Sponsors (214)
The bill expands background-check coverage of private firearm transfers to reduce illegal transfers and improve public and officer safety, while creating additional delays, administrative costs, potential wrongful denials, and interstate compliance complexity for buyers, sellers, and dealers.
People at risk of violence and the general public will face fewer firearms in the hands of prohibited persons, reducing shootings and injuries.
Law enforcement and communities will likely face fewer illegal private transfers and armed encounters, improving officer and public safety.
The bill preserves the existing federal background-check framework and requires DOJ to provide transfer forms in English and Spanish, avoiding a new federal system while improving accessibility for non-English speakers.
Private buyers and sellers will generally have to route transfers through licensed dealers, producing added time, administrative steps, and likely fees for many transactions.
Licensed dealers, importers, manufacturers and federal agencies will face increased workload and compliance costs that may be passed on to consumers or strain small businesses.
Lawful purchasers — including people with disabilities or those with erroneous records — risk wrongful delays or denials if criteria or data used to prohibit purchases are inaccurate.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires licensed dealers to run federal background checks for most private firearm transfers, creates narrow exceptions, adds penalties, effective after 180 days.
Introduced June 10, 2025 by Michael Thompson · Last progress June 10, 2025
Prohibits private, unlicensed sellers from transferring firearms directly to other unlicensed individuals unless a federally licensed dealer, manufacturer, or importer first takes temporary possession to run the required federal background check. Creates a set of specific narrow exceptions (law enforcement/military, certain family loans or gifts, transfers on death, short-term transfers to prevent imminent harm, hunting/target shooting under controlled conditions, transfers approved under federal NFA rules), requires dealers to give a written notice and get a certified acknowledgement on a Department of Justice form (available in English and Spanish), adds criminal penalties for violations, and becomes effective 180 days after enactment.