Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act of 2025
The Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act of 2025 would authorize federal grants from the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance to state and local governments, tribal governments, and certain gun dealers to run gun buyback programs. The program would use “smart prepaid cards” to compensate individuals who surrender firearms, paying 125% of the gun’s market value (with potential increases if the gun has alterations that raise value). Grants would cover program operations, with at least 5% of funds directed to destroying guns and ammunition and up to 15% for administrative costs. The cards would be issued to recipients without funds initially; sponsors would load funds onto cards for gun purchases, but the cards would be restricted from being used to buy firearms or ammunition. The bill also sets disposal requirements (guns and ammunition destroyed or recycled; reporting to ATF; 21-day checks against crime databases) and imposes a new criminal penalty for misuse of the smart prepaid cards. The Act would authorize $360 million per year for 2025–2027.
Key Points
- 1Establishes a national Gun Buyback Grant Program funded at $360 million per year (2025–2027) to states, units of local government, tribal governments, and “covered gun dealers” to conduct gun buyback programs, including subgrants to dealers.
- 2Smart prepaid cards: issued to recipients without funds, loaded by grant recipients to pay participants for surrendered guns, and prohibited from being used to purchase guns or ammunition; the card must clearly state it cannot be used to buy firearms or ammo and cannot be redeemed for cash.
- 3Payment structure and incentives: gun dealers must pay participants 125% of the market value of the surrendered gun (as determined by the Director); dealers may pay more if the gun has alterations increasing value; funds may be used to subgrant dealers to run buyback programs.
- 4Gun handling and disposal requirements: guns and ammo collected must be destroyed or recycled (at least 5% of funds allocated for recycling); all firearms received must be checked to confirm they are not stolen and delivered to ATF within 30 days; ammunition may be collected and destroyed but not purchased with smart cards.
- 5New criminal penalty: creates a new federal offense (18 U.S.C. section 932) for using a smart prepaid card in acquiring or transferring a firearm, punishable by up to $100,000 fine.
- 6Safeguards and definitions: extensive definitions for “covered gun dealer,” “smart prepaid card,” and “gun buyback program”; includes checks against firearms used in crimes and restrictions on resale of firearms or parts acquired through the program.