1977 Hughes introduced H.R. 9539, the Pinelands Preservation Act . Hughes subsequently joined with Senators Harrison A. Williams and Clifford P. Case , and Reps. Edwin B. Forsythe and James Florio in coauthoring

1653-573: Is named in honor of the community service and local contributions of Congressman Hughes and his wife, Nancy. In Cape May, the beach known as Trenton Beach was renamed in perpetuity as The Congressman William J. Hughes Beach. Additionally, in 1995, the Borough of Penns Grove in Salem County renamed Church Street—the street where Hughes grew up—in his honor. Hughes was named Congressman of the Year by

1740-550: Is under indictment for, or has been convicted in any court of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year; (2) is a fugitive from justice; (3) is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802)); (4) has been adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to any mental institution; (5) who, being an alien; (6) who has been discharged from

1827-686: The Federal Firearms Act of 1938 , though many of its provisions were reenacted as part of the GCA, which revised the FFA and its predecessor, the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA). The bill was initially prompted by the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1963. The President was shot and killed with a rifle purchased by mail order from an ad in the magazine American Rifleman . Congressional hearings followed and

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1914-602: The House Judiciary Committee on January 10, 1967 , with this instance resulting in the bill staying on the legislative docket. The April 4, 1968, assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. , shortly followed by the June 5 assassination of Robert F. Kennedy , as well as the shooting at the University of Texas two years previously , compounded by shifting societal attitudes towards gun ownership, renewed efforts to pass

2001-811: The National Association of Police Organizations (1986). He is a past recipient of the Book of Golden Deeds Award from the Exchange Club of Ocean City (1975), the Leo Fraser Super Achiever Award from the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation (1987), and the Arthur E. Armitage, Sr. Distinguished Alumni Award from Rutgers University (1988). Prior to his appointment as Ambassador, Hughes served 10 terms in

2088-533: The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to prevent firearms sales to such prohibited people. The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 strengthened bans against domestic abusers by enforcing domestic violence protection orders which barred people subject to family violence protection orders from having firearms. The Gun Control Act mandated the licensing of individuals and companies engaged in

2175-688: The New York City Police Commissioner . As debate for FOPA was in its final stages in the House before moving on to the Senate, Rep. William J. Hughes (D-N.J.) proposed several amendments including House Amendment 777 to H.R. 4332, which modified the act to ban the civilian ownership of new machine guns, specifically to amend 18 U.S.C.   § 922 to add subsection (o): (o)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), it shall be unlawful for any person to transfer or possess

2262-870: The Ocean Dumping Ban Act of 1988. He also championed several measures to prevent the disposal of plastic debris in the ocean, culminating in the enactment of the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987 as part of the United States-Japan Fishery Agreement Approval Act of 1987 Archived 2016-07-05 at the Wayback Machine . Hughes won approval of numerous measures over the years to help maintain and protect South Jersey's many miles of beaches and inland waterways, which provide significant support for

2349-573: The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution concluded: The conclusion is thus inescapable that the history, concept, and wording of the second amendment to the Constitution of the United States, as well as its interpretation by every major commentator and court in the first half-century after its ratification, indicates that what is protected is an individual right of a private citizen to own and carry firearms in

2436-514: The U.S. House of Representatives from 1975 to 1995, representing New Jersey's Second Congressional District which includes major portions of the Jersey Shore and Pine Barrens , the cities of Vineland and Atlantic City , and the counties of Salem , Cumberland , Atlantic , Cape May and part of Gloucester . After retiring from Congress in 1995, Hughes was appointed by President Bill Clinton as United States Ambassador to Panama ,

2523-565: The 5.5 million tons dumped annually in the Bight and Northern N.J. dumpers accounted for 34 percent. In 1975, Hughes successfully offered the amendment for which he is perhaps best known, which banned the dumping of harmful sewage sludge and chemicals in the ocean after December 31, 1981. The bill was signed into law by President Carter in November, 1977. Although the sludge dumping ban was opposed by Congressman John M. Murphy of New York, who

