Peace Garden News

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) reintroduced the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act of 2023. This legislation aims to combat the rapid increase in the number of “smash-and-grab” thefts targeted at federally licensed gun dealers by enhancing penalties for violations, particularly in cases of burglaries or robberies of firearms from FFLs.

“Recent increases of smash-and-grab robberies and burglaries at federally licensed gun dealers resulted in firearms ending up in the hands of criminals,” said Senator Cramer. “Our legislation discourages bad actors from stealing firearms and increases penalties for their lawlessness.”

“I am proud to reintroduce this important legislation to make ‘smash-and-grabs’ more costly for criminals, especially when crime is rising under the Biden Administration,” said Senator Graham. “I believe in responsible gun ownership – not criminals stealing firearms.”

“This is what true gun safety legislation looks like. Senator Graham’s FFL Protection Act sends an unequivocal message to criminals’ intent on burglarizing and robbing firearm retailers that the safety of America’s communities is nonnegotiable,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel, The Firearm Industry Trade Association. “This legislation sends a strong message to violent criminals engaging in these illicit activities that there will be accountability and consequences for their crimes. This legislation assigns the responsibility for the crime where it belongs – with the criminal. Senator Graham has been a staunch advocate of holding criminals accountable and protecting firearm retailers. This legislation does both. This legislation is real solution that will make our communities safer.”

The FFL Protection Act of 2023:

• Increases the statutory maximum penalty for knowingly stealing any firearm in an FFL’s business inventory from 10 to 20 years.
• Imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of three years for burglary from an FFL and five years for robbery from an FFL.
• Criminalizes the attempted theft of a firearm from a licensed importer, manufacturer, dealer, or collector.

Joining Senators Cramer and Graham are Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Jim Risch (R-ID), Dr. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Boozman (R-AR), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Mike Braun (R-IN), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).

Click here for bill text.

Background:

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) stated from 2017 to 2021, 5,395 FFL theft incidents were reported. During these incidents, a total of 34,339 firearms were stolen from FFLs. Theft from FFLs account for 3% of all firearms stolen in the United States, and many of these firearms end up being used in other crimes.

Original source can be found here.