Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4671
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-03: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T14:54:06Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S. 4671: Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2026
Purpose
This legislation aims to increase penalties for stealing firearms from businesses licensed by the federal government to sell, make, or import guns, with the goal of better protecting those businesses from theft.
Key Provisions
- Penalty enhancements: Replaces the existing subsection (i) in section 924 of title 18, United States Code, to set a maximum penalty of a fine, up to 20 years in prison, or both for knowingly violating section 922(u) (theft from a licensed gun business) or attempting such a violation.
- Mandatory minimum sentences: Adds required prison terms if the theft occurs during a burglary (at least 3 years) or a robbery (at least 5 years).
- Definitions: Clarifies that "burglary" means unlawful entry into or remaining in the premises of a licensed gun business with intent to commit a crime; "robbery" follows the definition in section 1951(b) of title 18 (taking property through force, violence, or fear).
- Attempts coverage: Amends subsection (m) to explicitly include attempts to steal from licensed gun businesses.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Updates section 924(i) with higher maximum prison time and new mandatory minimums tied to specific crimes (burglary or robbery), replacing prior language.
- Extends coverage in subsection (m) to include attempts, broadening the scope of punishable actions beyond completed thefts.
Potential Impacts
- Strengthens enforcement tools for federal prosecutors and courts when handling theft cases from licensed gun businesses.
- May lead to longer sentences for convicted individuals, affecting prison populations and judicial workloads.
- Provides added security incentives for licensed gun businesses but does not directly alter rules for private gun owners or international matters.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal firearms licensees (licensed importers, manufacturers, and dealers).
- Federal law enforcement agencies and prosecutors responsible for investigating and charging these offenses.
- Individuals accused or convicted of such thefts.
- Courts handling federal criminal cases involving firearms.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Expands federal criminal penalties under existing gun laws without creating new prohibitions.
- Focuses on deterrence through increased sentencing ranges, which could raise questions about sentencing discretion in federal courts but introduces no explicit constitutional changes in the bill text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (24)
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC], Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND], Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID], Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA], Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR], Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX], Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT], Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN], Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND], Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS], Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV], Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID], Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE], Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC], Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE], Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS], Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK], Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT], Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT], Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-03: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-06-03: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-03 — PDF (2 pages)