2610-732: The ATF may do a follow-up inspection. The bill was endorsed by the NRA. It was opposed by police organizations, including the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association , Police Foundation , International Association of Chiefs of Police , Fraternal Order of Police , National Troopers Coalition, Police Executive Research Forum , National Sheriffs' Association , National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives , International Union of Police Associations , National Association of Police Organizations and

2697-521: The Ambassador to Panama, Hughes was responsible for an Embassy of about 425 employees and 21 agencies, including a sizable law enforcement and intelligence component. The United States Southern Command was then based in Panama, so one of Hughes' major functions was to coordinate with the U.S. military. Most of the counter-narcotics missions were directed out of Howard Air Force Base in Panama. From

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2784-685: The Anti-Arson Act of 1982 (H.R. 6454) which expanded federal jurisdiction to include all major interstate arson cases, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material Implementation Act of 1982 (H.R. 5228) which imposed fines and prison terms for the illegal diversion or use of nuclear materials and authorized improved nuclear safeguards, the Pretrial Services Act (H.R. 3481) , which implemented

2871-483: The Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions; (7) who, having been a citizen of the United States, has renounced their citizenship; (8) is subject to a court order that restrains such person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner of such person or child of such intimate partner or person, or engaging in other conduct that would place an intimate partner in reasonable fear of bodily injury to

2958-590: The Department's rules governing petitions for executive clemency, 28 C.F.R. §§ 1.1 et seq., an applicant must satisfy a minimum waiting period of five years before he becomes eligible to apply for a presidential pardon of his federal conviction. According to a 21 Sep 2011 "Open Letter to All Federal Firearms Licensees" from the ATF, holders of state-issued medical marijuana cards are automatically "prohibited people" under 18 U.S.C 922 (g)(3) and "shipping, transporting, receiving or possessing firearms or ammunition" by

3045-453: The EPA and were successful in obtaining a court ruling that ocean dumping of sewage sludge could not be banned without full consideration of the costs and environmental consequences of alternative disposal methods. EPA did not appeal the court's ruling and, as a result, ocean dumping was allowed to continue. Congress subsequently passed legislation to extend the deadline, to allow more time for

3132-546: The House by voice vote . Despite some controversy over whether the amendment should have been given a recorded vote , the bill as a whole passed the House and the Senate, and was signed on May 19, 1986 by President Ronald Reagan to become Public Law 99-308, the Firearms Owners' Protection Act. The ATF, as a representative of the U.S. and with authority from the National Firearms Act , can authorize

3219-603: The Interstate Shipment of Firearms", and Senate Bill 1592 in 1965, "A Bill to Amend the Federal Firearms Act of 1938". Both were introduced by Senator Thomas J. Dodd but in both cases the bill was met with fierce opposition, effectively shutting down the earliest efforts for gun control legislation regarding the mail-order rifles. The bill was once again introduced into the House of Representatives by

3306-750: The Multi-national Counter Narcotics Center (MCNC) at Howard, AWAC and other equipment was deployed into South America. The 177th Fighter Wing , based in Pomona, N.J. rotated out of Panama during his tour and provided air cover for the AWAC operations. Hughes was also an ex officio member of the Panama Canal Commission and was charged with the responsibility of coordinating the work of the Commission with

3393-635: The Republic of Panama. The central mission of the Commission as well as the Embassy was to lead a successful turnover of the Panama Canal in December 1999 and, as the principal U.S. representative in Panama, Hughes actively participated in the planning and execution process. The military was also responsible for turning over about six remaining military facilities to the Republic of Panama, and Hughes

3480-767: The Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control, and the House Select Committee on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). In 1986, Hughes was one of the House impeachment managers who prosecuted the case in the impeachment trial of Judge Harry E. Claiborne . Claiborne was found guilty by the United States Senate and removed from his federal judgeship. Bill Hughes was nominated in early 1995 by President Bill Clinton to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Panama. He

3567-737: The Sport Fishing Institute, Howard Carter Jr. of the National Shooting Sports Foundation , E. C. Hadley of the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute , Robert T. Dennis of the Izaak Walton League , "and countless other sportsmen, and sportsmen and industry groups" because it would have a far-reaching and damaging effect on the hunting and shooting sports, while failing to reduce crime. In his remarks upon signing

