This bill aims to make it easier to spot gun dealers linked to guns used in crimes and to keep federal agencies from doing business with them. The Attorney General, through the ATF, must publish a public list of “covered firearms dealers” within 120 days of the law taking effect and then every year after that. Dealers land on the list if, in at least 2 of the past 3 years, 25 or more guns sold by that business were later found by police within 3 years of sale during a crime investigation.

Federal departments and agencies would be barred from signing contracts with any dealer on that list for the current year and the two years before it. There’s a narrow exception: the Attorney General can grant a waiver for national security if asked by the Defense or Homeland Security Secretary, with notice to Congress. The contracting ban starts 180 days after the law is enacted.

Key points:

• Who is affected: Federally licensed gun dealers with many guns quickly traced to crimes; all federal agencies that buy goods or services from dealers.
• What changes: ATF must publish a yearly public list of these dealers; federal agencies cannot contract with dealers on the list for up to three years back.
• When: The list must appear within 120 days of enactment and annually; the contracting ban begins 180 days after enactment.
• Exceptions: A national security waiver is allowed, with immediate notice to congressional judiciary leaders.