Federal Firearm Licensee Act

Bill summary

Federal Firearm Licensee Act This 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).

The official digest continues on the official text.

Defender utility

Federal defenders and FFL counsel: pending House dealer-duty twin of SB 1294, not a street 922(g) count. If either chamber vehicle moves, keep dealer-premises/records theories off the buyer's calendar unless the indictment actually charges the transfer-without-check slice. Not a California charge.

Penalties (if chaptered)

Would increase penalties for knowing transfer without a background check and expand ATF revocation tools. Not in force.

Bank hints

• FFL
• dealer-duty