,i  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #iga  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(            
,,repres5tatives  ,febru>y #e1 #bjai,ms4
 ,cl>k ( ,massa*usetts introduc$ !      
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ! ,judici>y  ,a ,,bill    
,to am5d title #ah1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1
 to prohibit ! possession ( a fire>m by1
 or ! disposition ( a fire>m to1 a p]son
 :o has be5 convict$ ( a misdemeanor    
crime ( animal cruelty4  #a4 ,%ort title
 ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,animal      
,viol5ce ,exposes ,real ,?reat ( ,future
 ,gun ,viol5ce ,act ( #bjai or ! ,,av]t 
,future ,gun ,viol5ce ,act ( #bjai4  #b4
 ,prohibition on ! possession ( a fire>m
 by1 or ! disposition ( a fire>m to1 a  
p]son :o has be5 convict$ ( a           
misdemeanor crime ( animal cruelty  7a7 
,def9ition ,section #iba7;a7 ( title    
#ah1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by   
add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7#ce7  7,a7 ,! 
t]m misdemeanor crime ( animal cruelty  
means an (f5se t-- 7i7 is a misdemeanor 
"u ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 or tribal law2 &  7ii7

 has1 z an elem5t1 kn[+ly caus+         
unnecess>y or unju/ifiable physical pa9 
or suff]+ to an animal by an act1       
omission1 or neglect4  7,b7  7i7 ,a     
p]son %all n be consid]$ to h be5       
convict$ ( su* an (f5se = purposes ( ?is
 *apt]1 unless--  7,i7 ! p]son 0        
repres5t$ by c\nsel 9 ! case1 or kn[+ly 
& intellig5tly waiv$ ! "r to c\nsel 9 ! 
case2 &  7,,ii7 9 ! case ( a prosecution
 = an (f5se describ$ 9 ?is p>agraph =   
:i* a p]son 0 entitl$ to a jury trial 9 
! jurisdiction 9 :i* ! case 0 tri$1     
ei!r--  7aa7 ! case 0 tri$ by a jury2 or
  7bb7 ! p]son kn[+ly & intellig5tly    
waiv$ ! "r to h ! case tri$ by a jury1  
by guilty plea or o!rwise4  7ii7 ,a     
p]son %all n be consid]$ to h be5       
convict$ ( su* an (f5se = purposes ( ?is
 *apt] if ! conviction has be5 expung$  
or set aside1 or is an (f5se = :i* !    
p]son has be5 p>don$ or has _h civil    
rights re/or$ 7if ! law ( ! applicable  
jurisdiction provides = ! loss ( civil  
"r "u su* an (f5se71 unless ! p>don1    

expungem5t1 or re/oration ( civil rights
 expressly provides t ! p]son may n %ip1
 transport1 possess1 or receive fire>ms4
  4  7b7 ,prohibitions ,section #ibb (  
su* title is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 ! #a/ s5t5ce
 ( subsection 7d7--  7,a7 9 p>agraph    
7#h77;,b77ii71 by /rik+ or at ! end2    
7,b7 9 p>agraph 7#i71 by /rik+ ! p]iod &
 ins]t+ 2 or2 &  7,c7 by add+ at ! end !
 foll[+3  7#aj7 has be5 convict$ 9 any  
c\rt ( a misdemeanor crime ( animal     
cruelty4  2 &  7#b7 9 subsection 7g7--  
7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#h77;,c77ii71 by /rik+ 
or at ! end2  7,b7 9 p>agraph 7#i71 by  
/rik+ ! comma & ins]t+ 2 or2 &  7,c7 by 
add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7#aj7 :o has   
be5 convict$ 9 any c\rt ( a misdemeanor 
crime ( animal cruelty1  4