By a margin of 307-113, a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House of Representatives voted July 28 to amend the federal definition of protected “household goods” to include firearms on the list of items that cannot be seized by creditors in a bankruptcy proceeding.

The National Rifle Association supported bill, H.R. 5827, offered by U.S. Representative John Boccieri (OH-16), would ensure that persons who file for bankruptcy would not lose the constitutionally protected means of protecting themselves and their families. The bill sets a cap of $3,000 on the value of a firearm collection eligible for the protection, so people in bankruptcy proceedings can continue to own serviceable firearms.
The Senate companion bill, S. 3654, is sponsored by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT).