Gun Owner Registration Information Protection Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7678
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-25: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-20T08:08:28Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Gun Owner Registration Information Protection Act (H.R. 7678) aims to prevent the federal government from using taxpayer funds to support state-level databases that track lawful firearm ownership or possession. It seeks to protect the privacy of gun owners by limiting federal involvement in such tracking systems, while allowing exceptions for public safety purposes like reporting lost or stolen guns.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- "State" includes all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other U.S. territories or possessions.
- "State firearm ownership database" refers to any comprehensive or partial database created by a state or its local government that lists either lawfully owned or possessed firearms or the individuals who lawfully own or possess them.
- Prohibition: No federal agency can provide funding or other support to establish or maintain a state firearm ownership database.
- Exception: The prohibition does not apply to databases that only list firearms reported as lost or stolen, or individuals who have reported their firearms as lost or stolen.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new explicit ban on federal funding for state firearm ownership databases, which was not previously prohibited in federal law. Prior to this, federal funds could potentially support such systems indirectly through grants or other programs, depending on their purpose. The legislation shifts federal policy by prioritizing restrictions on gun owner tracking, while carving out a narrow allowance for lost or stolen firearm records to aid law enforcement.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Federal agencies (e.g., those administering grants like the Department of Justice) will face restrictions on how they allocate funds, potentially requiring audits or policy changes to ensure compliance and avoid supporting prohibited databases.
- On Citizens: Lawful gun owners may benefit from enhanced privacy protections, reducing the risk of federal-backed surveillance of their ownership. However, it could limit state efforts to create centralized records for administrative or safety purposes, potentially affecting background checks or recall notifications.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic state-federal interactions and does not address foreign entities or cross-border issues.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Government: Agencies providing grants or funding to states, such as those involved in law enforcement or public safety programs.
- State and Local Governments: States and their subdivisions that might seek federal support for firearm-related databases; they will need to fund such systems independently or limit them to exceptions.
- Gun Owners and the Public: Individual firearm owners, particularly those concerned about privacy, as well as broader citizens who may support or oppose gun tracking for safety reasons.
- Law Enforcement: Agencies that rely on lost/stolen firearm databases for investigations, which remain unaffected and potentially strengthened by the exception.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: The bill reinforces limits on federal spending under the Appropriations Clause of the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 9), which controls how Congress directs public funds. It could lead to lawsuits if states challenge the restriction as infringing on their autonomy in managing local records.
- Constitutional Implications: Aligns with Second Amendment interpretations emphasizing individual rights to bear arms without undue government tracking, and privacy protections under the Fourth Amendment (against unreasonable searches). It promotes federalism by using funding conditions to influence state actions without direct mandates.
- Political Implications: Sponsored by a large bipartisan group of House members (primarily Republicans), it reflects ongoing debates over gun rights versus gun control. Passage could intensify partisan divides in Congress on firearm policy, potentially influencing future appropriations bills or state-federal grant negotiations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (96)
Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36], Rep. Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4], Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5], Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3], Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4], Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2], Rep. Burlison, Eric [R-MO-7], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6], Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27], Rep. Clyde, Andrew S. [R-GA-9], Rep. Collins, Mike [R-GA-10], Rep. Crane, Elijah [R-AZ-2], Rep. Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1], Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2], Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8], Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4], Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19], Rep. Downing, Troy [R-MT-2], Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4], Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4], Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6], Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3], Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18], Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5], Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6], Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10], Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1], Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1], Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3], Rep. Hunt, Wesley [R-TX-38], Rep. Jack, Brian [R-GA-3], Rep. Jackson, Ronny [R-TX-13], Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14], Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16], Rep. Langworthy, Nicholas A. [R-NY-23], Rep. Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13], Rep. Massie, Thomas [R-KY-4], Rep. McGuire, John J. [R-VA-5], Rep. Messmer, Mark B. [R-IN-8], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Mills, Cory [R-FL-7], Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Moran, Nathaniel [R-TX-1], Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5], Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5] and 46 more
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-25: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-02-25: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-25: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Gun Owner Registration Information Protection Act — issued 2026-02-25 — PDF (3 pages)