Federal Firearm Licensee Act
Federal Firearm Licensee Act
Plain Language Summary
# Federal Firearm Licensee Act Summary **What the Bill Would Do** The Federal Firearm Licensee Act would impose new security and record-keeping requirements on gun dealers, importers, and manufacturers licensed by the federal government. If passed, these businesses would need to implement security plans for their premises, conduct quarterly inventory checks, install video surveillance where firearms are sold, and run background checks on their employees. The bill also requires these businesses to report lost or stolen firearms to the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) and notify the agency about certain types of firearm transfers. **Who It Affects and Current Status** The bill primarily affects federally licensed gun dealers and manufacturers across the country.
It would also expand the ATF's authority to enforce these new requirements. As of now, the bill is in committee, meaning it hasn't advanced to a full Senate vote yet. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) introduced it in the 119th Congress, and it remains in the early stages of the legislative process with no indication of when or if it will move forward for consideration.
CRS Official Summary
Federal Firearm Licensee ActThis bill establishes new security requirements and expands recordkeeping and reporting requirements for federally licensed dealers, importers, and manufacturers of firearms (i.e., federal firearms licensees, or FFLs). The bill also broadens the authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to administer federal firearms laws and enforce violations.Specifically, bill requires FFLs to implement and comply with a plan to secure their business premises, conduct quarterly physical checks of their business inventories, maintain video surveillance of the area where firearms are sold or transferred, and initiate firearms-related background checks for employees.Additionally, the bill requires FFLs to report to the ATF any inventory firearm that is lost, stolen, or unaccounted for and to notify the ATF about default-proceed transactions (i.e., allowable firearm transfers to an unlicensed person prior to the completion of a background check when the submitted background check remains incomplete after three business days).Finally, the bill removes limits on the ATF's authority to conduct activities related to the administration of federal firearms laws. It enhances the ATF's inspection authority, including by removing the limit on the number of annual compliance inspections (currently, one), requiring inspections of high-risk FFLs, and authorizing an additional 650 investigators. Finally, the bill directs the ATF to deny an application for a federal firearms license if it would endanger public safety or if the applicant is unlikely to comply with the law.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S2175-2181)