Rutherford, Golden Reintroduce the Bipartisan FFL Protection Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressmen John H. Rutherford (R-FL-05) and Jared Golden (D-ME-02) reintroduced H.R. 1773, the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act, to increase penalties for robbing or burglarizing Federal Firearm Licensee (FFL) dealers. They were joined by 42 additional cosponsors in the House.
According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), there were over 361 burglaries and robberies of FFL dealers in 2023. During this period, 4,802 firearms were stolen, an 11% increase over 2022. Many of these firearms later show up at crime scenes.
“As crime rises across the nation, additional steps must be taken to prevent criminals from stealing and trafficking firearms,” said Rutherford. “Criminals burglarize FFL dealers then traffic those stolen firearms and use them to commit crimes. As a former sheriff and lifelong member of law enforcement, I know the threat these stolen firearms pose to the safety and security of our communities. That’s why I am proud to reintroduce the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act to ensure those who rob and burglarize federally licensed gun dealers face harsher penalties for committing these crimes.”
“Our gun laws should protect law-abiding citizens exercising their 2nd Amendment rights, but throw the book at violent criminals and illegal firearm traffickers,” said Golden. “By increasing penalties on those who steal guns from licensed sellers, the bipartisan Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act will deter gun thieves and clamp down on the black market. That’s bad news for criminals, and good news for upstanding American gun owners.”
"This bipartisan legislation is what true gun safety looks like. Congress is sending a clear message that the safety of our communities is nonnegotiable and targeting firearm retailers to steal guns in order to commit further crimes is intolerable," said Lawrence G. Keane, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for NSSF. "The firearm industry is grateful to Congressmen John Rutherford and Jared Golden for reaching across the aisle to provide those firearm retailers who follow the law the protection they deserve. This legislation assigns the responsibility for crime where it belongs - with the criminal. These are real solutions that make our communities safer."
Penalties would include a minimum sentence of three years in prison for burglary and five years in prison for robbery. Additionally, this legislation would double the statutory maximum penalty for stealing a firearm from a FFL’s inventory from 10 to 20 years.