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3654-451: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to study the impact of ocean dumping and identify acceptable disposal alternatives. In 1984, the EPA closed the long-time New York Bight ocean dumping site and designated a 106-mile (171 km) site as its replacement. Nine municipal sewerage authorities, including New York City, began dumping their sludge at the 106-mile (171 km) site in 1986. Hughes responded by writing new legislation to ban

3741-444: The U.S. House of Representatives, representing New Jersey's Second Congressional District longer than anyone in history. He first ran for Congress in 1970 when he challenged incumbent Congressman Charles W. Sandman and lost by fewer than 5,000 votes. Hughes did not run for office in 1972 but again sought election to Congress in 1974 and won with 57% of the vote as one of the so-called "Watergate Babies" who were swept into office in

3828-543: The U.S. by certain categories of individuals thought to pose a threat to public safety . However, this list differed between the House and the Senate versions of the bill, and led to confusion. The list was later augmented, modified, and clarified in the Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986. The 1986 list is: These provisions are stated in the form of questions on Federal Form 4473 . In 2001,

3915-563: The U.S., political scientist Earl Kruschke said "approximately 175,000 automatic firearms have been licensed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (the federal agency responsible for administration of the law) and evidence suggests that none of these weapons has ever been used to commit a violent crime." The Act mandated that ATF compliance inspections can be done no more than once per year. An exception exists if multiple record-keeping violations are recorded in an inspection, in which case

4002-834: The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (consisting of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi) ruled that the Lautenberg Amendment , 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8)(C)(ii) (which extended the original FOPA restrictions on firearm ownership to persons under a court order in connection with domestic violence) did not violate the Second Amendment, and did not violate the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment as applied to

4089-475: The abuses noted in the 1982 Senate Judiciary Subcommittee report. Among the reforms were the reopening of interstate sales of long guns on a limited basis, legalization of ammunition shipments through the U.S. Postal Service , removal of the requirement for record keeping on sales of non- armor-piercing ammunition , and federal protection of transportation of firearms through states where possession of those firearms would otherwise be illegal. The Act also contained

4176-417: The act arose from the National Rifle Association (NRA) and some FFL licensees. In particular, advocates claimed that ATF was repeatedly inspecting FFL holders for the apparent purpose of harassment intended to drive the FFL holders out of business (as the FFL holders would constantly be having to tend to ATF inspections instead of to customers). A February 1982 report by the Senate subcommittee that studied

4263-464: The act in October 1968, Johnson said: "Congress adopted most of our recommendations. But this bill—as big as this bill is—still falls short, because we just could not get the Congress to carry out the requests we made of them. I asked for the national registration of all guns and the licensing of those who carry those guns. For the fact of life is that there are over 160 million guns in this country—more firearms than families. If guns are to be kept out of

4350-632: The bill. On June 11, 1968, a tie vote in the House Judiciary Committee halted the bill's passage. On reconsideration nine days later, the bill was passed by the committee. The Senate Judiciary Committee similarly brought the bill to a temporary halt, but as in the House, it was passed on reconsideration. House Resolution 17735, known as the Gun Control Act, was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 22, 1968 banning mail-order sales of rifles and shotguns and prohibiting most felons, drug users, and people found mentally incompetent from buying guns. This act also included provisions that redefined

4437-406: The business of buying or selling firearms. Individuals buying and selling firearms without a federal license must be doing so from their collection. Under the Gun Control Act, a federally licensed importer, manufacturer, dealer, or collector shall not sell or deliver any rifle or shotgun or ammunition for rifle or shotgun to any individual less than 18 years of age, nor any handgun or ammunition for

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4524-490: The business of selling firearms. This provision effectively prohibited the direct mail order of firearms (except antique firearms ) by consumers and mandated that anyone who wants to buy a gun in an interstate transaction from a source other than a private individual must do so through a federally licensed firearms dealer. The Act also banned unlicensed individuals from acquiring handguns outside their state of residence. The interstate purchase of long guns (rifles and shotguns)

4611-464: The closure of at least one-fifth of the Nation's commercial shellfish beds, beaches and bays had been closed to swimming and heavy fish kills had occurred. One area known as the New York Bight , some 12 miles (19 km) off the coast of New Jersey and Long Island, had been used by 25 municipalities and sewerage authorities in the New York City/Northern New Jersey area for sewage sludge disposal since 1924. New York dumpers accounted for more than half of

