Since this legislative session started, we’ve seen a number of bill introductions that look to impose more restrictions on federally licensed firearm dealers. The anti-freedom caucus has figured out that since they can’t outright ban firearms, they sure can choke off the supply, make the process expensive, as well as make it as onerous as possible. The latest assault comes in the form of H.R.6225 – “To modernize the business of selling firearms”. The bill was introduced by Representative Robin Kelly [D-IL-2] with seven original co-sponsors on December 9th, 2021.

Today, Congresswoman Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Vice Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, led introduction of the Federal Firearm Licensee Act. This legislation would update sections in the U.S. Code directed at federal firearms licensees (FFLs) that have been undermined by not only rogue dealers, but also by advances in technology that have vastly outpaced the federal government’s regulatory response to them. Reps. David Cicilline (D-RI), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Jim Langevin (D-RI), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Joe Morelle (D-NY), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Kweisi Mfume are original co-sponsors of the legislation.

We keep hearing this news of “rogue dealers”, the newest cause celeb from progressives. What exactly are “rogue dealers”, I don’t know. While I can say with certainty that there are bad actors that are federally licensed dealers, I can also say the same for our members of Congress. That does not mean all dealers are bad actors, nor all representatives. Something that Kelly probably should look into is cracking down on rogue members of Congress. Start by reading the Bill of Rights, from there, hold every lawmaker accountable that introduces legislation which would usurp any of our fundamental freedoms.

What does the bill aim to do?

This legislation expands the applicability of federal firearms laws to “facilitators” of firearm sales, such as sellers at gun shows and on online marketplaces, which, in several states, are currently permitted to host large commercial marketplaces that allow for the transfer firearms to purchasers without first initiating a background check to determine whether the buyers are prohibited under applicable state and/or federal law.

The bill also modernizes regulations for existing FFLs by:

• Requiring physical security measures to prevent firearm theft;
• Clarifying the standards by which licensed dealers, and their employees, are assessed for purposes of license issuance and renewal;
• Repealing long-standing Appropriations Riders that have impeded enforcement of existing law by barring the ATF from using funds to require licensed dealers to conduct physical firearm inventories and prohibiting the public disclosure of firearms trace data; and
• Increasing record retention and electronic data management and sharing for background checks.

The big sore thumb in their list of demands comes in the form of record retention. Reading the proposals, it appears they’re looking to create a federal gun registry. Why they didn’t have the fortitude to just say “we’re gonna track all you suckers”, is beyond me. Where else is the announcement lacking? If we turn to information from some of the commie mommies, we learn a little more about what the bill intends to do.

“Keeping guns out of the hands of those who are prohibited from owning them isn’t only common sense, it saves lives — and that’s exactly what this bill will help do,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “We’re proud to stand in strong support of Rep. Kelly’s legislation to close loopholes in the Federal Firearm Licensee system and bring these regulations into the 21st century.”

The bill would also:

• Require reporting of two or more rifles or shotguns purchased over five consecutive days, same as for pistols.
• Close the indicted dealer loophole, prohibiting licensees immediately upon being indicted for certain crimes from receiving new firearms or transferring any firearms in their business inventory to anyone other than another licensee or a law enforcement agency.
• Require annual inspections for “high risk” gun dealers and inspections every five years for all other gun dealers. Due to existing statutory restrictions and limited resources, only a small fraction of gun sellers are inspected annually and a large number of those inspections reveal violations.
• Require dealer-applicants and employees trusted with the possession of firearms to undergo background checks for FFL issuance and renewal.

Bringing our regulations into the 21st century is just a fancy way of saying electronic tracking.

In the press release put out by Kelly’s office, there are a number of quotes from members of the anti-freedom caucus high-fiving each other on these do-nothing policies. You can read them on your own if you’re so inclined. Fun fact, the term “commonsense” was mentioned seven times in the press release, and “safety” three times.

The big issue though is these proposals are only do-nothing in a sense of affecting crime and criminal activity. They’re not do-nothing to the law abiding gun dealer. No. In fact the provisions that are being proposed would make being a gun dealer even more onerous. Further, what 1984 tactics are going to be employed in the “electronic data management and sharing” or the removal of prohibitions on “disclosure of firearms trace data”? Of course Kelly and her ilk neglected to include the proposed bill text in her announcement. Convenient. That should be illegal.

While “ghost guns” and “assault weapons/rifles” have been in the sights of the anti-gunners, now enter in a new boogieman “rouge dealers”. We’ve heard the term enough this past year, so now it’s a thing. It’s doubtful this’ll make it to the “Big Guy’s” desk, but with some recent erosions of safeguards in the Senate, you never know. What I do know is that we’ll be watching all these anti-civil rights proposals and the  congresscritters that push for this non-sense. We’ll be reporting back with our findings! Congress, you’re on notice – we’re watching you.