No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section increases the maximum term of imprisonment to 10 years (from 5 years) for recordkeeping violations by licensed firearms dealers, importers, manufacturers, or collectors if the violation relates to false statements or representations made with respect to information required for a firearm acquisition (18 U.S.C. 922(a)(6)) or selling or otherwise disposing of a firearm or ammunition to a prohibited person (18 U.S.C. 922(d)).
This section revises the grounds and procedures under the Gun Control Act of 1968 for the Attorney General to suspend or revoke any federal firearms license (FFL)—covering manufacturers, importers, and dealers—or impose a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 per violation. Grounds include (1) any violation of the GCA or related regulations; (2) failure by a licensee to have secure gun storage or safety devices available at any place where firearms are sold to non-licensees, unless temporarily unavailable due to theft, casualty loss, consumer sales, backorders, or similar reasons beyond the licensee's control; and (3) for dealers, any transfer of armor piercing ammunition. (As background, FFLs are required for persons engaged in the business of importing, manufacturing, or dealing in firearms or ammunition.) The Attorney General may compromise, mitigate, or remit penalties and must provide written notice, an opportunity for a hearing (with stay of suspension or revocation pending the hearing, held at a location convenient to the licensee), and de novo judicial review in U.S. district court upon petition filed within 60 days of an adverse hearing decision.
This section revises the termination of a firearms dealer's license upon conviction pursuant to an indictment to occur until the date of conviction (from until the conviction becomes final).
This section authorizes the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to hire at least 80 additional employees to conduct inspections required by the amendments made by this Act.
This section authorizes the Attorney General to require a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer to conduct a physical inventory of firearms in the licensee's business inventory and provide a detailed record if (1) the licensee has been convicted of unlawfully transferring a firearm or (2) 10 or more firearms used in a crime under federal, state, or local law have been traced to the licensee. The section makes conforming amendments to except this requirement from general prohibitions on physical inventories in 18 U.S.C. §923(j) and a 2013 appropriations act provision.
This section authorizes the Attorney General to deny applications for federal firearms licenses—for manufacturers, importers, dealers, and collectors of curios and relics—if issuing the license would pose a danger to public safety or the applicant is not likely to comply with the law or is otherwise unsuitable. (Previously, the Attorney General was required to issue licenses to qualified applicants; this discretionary denial authority also applies to renewals.)
This section eliminates the "willfully" requirement for violations that may lead to denial or revocation of federal firearms licenses by striking the term from (1) the third sentence of 18 U.S.C. §923(c), and (2) subsection (d)(1) of such section. (Thus, the Attorney General may deny issuance or pursue revocation for any violation of firearms licensing requirements, not only willful ones.)
This section directs the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to submit biennial reports to Congress on implementation of this Act and its amendments, including (1) a statement on any additional resources necessary for such implementation and (2) recommendations to better ensure firearms dealer compliance with applicable laws and regulations and timely action against noncompliant dealers.
This section establishes a severability clause providing that the invalidity of any provision of this Act or its amendments, or its application to any person or circumstance, does not affect the remainder of the Act or its amendments.