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Congress·In Committee·H.R. 4223

Rep. Dean Introduces the Gun Records Restoration and Preservation Act

Gun Records Restoration and Preservation Act

9 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

House
Senate
President
Law

Key Points

  • This bill would repeal the requirement that instant criminal background check records be destroyed within 24 hours. Keeping these records longer would help law enforcement trace firearms used in crimes and identify straw purchasers who buy guns on behalf of prohibited individuals.

    From policy text

    “The Tiahrt Amendments impede enforcement of the gun laws by requiring most background check records to be destroyed within 24 hours, and by barring the Federal Government from requiring annual inventory audits by owners of gun shops.”
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  • The bill would allow ATF to require gun shop owners to perform annual physical inventory checks of their firearms stock. This is currently blocked by the Tiahrt Amendments, meaning there is no federal mechanism to ensure dealers can account for all weapons in their possession.

    From policy text

    “The fifth proviso under the heading ``Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives--Salaries and Expenses'' in title II of division B of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 (18 U.S.C. 923 note; Public Law 113-6; 127 Stat. 248) is amended by striking ``and any fiscal year thereafter''.”
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  • Gun trace data — information about where a crime gun was originally sold — would become available to the public and researchers through Freedom of Information Act requests. Currently, a 2003 appropriations rider blocks FOIA requests about firearm traces and arson/explosives incidents.

    From policy text

    “Section 644 of division J of the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003 (5 U.S.C. 552 note; Public Law 108-7; 117 Stat. 473) is repealed.”
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  • The Department of Justice would be allowed to centralize firearms acquisition and disposition records maintained by licensed dealers. Supporters say this would help identify interstate gun trafficking patterns, though opponents worry it could create a de facto national gun registry.

    From policy text

    “The matter under the heading ``Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives--Salaries and Expenses'' in title II of division B of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 (18 U.S.C. 923 note; Public Law 112-55; 125 Stat. 609) is amended-- (1) by striking the first proviso”
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  • The bill cites research showing that the Tiahrt Amendments dramatically increase gun trafficking to the criminal market and limit researchers' ability to study how illegal guns flow across state lines and how prohibited purchasers obtain firearms.

    From policy text

    “A 2012 study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that the Tiahrt Amendments dramatically increase gun trafficking to the criminal market.”
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Gun PolicyCriminal Justice

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Jun 27, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Jun 27, 2025

Introduced in House

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Gun Records Restoration and Preservation Act

Bill NumberHR 4223
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsor

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.