Stopping the Fraudulent Sales of Firearms Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4261
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-30: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T21:52:17Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation aims to prohibit fraudulent dealings in firearms and ammunition by amending federal criminal law to criminalize sales involving false or misleading representations.
Key Provisions
- Amends 18 U.S.C. § 922(a) by adding a new subsection (10), which makes it unlawful for any person to import, manufacture, or sell a firearm or ammunition using false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises.
- Prohibits transmitting or causing to be transmitted any related communication via wire, radio, or television in interstate or foreign commerce.
- Updates the penalty provision in 18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(1)(B) to include violations of the new subsection (a)(10).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a specific federal prohibition on fraudulent firearm and ammunition transactions, expanding the existing list of unlawful acts under the Gun Control Act.
- Extends the scope to include communications used to facilitate such fraud across state or national borders, building on prior restrictions in title 18.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Increases enforcement responsibilities for federal law enforcement, such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), in investigating and prosecuting fraudulent sales.
- Citizens: Provides additional legal protections against deceptive practices in firearm purchases, potentially reducing consumer harm from fraud.
- International relations: May affect cross-border transactions involving firearms by regulating foreign commerce communications tied to fraud.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Firearm manufacturers, importers, and sellers who engage in commercial transactions.
- Law enforcement and regulatory agencies responsible for oversight.
- Consumers and purchasers of firearms and ammunition.
- Federal courts handling related criminal cases.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Relies on the Commerce Clause to regulate interstate and foreign communications, which could face challenges regarding the scope of federal authority over commercial speech.
- Represents an expansion of criminal penalties in the firearms regulatory framework without altering licensing or background check requirements.
- May influence ongoing debates on balancing gun rights with consumer protection measures.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
Cosponsors (6)
Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-30: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-06-30: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-30: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Stopping the Fraudulent Sales of Firearms Act — issued 2025-06-30 — PDF (2 pages)