Federal Firearm Licensee Act
House Bill Would Require Gun Dealers to Upgrade Security, Switch to Digital Records
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
↔Companion bill: Congress Proposes Stricter Security Standards and Electronic Tracking for Federal Gun DealersLegislative Progress
Key Points
- This plan would require gun stores to significantly upgrade their physical security. Dealers would be required to use locked metal cabinets, fireproof safes, alarm systems, and video cameras. They would also have to install physical barriers, like concrete posts, to prevent thieves from crashing vehicles into stores to steal weapons.
- Gun dealers would be required to switch from paper records to electronic ones to help law enforcement track weapons used in crimes more quickly. Dealers would also have to perform a full inventory check every three months and immediately report any lost or stolen firearms to the government.
- The bill creates new rules for websites and apps that help people buy and sell guns. These online marketplaces would need a federal license and would have to ensure that all sales are finished in person at a licensed gun store. Additionally, all gun store employees would have to pass a background check before they can handle firearms.
- The government would hire 650 new investigators to step up oversight of the industry. High-risk gun dealers would be inspected every year, while all other dealers would be inspected at least once every five years. Dealers who repeatedly break the rules would face much higher fines or the permanent loss of their business license.
- Licensing fees for gun dealers would double to help pay for these new safety measures. The bill also changes a rule that currently requires the government to destroy background check records within 24 hours; instead, the government would keep those records for 90 days to help catch people who are trying to illegally buy multiple weapons.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Licensed firearm dealers — mostly small businesses — would face dramatically higher costs from doubled licensing fees, mandatory security upgrades (locked cabinets, safes, alarms, video surveillance, bollards), quarterly inventory audits, electronic recordkeeping conversion, and employee background check requirements. Dealers who fail to comply face escalating civil penalties up to $20,000 and license suspension or revocation. Many smaller dealers may find these new costs and compliance burdens difficult to absorb.
Activities
State Impacts
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articlesBill Would Crack Down on FFLs, Require Multiple Sales Reported to Feds
The 'Federal Firearm Licensee Act' introduced by U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly would rewrite federal law for FFLs, ranging from small shops to big-box dealers. It expands laws to 'facilitators' like online marketplaces, ups physical security requirements, and increases electronic record management.
New Gun Laws 2025 | Firearm Laws
The Federal Firearm Licensee Act (H.R. 2618) aims to modernize recordkeeping, inspections, and renewal processes for FFLs. It proposes stricter physical security standards and requires digital transaction records to help law enforcement track weapons used in crimes.
Even New York's Strict Gun Laws Couldn't Prevent the Midtown Shooting
Following a high-profile shooting, lawmakers are pointing to the Federal Firearm Licensee Act as a necessary federal step to close interstate trafficking loopholes that allow weapons from states with weak regulations to flood cities with stricter laws.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Federal Firearm Licensee Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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