H.R. 3945

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3945 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3945

To amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to prohibit a 
person from engaging in the business of destroying firearms unless such 
person has received a license to do so from the Attorney General, and 
for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 12, 2025

Mr. Amo (for himself, Mr. Frost, and Mr. Goldman of New York) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to prohibit a 
person from engaging in the business of destroying firearms unless such 
person has received a license to do so from the Attorney General, and 
for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Firearm Destruction Licensure Act of 
2025''.

SEC. 2. LICENSE REQUIRED TO ENGAGE IN THE BUSINESS OF DESTROYING 
FIREARMS.

(a) Definitions.--Section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code, 
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (11)--
(A) by striking ``or (C)'' and inserting ``(C)''; 
and
(B) by inserting ``, or (D) any person who is a 
firearm destroyer'' after ``pawnbroker'';
(2) in paragraph (21)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as 
subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the 
following:
``(E) as applied to destroying firearms, engaging in a 
business or occupation that includes receiving a firearm for 
the purposes of destroying such firearm;''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(38) The term `firearm destroyer'--
``(A) means any person engaged in the business of 
destroying firearms; and
``(B) does not include a local law enforcement authority, 
Federal law enforcement agency, or any other entity of a 
Federal, State, local, or Tribal government.
``(39) The term `covered method of firearm destruction' means a 
method that renders a firearm and all parts, attachments, accessories, 
or other components received with such firearm unable to be restored to 
working condition and otherwise reduced to scrap.''.
(b) Unlawful Acts.--Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``; or'' and 
inserting a semicolon;
(B) in subparagraph (B) by adding ``or'' at the 
end; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) except a licensed dealer to engage in the 
business of destroying firearms;''; and
(2) in subsection (u) by inserting ``destroying,'' after 
``manufacturing,''.
(c) Licensing.--Section 923 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended--
(1) in subsection (a) by inserting ``destroying,'' before 
``or dealing'';
(2) in subsection (d)(1)(G)--
(A) by striking ``that secure'' and inserting the 
following: ``that--
``(i) secure'';
(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting 
``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) if the applicant receives a firearm from a 
local law enforcement authority, Federal law 
enforcement agency, or any other entity of a Federal, 
State, local, or Tribal government for the purposes of 
destroying such firearm, the applicant will destroy 
such firearm using a covered method of firearm 
destruction.'';
(3) in subsection (g)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A) by inserting 
``destruction,'' after ``sale,''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(8)(A) Not later than 1 year after the effective date of the 
Firearm Destruction Licensure Act of 2025, and each year thereafter, 
each licensed dealer who is a firearm destroyer shall submit a report 
to the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and 
Explosives on the number of firearms the licensed dealer destroyed 
during the previous year, including the number of firearms that the 
licensed dealer--
``(i) received for the purposes of destroying such 
firearms;
``(ii) received from a local law enforcement authority, 
Federal law enforcement agency, or any other entity of a 
Federal, State, local, or Tribal government and destroyed using 
a covered method of firearm destruction; and
``(iii) destroyed other than pursuant to clause (ii), 
including the number of firearms whereby the licensed dealer 
destroyed the frame, receiver, or other part, attachment, 
accessory, or other component of a firearm but did not render 
all parts, attachments, accessories, or other components 
received with such firearm unable to be restored to working 
condition and otherwise reduced to scrap.
``(B) The Attorney General, acting through the Director of the 
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, shall make 
publicly available--
``(i) each report submitted under subparagraph (A); and
``(ii) an aggregate of the information submitted under 
subparagraph (A).''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(m) A licensed dealer who receives a firearm from a local law 
enforcement authority, Federal law enforcement agency, or any other 
entity of a Federal, State, local, or Tribal government for the 
purposes of destroying such firearm shall--
``(1) destroy such firearm using a covered method of 
firearm destruction, unless the licensed dealer and such entity 
agree otherwise; and
``(2) make publicly available information regarding any 
amount the licensed dealer charges a local law enforcement 
authority, Federal law enforcement agency, or any other entity 
of a Federal, State, local, or Tribal government to destroy 
firearms.''.
(d) Penalties.--Section 924(a)(5) of title 18, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting ``(a)(1)(C),'' before ``(s) or (t)''.
(e) Grants for Destroying Firearms.--The Brady Handgun Violence 
Prevention Act (Public Law 103-159) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``SEC. 107. GRANTS FOR DESTROYING FIREARMS.

``(a) In General.--Beginning not later than 1 year after the 
effective date of the Firearm Destruction Licensure Act of 2025, the 
Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, 
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, shall award grants to eligible 
entities for the purposes of paying a licensed dealer to destroy 
firearms using a covered method of firearm destruction.
``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Covered method of firearm destruction; licensed 
dealer.--The terms `covered method of firearm destruction' and 
`licensed dealer' have the meanings given such terms in section 
921(a) of title 18, United States Code.
``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a 
State, local, or Tribal government.
``(3) State.--The term `State' means each of the several 
States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, 
territory, or possession of the United States.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be 
necessary.''.
(f) Applicability; Rulemaking.--
(1) Applicability.--
(A) In general.--The amendments made by this 
section shall apply with respect to a dealer who 
obtains a license under section 923 of title 18, United 
States Code, prior to the effective date of this 
section.
(B) Certification of compliance.--Not later than 
the effective date of this section, a dealer who 
obtains a license under section 923 of title 18, United 
States Code, prior to the effective date of this 
section shall submit to the Attorney General the 
certification required under section 923(d)(1)(G)(ii) 
of such title (as amended by this Act).
(C) Failure to comply.--The Attorney General may, 
after notice and opportunity for hearing, revoke the 
license of a dealer issued under section 923 of title 
18, United States Code, if the holder of such license 
willfully violates subparagraph (B).
(2) Rulemaking.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, acting through the 
Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and 
Explosives, shall issue a final rule to implement this section, 
including by prescribing--
(A) acceptable methods of destruction to render a 
firearm and all parts, attachments, accessories, or 
other components received with such firearm unable to 
be restored to working condition and otherwise reduced 
to scrap; and
(B) records or documents required to be kept by a 
licensed dealer who is a firearm destroyer.
(3) Definitions.--In this subsection, the terms ``dealer'', 
``firearm destroyer'', and ``licensed dealer'' have the 
meanings given such terms in section 921(a) of title 18, United 
States Code (as amended by this Act).
(g) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act shall take 
effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
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