New Bill Supposedly Aiming to "Modernize" Firearms Businesses Threatens Their Very Existence

Known as the “Federal Firearm Licensee Act”, U.S. House Bill 6225 aims to revamp how federal firearm licensees conduct their business.  How do they plan on doing this? According to the bill's text, they aim to do this by "modernizing" firearms businesses with the implementation of a number of burdensome requirements. House Bill 6225 would mandate certain physical security features on an FFL’s premises, while also requiring the applicant for a licensee to submit a security plan that describes how the applicant will secure their location. Existing FFLs will be required to submit security plans as part of their license renewal process. Some of the safety requirements include: 

• Locked metal cabinets and fireproof safes
• Security systems, video monitoring, and anti-theft alarms
• Security gates, strong locks, and site hardening
• Concrete bollards and other access controls
• The use of any other security-enhancing features appropriate for the licensee’s specific circumstances

But wait, it gets worse.  This bill further increases licensing fees for new FFLs by 100% for all associated fees and grants the ATF authority to revoke or suspend licenses due to a lack of business activity. This bill also strikes any limits on ATF inspection of FFL record keeping data and mandates a security inspection upon an FFL reporting a lost or stolen firearm.  Additionally, the ATF would be allowed to facilitate the digital capture of current dealer paper records, the integration, and indexing of data onto a platform accessible by law enforcement authorities for purposes of investigating a violent crime or crime gun trace. Additionally, all gun trace information would be made available to the public. The ATF would be able to remotely access electronic records of licensed dealers by law enforcement authorities for purposes of investigating a violent crime. All current prohibitions on centralizing of FFL information is striken from existing law. 

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this bill.  So please, take a minute out of your day to write your federal legislators and ask them to oppose House Bill 6225.  You can easily do this by utilizing FPC's convenient constituent outreach tool located on this page.  FPC has drafted a sample email for you to review, edit, and personalize prior to sending it off.  Thank you for stepping up in defense of FFLs and for helping to prevent this government overreach from becoming law!