COOL OFF Act

Bill Number

H.R. 4688

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-07-23: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-03-30T20:32:54Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Choosing Our Own Lives Over Fast Firearms Act" (COOL OFF Act) aims to establish a mandatory 3-business-day waiting period before a person can receive a handgun through certain transfers. This is intended to provide a "cooling-off" period, potentially reducing impulsive acts of violence or suicide involving handguns, while including exceptions for specific lawful and urgent situations.

Key Provisions

• Waiting Period for Non-Licensed Transfers: It is unlawful for unlicensed individuals to transfer a handgun to another unlicensed person unless at least 3 business days (days when state offices are open) have passed since the recipient first offered to take possession.
• Waiting Period for Licensed Transfers: Firearms dealers (licensees) must wait 3 business days after contacting the national background check system before transferring a handgun to a non-licensee, unless an exception applies.
• Exceptions to the Waiting Period:
• Transfers to law enforcement agencies, officers, armed security professionals, or military members acting in their official duties.
• Loans between close family members (spouses, domestic partners, parents/children, siblings, aunts/uncles/nieces/nephews, grandparents/grandchildren) for lawful purposes.
• Temporary transfers needed to prevent imminent death or serious injury, lasting only as long as necessary.
• Temporary transfers for lawful activities, such as:
• Use at a shooting range or gallery.
• Hunting, trapping, or fishing, if the transferor believes the recipient will follow all laws and permits.
• Any use, as long as it occurs in the transferor's presence and the transferor has no reason to suspect illegal intent or prohibited status.
• Penalties: Violations are treated as federal crimes, punishable by fines or up to 5 years in prison (similar to other gun transfer violations).
• Effective Date: The law takes effect 90 days after enactment, applying only to conduct after that date.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends Section 922 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code (which regulates firearms transfers) by adding a new subsection (aa) for non-licensed transfers and modifying the background check rules in subsection (t) for licensed transfers.
• Introduces a uniform 3-day waiting period specifically for handguns, which did not previously exist at the federal level for most transfers (though some states have similar laws).
• Expands penalties under Section 924 to include violations of the new waiting period rules.
• Builds on existing federal background check requirements but adds a fixed delay beyond the instant approval process.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Law-abiding gun buyers may face delays in obtaining handguns for self-defense, hunting, or other uses, potentially affecting personal safety or recreational activities. It could reduce access for those in urgent need but might lower rates of impulsive gun-related suicides or crimes by providing time for reflection.
• On Government Agencies: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and state offices may need to handle increased record-keeping or inquiries related to exceptions and compliance. No direct impact on international relations is evident, as the law focuses on domestic transfers.
• Broader Effects: Could lead to more standardized gun purchase processes nationwide, but enforcement might strain resources in high-volume areas without additional funding.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Gun Buyers and Sellers: Unlicensed individuals and families engaging in private transfers; licensed dealers (e.g., gun shops) who must comply with the new timeline.
• Law Enforcement and Security Professionals: Benefit from exemptions for official duties but may assist in verifying exceptions.
• Recreational Users: Hunters, sport shooters, and target practitioners, who can use temporary transfer exceptions.
• Vulnerable Groups: Individuals at risk of self-harm or domestic violence might experience both protections (via delays) and limitations (on immediate access).
• Gun Rights and Control Advocates: Second Amendment supporters may oppose the delays, while public safety groups may support it as a violence prevention measure.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The law could face court challenges under the Second Amendment (right to bear arms), similar to past cases on waiting periods (e.g., upheld in some state rulings but debated federally post-Bruen decision in 2022, which requires gun laws to align with historical traditions). It may also intersect with state laws, creating a patchwork of requirements.
• Constitutional: Raises questions about balancing public safety against individual rights to timely firearm possession, without infringing on background checks or prohibiting ownership.
• Political: As a gun control measure introduced by Democrats, it highlights partisan divides in Congress; passage could signal momentum for incremental reforms but faces opposition in a divided government, potentially affecting future elections or lobbying by the National Rifle Association (NRA) and similar groups.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]

Cosponsors (24)

Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9], Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-23: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-07-23: Introduced in House
• 2025-07-23: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Choosing Our Own Lives Over Fast Firearms Act — issued 2025-07-23 — PDF (5 pages)