Sponsors (24)
The bill improves reporting, data systems, and law enforcement response for lost/stolen firearms to reduce diversion and harm, but does so by imposing fines, administrative duties, potential rights restrictions, and criminal penalties that could burden owners and shift grant resources.
Local law enforcement and communities will get faster notification when firearms are reported lost or stolen because the Attorney General must forward portal reports to local chiefs within 72 hours, improving police ability to recover guns and investigate diversion.
Gun owners who fail to report lost or stolen firearms face new civil penalties, creating a financial deterrent that may reduce illegal diversion of guns and lower gun‑related harm for the broader public.
State and local governments receiving DOJ grants will dedicate at least 5% of certain grant funds to study and implement lost/stolen firearm reporting systems, helping build better data and infrastructure for tracking firearms.
Unlicensed firearm owners who fail to report a loss or theft within 48 hours face new criminal exposure and civil fines (starting at $1,000 and up to $5,000 for repeat violations), imposing direct financial and legal risk on owners.
Gun owners twice or thrice assessed civil penalties can be barred from receiving firearms for 1 year (two assessments) or 5 years (three assessments), restricting firearm access based on administrative penalties rather than criminal convictions.
People who submit incorrect or ambiguous reports risk criminal prosecution because false reports are criminalized, which could chill reporting and expose well‑intentioned reporters to severe penalties.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires 48-hour reporting of lost/stolen interstate-traveled firearms, creates civil penalties and escalating receipt bans, and mandates a DOJ reporting portal and NICS updates.
Official title: To require lost or stolen firearms to be reported to law enforcement authorities within 48 hours, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 21, 2025 by Sean Casten · Last progress February 21, 2025
Requires private (non-licensed) firearm owners to report lost or stolen firearms that previously moved in interstate or foreign commerce to the Attorney General (or local law enforcement) within 48 hours, establishes civil penalties for failures and false reports, and creates statutory firearm receipt bans tied to repeated civil-penalty assessments. Directs the Attorney General to create a public web portal, update NICS and dealer notice rules, and conditions certain Justice Department grant uses on improving lost/stolen firearm data efforts. The Act takes effect 90 days after enactment.