03/16/2009 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY

               HJR 17-OPPOSE H.R. 45 IN CONGRESS                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:52:55 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR FRENCH announced  the consideration of HJR  17. [Before the                                                               
committee  was  CSHJR 17(JUD).]  He  noted  the companion  Senate                                                               
resolution in the bill packet.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
PETE FELLMAN,  Staff to  Representative John  Harris said  HJR 17                                                               
urges Congress  to reject H.R.  45, which  is known as  the Blair                                                               
Holt's  Firearm Licensing  and Record  of Sale  Act of  2009. The                                                               
sponsor  feels  the  federal  legislation is  out  of  step  with                                                               
Alaskan values.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The resolution is self defining,  he said, and offered to provide                                                               
a brief summary or answer questions.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  FRENCH found  no questions  from the  committee. He  noted                                                               
that his  office reviewed  the resolution  and he  believes there                                                               
was  an agreement  with the  sponsor to  change one  word of  the                                                               
resolution.  On  page 2,  line  4,  the second  "Whereas"  clause                                                               
currently states  that "under H.R.  45, a firearm owner  could be                                                               
charged with a federal felony based  on the actions of a juvenile                                                               
who might  gain access to  the firearm;" and his  office believes                                                               
it will be a misdemeanor.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR FRENCH moved Amendment 1 as follows:                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
                          AMENDMENT 1                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 4 following "charged with a":                                                                                 
          Delete "felony"                                                                                                       
          Insert "misdemeanor"                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Finding no objection, he announced that Amendment 1 carries.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:55:47 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR THERRIAULT asked Mr. Fellman what modifications were                                                                    
made in the House Judiciary Committee.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR. FELLMAN explained that the second "WHEREAS" was inserted on                                                                 
page 1, lines 6-8.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR FRENCH closed public testimony.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  THERRIAULT moved  to report  the committee's  substitute                                                               
for  HJR 17  from committee  with individual  recommendations and                                                               
attached  fiscal  note.  There  being  no  objection,  SCS  CSHJR
(JUD) moved from the Senate Judiciary Standing Committee.