Firearm Destruction Licensure Act of 2025
The Firearm Destruction Licensure Act of 2025 would create a new licensing regime for anyone engaged in the business of destroying firearms. Under the bill, a person may not destroy firearms as part of a business unless they hold a license issued by the Attorney General (through the ATF). It defines who counts as a "firearm destroyer" and establishes a mandatory standard for what counts as a "covered method of firearm destruction" (i.e., destroying a firearm and all its parts so it cannot be restored to working condition). The bill also adds reporting requirements for licensed destroyers, requires rulemaking to implement these provisions, and provides for government grants to fund destruction of firearms. In short, the bill shifts destruction of firearms from an unregulated activity to a federally licensed and monitored activity, with increased transparency and oversight. Key elements include: licensing of firearm destroyers; prohibition on unlicensed destruction; mandatory destruction methods; annual reporting to ATF (including sources and destruction outcomes) with public disclosure; a new grants program to pay licensed destroyers to destroy firearms; and a defined effective date and rulemaking process. The bill also amends penalties to align with the new licensing framework and includes transitional provisions for dealers already licensed under existing statutes.
Key Points
- 1Licensing to engage in destroying firearms: The bill creates a new category of licensed activity for anyone who destroys firearms as part of a business, defining “firearm destroyer” and clarifying government entities are not considered firearm destroyers for licensing purposes. It requires an approved license from the Attorney General to operate in this space.
- 2Unlawful acts and licensing link: The act would bar unlicensed destruction of firearms and ensure that destruction activity is tied to a valid license. It also updates licensing requirements in related statutes to cover destruction as a listed activity that must be licensed.
- 3Covered method of destruction and recordkeeping: The bill defines a “covered method of firearm destruction” as a destruction method that renders the firearm (and all parts and components) unable to be restored and scrapped. It requires rulemaking to specify acceptable destruction methods and the records/ documents that licensed destroyers must keep.
- 4Reporting and transparency: Licensed firearm destroyers would be required to submit annual reports to ATF detailing the number of firearms destroyed, sources of firearms (e.g., received from government entities), and how destruction was carried out. The Attorney General would publicly release these reports and an aggregate of the data.
- 5Grants to fund destruction: The bill creates a new section (Sec. 107) under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to provide grants to eligible state, local, and Tribal governments to pay licensed dealers to destroy firearms using covered methods. It authorizes appropriations to support these grants.
- 6Transitional rules and rulemaking: The bill requires the ATF to issue a final rule within 180 days of enactment, establishing destruction methods and recordkeeping requirements. It also sets transitional steps for dealers already licensed before enactment and requires certification of compliance where applicable.
- 7Effective date: All amendments would take effect 180 days after enactment.