A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The FIREARM Act aims to provide firearm licensees with the opportunity to correct statutory or regulatory violations. It establishes new definitions for terms such as "self-reported violation," "willfully," and "uncorrectable violation." The bill restricts the Attorney General from bringing enforcement actions to revoke or deny licenses for self-reported violations, unless they involve uncorrectable issues or prohibited transfers. It also mandates that the Attorney General provide notice, evidence, and assistance to help licensees correct violations. Additionally, the act provides for direct judicial review of license revocations and includes retroactive provisions for licenses affected by specific enforcement policies.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +6
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill provides significant regulatory protections for firearm retail business owners.
- Scored +6
Does this protect the right to own guns?
The bill strengthens the rights of firearm licensees and provides more procedural protections for their business operations.
- Scored +5
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
The bill enhances due process by providing judicial review and required notice for licensees.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Does this put more limits on buying or owning guns?
The bill limits enforcement of certain regulations, which may be viewed as weakening existing gun control oversight.
- Scored -2
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill limits the enforcement authority of the Attorney General.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Opportunity to correct mistakes: Licensees can report their own violations and fix them instead of facing immediate license revocation or denial, provided the violation is correctable and does not involve a prohibited firearm transfer (Section 2(b)(2)(A)).
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Support and training: The Attorney General is required to assist licensees in correcting self-reported violations and must provide instructions and compliance training to help avoid future mistakes (Section 2(b)(2)(B)).
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Increased transparency in enforcement: Before taking action to revoke a license, the Attorney General must provide the licensee with actual notice, a detailed explanation of the violation, and all relevant evidence (Section 2(b)(3)(A)).
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Protection through judicial review: If a license is revoked or denied, aggrieved parties can petition a U.S. district court for judicial review, which stays the revocation until a judgment is issued (Section 2(c)(3)(A-B)).
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Standard of proof for revocations: In court proceedings, the Attorney General must prove that a licensee willfully violated the statute by a preponderance of the evidence to uphold a revocation (Section 2(c)(3)(C)).
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Restoration of licenses: Licensees who had licenses revoked or denied under the "Enhanced Regulatory Enforcement Policy" may have the opportunity to reapply for a license if they demonstrate compliance and take corrective actions (Section 3(c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Exceptions for prohibited transfers: The protection against enforcement actions for self-reported violations does not apply if a firearm was transferred to a person prohibited from possessing one (Section 2(b)(2)(A)(ii)).
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Risk of uncorrectable violations: The Attorney General can deny a licensee the opportunity to correct a violation if the issue cannot be corrected within the provided grace period or assistance (Section 2(b)(3)(C)).
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Exceptions for acute risks: The prohibition on enforcement actions for corrected violations does not apply if the violation is uncorrectable and creates a direct and acute risk of death or serious bodily injury (Section 2(b)(4)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides significant regulatory protections for firearm retail business owners. Would gun owners be better off under this? — The bill's focus on licensee protections implicitly supports the stable operation of the firearm industry.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill enhances due process by providing judicial review and required notice for licensees. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill increases transparency by requiring notice and evidence before enforcement actions. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill limits the enforcement authority of the Attorney General.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill provides regulatory relief and opportunity for license restoration for firearm retailers.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this protect the right to own guns? — The bill strengthens the rights of firearm licensees and provides more procedural protections for their business operations. Does this put more limits on buying or owning guns? — The bill limits enforcement of certain regulations, which may be viewed as weakening existing gun control oversight.
- 6/2/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.