4698-418: The contents of such records, be recorded at or transferred to a facility owned, managed, or controlled by the United States or any State or any political subdivision thereof, nor that any system of registration of firearms, firearms owners, or firearms transactions or disposition be established. Nothing in this section expands or restricts the Secretary's authority to inquire into the disposition of any firearm in

4785-453: The course of a criminal investigation. Nevertheless, at one point the ATF's National Tracing Center (NTC) contained hundreds of millions of firearm tracing and registration records, and consisted of several databases; but as of May 2016, many of these databases have been deleted to fall inline with record deletion requirements, per the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The older Gun Control Act of 1968 prohibits firearms ownership in

4872-596: The death of former U.S. Senator James A. McClure , the NRA called provisions of the GCA "draconian". McClure was a cosponsor of the Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) of 1986, also called the McClure-Volkmer Act. Political scientist Robert Spitzer wrote in 2011 that the Gun Control Act of 1968 "provides an ideal case study to highlight the political processes affecting a direct effort to regulate firearms". He also stated in his book that President Johnson's proposal called for national registration of all guns as well as licensing for all gun carriers, but his influence over

4959-439: The defendant, in United States v. Emerson . Gun Control Act The Gun Control Act of 1968 ( GCA or GCA68 ) is a U.S. federal law that regulates the firearms industry and firearms ownership. Due to constitutional limitations, the Act is primarily based on regulating interstate commerce in firearms by generally prohibiting interstate firearms transfers except by manufacturers, dealers and importers licensed under

5046-413: The definitions of firearms within the United States and provided more rules for weapons manufacturers and licensed sellers on interstate commerce of ammunition and other firearm accessories. When it took effect in 1968, the Gun Control Act of 1968 stated that firearm sales were prohibited to anyone who "(1) is under indictment for, or has been convicted in a court of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for

5133-409: The enacted law was small. House Rules Committee chair William Colmer only released H.R. 17735 to the floor after Judiciary Committee chair Emanuel Celler promised to oppose efforts to add licensing and registration provisions. William J. Hughes William John "Jack" Hughes (October 17, 1932 – October 30, 2019) was an American politician and diplomat who served as a Democratic member of

5220-452: The environmentally sensitive New Jersey Pinelands , the Maurice River and its tributaries, Cape May and Atlantic City beaches, and local agriculture, fishing and tourism areas. As a member of the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Hughes became deeply involved in ocean protection and environmental legislation. Hughes also served on the House Select Committee on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), an important assignment because

5307-521: The federal government to investigate incidents involving tampering with drugs or consumer products and imposed criminal penalties for such acts, the Justice Assistance Act (H.R. 2175) , which provided federal matching grants to state and local governments to carry out innovative and effective anti-crime programs, the Contract Services for Drug Dependent Federal Offenders Authorization Act of 1983 (H.R. 2173) which authorized funds to monitor and test federal drug offenders to keep them from going back to drugs,

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5394-423: The firearms are legal in both the state of departure and state of arrival. For transportation, the firearms and ammunition must not be readily accessible; the firearms must be unloaded and, in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver's compartment, the firearms must be located in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console. Whether or not this section protects air travel

5481-421: The founding of a Public Policy Center which in 2008 was named the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy . Hughes also received honorary degrees from Rutgers University, Glassboro State (now Rowan University ), Stockton College, Mount Vernon College for Women , Cumberland County College and Atlantic Cape Community College . In 1997, he was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni . Hughes

5568-439: The government's principal weapons in the war against drugs and other illegal activity. They are: In addition to the foregoing, under Hughes' chairmanship, the Crime Subcommittee also produced a number of other significant initiatives including the Major Fraud Act of 1988 , the Child Sexual Abuse and Pornography Act , the Antiterrorism Act , the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act , the Federal Anti-Tampering Act which authorized

5655-409: The gun directly back to the customer. The GCA created what is known as the "sporting purposes" standard for imported firearms, saying that they must "be generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes". GCA sporting purposes include hunting and organized competitive target shooting but do not include " plinking " or " practical shooting " (which the ATF says

