The transfer of firearms across state lines negates the efforts of officials trying to keep guns out of their cities and state. Most of these guns have been stolen or straw purchased. Advocates say interstate trafficking flourishes because states regulate firearm sales differently, and there is no federal limitation on the number of guns a person may purchase at one time. At least half a million firearms are stolen each year and more than half of these stolen guns are handguns, many of which are then sold illegally. Our ATF found that 1% of federally licensed firearms dealers were responsible for selling nearly 60% of the guns found at crime scenes and traced to dealers. Gun safety advocates say that gun traffickers, for their own selfish gain, provide deadly weapons to criminals at the expense of law-abiding citizens. They say this crime is largely responsible for the violence in many of our cities.

The 2022 Safer Communities Act allows a straw purchaser to be subject to criminal and civil penalties, including the seizure and forfeiture of the firearms and ammunition involved in the offense, property derived from proceeds from the offense, and property used to commit or facilitate the offense. It also authorizes law enforcement to investigate straw purchasing firearms offenses using wiretaps (i.e., authorized interceptions of wire, electronic, or oral communications).

Proposed Legislation: Reintroduction of H.R.1007 - Hadiya Pendleton and Nyasia Pryear-Yard Gun Trafficking and Crime Prevention Act of 2021
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY)