Consideration of Federal firearms license applications

Section 923(d) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: (2) The Attorney General shall make a preliminary determination as to whether to approve or deny an application submitted under subsection (a) or (b). If the preliminary determination is to deny the application, the Attorney General shall notify the applicant in writing of the preliminary determination and the reasons for the preliminary determination, and shall afford the applicant an opportunity to supplement the application with additional information and to request a hearing on the application. If the applicant, in a timely manner, requests such a hearing, the Attorney General shall hold the hearing at a location convenient to the applicant, and shall notify the applicant in writing of the time and place of the hearing. (3) The Attorney General may not deny an application for a license based on— (A) any prior violation of this chapter by the applicant, if more than 5 years have elapsed since the date a license previously issued to the applicant under this chapter was terminated, unless the Attorney General finds that the applicant is a person described in section 922(g); (B) the applicant having been employed by, or a responsible party for, a licensee whose license under this chapter was revoked, unless there is clear and convincing evidence that the applicant willfully violated this chapter in that capacity; or (C) the applicant being a spouse, former spouse, or child of a licensee whose license under this chapter was revoked, unless there is clear and convincing evidence that the applicant willfully violated this chapter as a responsible party under the license. (4) The procedures provided for in subsection (e) shall apply with respect to any applicant for a license under this chapter and any application for such a license..