Gun Trafficker Detection Act
The Gun Trafficker Detection Act would require people who own firearms and are not licensed dealers to report any lost or stolen firearm within 48 hours. Reports would go to the Attorney General (AG), or to local law enforcement if a web portal isn’t used. The AG would then notify the local chief law enforcement officer of the reporter’s name and address within 72 hours of receiving a portal report. The bill would create a federal online reporting portal within 180 days and impose penalties for false reporting. It would also tighten penalties for repeated violations, restrict firearm receipt after multiple civil penalties, and require updates to national background check and record-keeping systems. Additionally, the bill would devote grant funds to studying and improving data management of lost/stolen firearms and would make several conforming amendments related to the Brady Act and background check processes. The act would take effect 90 days after enactment.
Key Points
- 1Reporting requirement for unlicensed firearm owners: Within 48 hours of discovering a lost or stolen firearm involved in interstate/foreign commerce, the owner must report to the Attorney General; if not via the AG’s portal, the report goes to local law enforcement.
- 2Federal reporting portal and penalties: A web-based portal must be created within 180 days. The AG must notify local authorities of the reporter’s identity and address after portal reports. False reporting carries penalties; civil penalties apply for violations (up to $1,000 for a first violation, up to $5,000 for subsequent violations).
- 3Data sharing and enforcement provisions: The bill requires the AG to coordinate with state/local agencies to forward reports to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). It also adds penalties and notification requirements to support enforcement under 18 U.S.C. 924.
- 4Firearm receipt prohibitions after penalties: If a person has twice been civilly penalized under 924(q), they cannot receive a firearm for one year; if they have been penalized three times, they cannot receive a firearm for five years.
- 5False reporting and background checks: The bill expands false-reporting penalties to cover reporting a lost/stolen firearm. It directs updates to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to account for the new penalties and to ensure licensees inform buyers of potential penalties.
- 6Grant program changes: Grant applicants must allocate at least 5% of annual funds to study and implement data management related to lost/stolen firearms, unless they have guaranteed forward of reports to NCIC. The grant program is also amended to support better data collection.