Duval Times

U.S. Congressmen John H. Rutherford and Jared Golden have reintroduced the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act, aimed at increasing penalties for crimes against Federal Firearm Licensee dealers. The bill, known as H.R. 1773, has garnered support from 42 additional cosponsors in the House.

Data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) indicates that in 2023 there were over 361 burglaries and robberies involving FFL dealers, resulting in the theft of 4,802 firearms—a rise of 11% compared to the previous year. Many of these stolen firearms have been linked to 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."

Golden added his perspective on gun laws: "Our gun laws should protect law-abiding citizens exercising their 2nd Amendment rights but throw the book at violent criminals and illegal firearm traffickers. 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."

Lawrence G. Keane, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for NSSF, commented on the legislation's impact: "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." He expressed gratitude towards Congressmen Rutherford and Golden for their efforts in providing protection for lawful firearm retailers.

The proposed penalties under this act include a minimum sentence of three years in prison for burglary offenses against FFLs and five years for robbery offenses. Additionally, it seeks to double the statutory maximum penalty for stealing a firearm from an FFL's inventory from ten years to twenty years.