5742-402: The hands of the criminal, out of the hands of the insane, and out of the hands of the irresponsible, then we just must have licensing. If the criminal with a gun is to be tracked down quickly, then we must have registration in this country. The voices that blocked these safeguards were not the voices of an aroused nation. They were the voices of a powerful lobby, a gun lobby, that has prevailed for

5829-634: The illegal entry into federal interest computers, and the Trademark Counterfeiting Act (H.R. 6071) which strengthened federal laws against the counterfeiting of trademarked products. Because the Subcommittee on Crime had jurisdiction over Federal firearms laws as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives , Hughes was involved in a number of gun-related issues during his chairmanship. These include: Hughes' South Jersey congressional district encompassed much of New Jersey's 130 miles (210 km) of coastline and 1,792 miles (2,884 km) of tidal coastline, as well significant portions of

5916-441: The law of the applicable jurisdiction provides for the loss of civil rights under such an offense) unless the pardon, expungement, or restoration of civil rights expressly provides that the person may not ship, transport, possess, or receive firearms. 18 U.S.C 922 (3) imposes punishment for being a drug addict, which was found to be unconstitutional by SCOTUS in Robinson v. California in 1962. While many states upon completion of

6003-413: The lead representative for the U.S. In addition to his work overseeing the transfer of military bases and the coordination of the Canal and negotiation of transfer agreements, Hughes led the following efforts: The FAA Technical Center in southern New Jersey was renamed to the William J. Hughes Technical Center in his honor. The Bill & Nancy Hughes Performing Arts Center in the Ocean City High School

6090-405: The local economy. Hughes sponsored and helped fund a long-awaited project in Cape May to rebuild the beach and protect the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center from erosion. Also, over his 20 years in Congress, Hughes worked to secure millions of additional dollars to dredge the Intracoastal Waterway and develop low-cost erosion control projects along the coastline. Although the New Jersey Pinelands

6177-420: The moment in an election year." At the time of its passage in 1968, NRA executive vice president Franklin Orth wrote in American Rifleman that "the measure as a whole appears to be one that the sportsmen of America can live with". In the May 1993 issue of Guns & Ammo magazine, Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership (JPFO) compared the GCA to Nazi gun laws . In a 2011 article noting

6264-436: The ocean dumping of harmful sewage sludge and chemicals which was enacted into law in 1988, and which banned ocean dumping after December 31, 1991. New York City missed the deadline by a few months, but ultimately became the last municipality to comply with the law, getting out of the ocean on June 30, 1992. It took 17 years, but Hughes finally prevailed in his effort to ban the dumping of harmful sewage sludge and chemicals in

6351-485: The ocean waters off the coast of New Jersey and other mid-Atlantic states have often been looked to as future potential oil drilling sites. In 1970, the President's Council on Environmental Quality issued a landmark report concluding that ocean dumping and other forms of marine pollution had resulted in serious environmental damage and posed a threat to human health. The report found that marine pollution had forced

6438-725: The ocean. In addition to his work on ocean dumping of sewage sludge, Hughes also advocated a number of measures to reduce marine pollution from other sources including measures to ban the disposal of plastic debris and medical wastes at sea. Hughes authored H.R. 5225, the Health Waste Anti-Dumping Act of 1988 Archived 2016-07-05 at the Wayback Machine , which passed the House of Representatives in September 1988, and also sponsored or cosponsored several other bills on medical waste , which either became law or had provisions that were ultimately included in S. 2030,

6525-459: The partner or child, except that this paragraph shall only apply to a court order that— (9) has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. With the following exceptions: (ii) A person shall not be considered to have been convicted of such an offense for purposes of this chapter if the conviction has been expunged or set aside, or is an offense for which the person has been pardoned or has had civil rights restored (if

6612-411: The same state are allowed under federal law so long as such transfers do not violate the other existing federal and state laws. While current law mandates that a background check be performed if the seller has a federal firearms license, private parties living in the same state are not required to perform such checks under federal law. A person who does not have a Federal Firearms License may not be in

