Rep. Krishnamoorthi Introduces COOL OFF Act to Require 3-Day Waiting Period for Handgun Purchases
The COOL OFF Act is currently in the early stages of the legislative process after being sent to the House Committee on the Judiciary for review. No further actions are scheduled at this time, and the bill is considered to be moving slowly as it waits for committee consideration.
This bill is supported only by Democrats and faces strong opposition from the other party, making it very unlikely to pass in the current political climate.
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
Reintroduced
Reintroduced from H.R. 667 (118th), which died when its Congress ended.
H.R. 667 (118th) →Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Licensed firearms dealers would need to adjust their sales processes to enforce the new 3-business-day waiting period for handgun sales. This could mean tracking waiting periods, managing inventory holds, and potentially losing some sales from customers who change their minds during the wait. Dealers in states that already have waiting period laws would see less disruption.
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.
A federal appeals court ruled that New Mexico's waiting period likely infringes on Second Amendment rights. The court noted that 'cooling-off periods' do not fit into historically grounded exceptions to the right to bear arms, a ruling that could impact similar 3-day laws in states like Colorado.
The Tenth Circuit found that New Mexico's law requiring a waiting period before taking possession of a firearm likely violates the Second Amendment. The ruling highlights the legal hurdles facing federal and state 'cooling-off' mandates intended to prevent impulsive violence and suicides.
A divided three-judge panel issued a preliminary injunction against the waiting period requirement, determining that blanket delays on gun sales fall outside the scope of historical firearms regulation. This marks the first time a federal appellate court has questioned such laws since Bruen.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
COOL OFF Act
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