No Retaining Every Gun In a System That Restricts Your Rights Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 563
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-20: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-24T08:08:21Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill, H.R. 563, aims to prevent the federal government from maintaining a centralized database of firearm purchases by requiring the destruction of certain existing records and stopping the future collection of records from firearms businesses that close. It addresses concerns about government tracking of gun ownership, often referred to as preventing a "national gun registry."
Key Provisions
- Destruction of Existing Records: Within 90 days of the bill's enactment, the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) must destroy all firearm transaction records that discontinued firearms businesses have previously sent to the U.S. Attorney General under current law.
- Amendment to Stop Future Collections: The bill modifies Section 923(g)(4) of Title 18 of the U.S. Code (which deals with federal firearms licensing) by removing the requirements for businesses to submit their records upon discontinuation. This eliminates the obligation for closed gun dealers or manufacturers to forward acquisition and disposition records to the government.
- Reporting Requirement: The ATF Director must submit a written report to Congress detailing the exact number of records destroyed under the bill.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Under current law (Section 923(g)(4)), when a licensed firearms dealer or manufacturer goes out of business, they are required to deliver their records of gun sales and transfers to the Attorney General (handled by the ATF). This bill strikes those specific sentences from the law, ending this practice entirely.
- It mandates the immediate destruction of all such records already in federal possession, shifting from retention to elimination.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The ATF will lose access to historical transaction data from defunct businesses, potentially limiting its ability to trace firearms in criminal investigations. This could require agencies to rely more on state or local records for tracing guns.
- On Citizens: Gun owners may benefit from increased privacy, as their purchase histories from closed businesses will no longer be stored federally, reducing fears of government surveillance. However, it might complicate law enforcement efforts in cases involving firearms from those businesses.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic firearms regulation without addressing exports, imports, or foreign entities.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Firearms Businesses: Current and former licensed dealers and manufacturers will no longer need to submit records when closing, simplifying end-of-business processes.
- Gun Owners and Second Amendment Advocates: They gain protections against federal record-keeping, aligning with privacy and rights concerns.
- Law Enforcement and ATF: Federal agencies may face challenges in gun tracing, potentially affecting public safety efforts.
- Congress and Policymakers: Receives a report on implementation, influencing future oversight of firearms policy.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: The bill reinforces limits on federal authority over firearms records, potentially reducing administrative burdens but raising questions about compliance with tracing requirements under laws like the Gun Control Act of 1968. It does not alter background check systems or other gun sale regulations.
- Constitutional Implications: It touches on Second Amendment rights (right to bear arms) and Fourth Amendment privacy concerns by prohibiting what proponents see as unwarranted government retention of personal data. Critics might argue it hinders public safety without violating constitutional mandates.
- Political Implications: Introduced by a large bipartisan group of House members (mostly Republicans), it reflects ongoing debates in U.S. politics over gun control versus gun rights. Passage could signal a shift toward deregulation in firearms policy, especially amid discussions on national registries, but it may face opposition in the Senate or from gun control advocates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (69)
Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25], Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8], Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3], Rep. Jackson, Ronny [R-TX-13], Rep. Burlison, Eric [R-MO-7], Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1], Rep. Perry, Scott [R-PA-10], Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4], Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2], Rep. Estes, Ron [R-KS-4], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21], Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9], Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17], Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4], Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1], Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large], Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6], Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Massie, Thomas [R-KY-4], Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4], Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3], Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8], Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1], Rep. Green, Mark E. [R-TN-7], Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15], Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6], Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1], Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2], Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6], Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13], Rep. Moore, Riley [R-WV-2], Rep. Strong, Dale W. [R-AL-5], Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19], Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4], Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5], Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6], Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Clyde, Andrew S. [R-GA-9], Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5], Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large], Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3], Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7], Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2] and 19 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-20: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-01-20: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-20: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- No Retaining Every Gun In a System That Restricts Your Rights Act — issued 2025-01-20 — PDF (2 pages)