6699-544: The serial number requirement. Defacement or removal of the serial number (if present) became a felony offense under the law where previously no serial number was required. In a June 1966 essay, Neal Knox wrote that what was then called the Dodd Bill was opposed by outdoorsmen and conservationists Harry R. Woodward , C. R. Gutermuth of the Wildlife Management Institute, Richard H. Stroud of

6786-732: The spring of 1970; appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court to the Advisory Committee on Professional Ethics, 1972. Prior to his election to Congress in 1974, Hughes was President of the law firm of Loveland, Hughes and Garrett in Ocean City . Hughes was married to the former Nancy L. Gibson of Moorestown from 1956 until her death in 2018. The couple had four children. Following his return from Panama, Hughes taught for several years at Stockton State College in Pomona, New Jersey. His work at Stockton led to

6873-582: The transfer of a machine gun to an unlicensed civilian. An unlicensed individual may acquire machine guns, with ATF approval. The transferor must file an ATF application, which must be completed by both parties to the transfer: If ATF denies an application, it must refund the tax. Gun owners must keep approved applications as evidence of registration of the firearms and make them available for inspection by ATF officers. On August 21, 2024, District Judge John W. Broomes , citing New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen , threw out charges against

6960-605: The wake of the Watergate Scandal and the resignation of President Richard Nixon . In 1976, Hughes faced Assemblyman James R. Hurley of Millville in his first reelection bid and won with 62% of the vote. In subsequent elections, Hughes' winning percentage averaged 60%. During the 1984 election, Hughes outpolled President Reagan in his district by a margin of 63% to 62%. He outpolled President Bush in 1988 by 66% to 58%, and outpolled President Clinton by 57% to 40%. * Minor candidate notes: In 1980, Adele Frisch ran from

7047-611: Was Chairman of the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, Hughes was successful in getting enough votes in the Committee to defeat legislative efforts to delay the effective date. Under this law, more than 300 industries and municipalities, including New York City and Philadelphia, which had permits or were seeking permits to dump their wastes in the ocean, were required to switch to land-based disposal alternatives. In 1981, New York City and several other municipalities sued

7134-502: Was a longtime resident of Ocean City, where he died on October 30, 2019, at age 87. Hughes served in the United States House of Representatives from 1975 until 1995. During his tenure in Congress, Hughes served as a member of the House Judiciary Committee , where he chaired the Subcommittee on Crime (1981–1990). During that time, Hughes sponsored numerous anti-crime bills that became law including, three that became

7221-581: Was born in Salem, New Jersey, the son of Pauline Mehaffey and William W. Hughes. He graduated from Penns Grove High School in 1950. He attended Rutgers University , graduating in 1955 and earned his law degree from Rutgers Law School in 1958. He was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1959 and commenced practice in Ocean City ; served as township solicitor for Upper Township , 1959–1961; appointed assistant prosecutor for Cape May County in 1960; reappointed as first assistant prosecutor in 1961 and served until

7308-433: Was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 29, 1995, and presented his credentials to President Ernesto Pérez Balladares in early November 1995. When he began his tour in 1995, Panama had become a major transit country for drugs mostly cocaine coming from South America, and money laundering was also a major problem. Panama has been viewed as "ideally positioned for illicit financial transactions and drug smuggling." As

7395-466: Was not impeded by the Act so long as the seller is federally licensed and such a sale is allowed by both the state of purchase and the state of residence. Private sales between residents of two different states are also prohibited without going through a licensed dealer, except for the case of a buyer holding a Curio & Relic license purchasing a firearm that qualifies as a curio or relic. Private sales between unlicensed individuals who are residents of

7482-608: Was one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 1986 to conduct impeachment proceedings against District Court Judge Harry E. Claiborne of Nevada . Before being elected to Congress, Hughes served for 10 years as First Assistant Prosecutor in Cape May County from 1960 to 1970. His Congressional Papers are housed at the Rutgers University Libraries Special Collections and University Archives. Hughes

7569-482: Was the lead civilian representing the U.S. government. Between 1995 and 1998, most of the military facilities were turned over to Panama, including some of the more controversial properties such as the bombing ranges and target practice areas, where there was a presence of unexploded ordnance. This required many trips to Washington and meetings with the Panama Foreign Ministry, with Hughes serving as

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