United States – -(AmmoLand.com)- While many Second Amendment supporters look over how laws will affect them, the fact is gun laws don’t just hit gun owners. The Federal Firearms Licensees – the gun dealers and manufacturers – also can be targeted by legislation that can infringe on the Second Amendment, or which can help protect Second Amendment rights. One such piece of legislation that does the latter is the National Shooting Sport Foundation’s Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2019, introduced by Senator Lindsey Graham as S 1778.
According to a release by Senator Graham’s office, the legislation is intended to address a rise in thefts from FFLs. In 2017, over 8,000 firearms were stolen in robberies and burglaries, per the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The release from Graham’s office noted that in 2018, 193 firearms were stolen from South Carolina FFLs.
Currently, stolen firearms are addressed under various provisions of 18 USC 922. Under 18 USC 922(j), it is illegal to “receive, possess, conceal, store, barter, sell, or dispose of” any stolen firearm or ammunition. Under 18 USC 922(i), it is illegal to transport a stolen firearm across state lines. Under 18 USC 922(u), it is a federal crime to steal from an FFL. Graham’s legislation adds more teeth to 18 USC 922(u), which currently has a 10-year maximum sentence per 18 USC 924(i). Violations of 18 USC 922(i) and 18 USC 922(j) also have 10-year prison terms.
Under current law, a person who steals a dozen guns from a gun store in Indiana and takes the guns to Chicago to sell them could get up to 360 years in prison. Yet the release from Senator Graham’s office indicated there are 8,000 reasons that the current laws aren’t working.
NSSF’s bill introduced by Graham and co-sponsored by a number of other Second Amendment champions in the Senate does two things: First, it ups the maximum sentence to 20 years in prison, not ten, for stealing from a FFL. Second, it also adds mandatory minimum sentences depending on whether the theft from the FFL is a burglary (three-year minimum) or a robbery (five-year minimum). In theory, these are good ideas. Tough sentences can be a deterrent, especially when word gets out about those who get hit with them. This was proven during Project Exile in Richmond, Virginia.
That said, as is the case with the STOP Straw Purchases Act, the question is whether these laws will actually be used. There is reason for Second Amendment supporters to believe these will be used. Between 2014 and 2018, ATF reported that there were 2,404 burglaries and 153 robberies of FFLs. According to the ATF, there were 1,075 indictments for stealing from FFLs between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2017.
Thefts from FFLs affect the entire Second Amendment community. The stolen guns are often taken to be misused in crimes, some of which end up as fodder for Bloomberg and his stooges. But theft from FFLs also hurts not just the FFLs (who are making a living in helping Americans exercise their Second Amendment rights), but also those who seek to exercise their rights by buying firearms for the purpose of defending themselves (or other lawful reasons).
Second Amendment supporters should take the time to contact their Representative and Senators and politely urge them to support this legislation. In addition, they should also take the time to send a thank-you note to Senator Graham and his co-sponsors for introducing legislation to address the literal theft of our ability to defend ourselves.
About Harold Hutchison
Writer Harold Hutchison has more than a dozen years of experience covering military affairs, international events, U.S. politics and Second Amendment issues. Harold was consulting senior editor at Soldier of Fortune magazine and is the author of the novel Strike Group Reagan. He has also written for the Daily Caller, National Review, Patriot Post, Strategypage.com, and other national websites.
Harold, just where in the Constitution did we authorize that the federal govt can issue licenses to sell firearms? Per Madison – the powers of the federal government are few and defined. They are all listed and defined in Article 1 Section 8. Post where this power is listed as my copy does not have that power granted to the government. Laws do not stop crime – they only spell out punishment. In the case of Representatives proposing and passing illegal laws – what is the punishment for them? Using the logic law stops crime why are all these illegal… Read more »
Graham is anything but a 2A Supporter, most recently proved by his bogus Red Flag Bill supported by his Democrat buddies.
Graham is also anything but HONEST!
Why are there no specific names associated with “ a number of other Second Amendment champions”???
I will not support anymore bills that involve 2A. Another law will solve nothing when judicial won’t use & enforce what’s already on the books. More laws just opens the door for more & more rights to be stepped on. Its already against the law to steal or receive stolen property. And actually the law of RECEIVING stolen property needs to change How are you supposed to know it was stolen ?
So, where were all these “Second Amendment Supporters” in 2017 and 2018 when the Republicans controlled both houses of Congress and such bills would actually have had a chance of being passed??
Why are we suddenly seeing a flurry of pro-2A bills that have almost no chance of passing? These bills are nothing but campaign stunts for Republicans who think they need to boost their chances by getting good press in the RKBA community.
Of course, Graham’s bill can’t make it to the White House for signature during the current Congress b/c it won’t pass in the House of Representatives. If only Republicans were as “activist” for our rights as Dems are against our rights. For example, the Far left took over Virginia government and spent their first couple weeks in full control passing a bevy of anti-rights bills (mostly gun control bills). When the Republicans had full control of Congress, most recently 2017-2018, they could have passed concealed carry reform, suppressor reform, stronger protection against frivolous lawsuits, pre-emption of state gun control (under… Read more »
It is ludicrous to think that a penalty of 720 years in jail will work when a penalty of 360 years is failing. This is a lame attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of 2A supporters by a poor example of a sleezy politician
I’m afraid I have to agree with most of the comments below. If they “could get 360 years” in prison, then WHY aren’t they. Laws already on the books are more than sufficient. Enforcement and prosecution is LACKING…
I don’t think it would matter what Harold writes that you wouldn’t get irritated. Everything he writes pisses you off. How about when you see his name just don’t read the article? Then you’d be less irritated and may enjoy your day a little more. Just saying …………!
I didn’t have to read very far when I said to my self, Harold, scrolled down and guess what, I was right. NO NEW LAWS ARE NEEDED JUST ENFORCE ONES WE HAVE ALREADY! What is so hard to understand about this statement? Enforce the constitution is all that needs to be done.
Harold drops the ball again!! LINDSEY GRAHAM IS A POS BACKSTABBING RINO whose only true motivation is political longevity!! He supports Trump because he knows that doing so will ingratiate himself to conservatives who may despise the things he does and supports that have nothing to do with conservative values and goals!! Granted, Graham may not be a NoName, or a Romney, Murkowski or Collins. Be he’s still a craven political opportunist. AND HE’S TAKEN ANTIGUN MONEY BEFORE AND HAS ON MANY OCCASIONS VIOLATED HIS OATH TO THE CONSTITUTION BY WRITING AND COSPONSORING BILLS THAT HELP CREATE A POLICE STATE… Read more »