Keeping Gun Dealers Honest Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced
Summary
Expanded oversight and tougher penalties for licensed gun dealers. The bill would increase compliance checks, broaden grounds to deny or remove licenses, and raise criminal and civil penalties to deter illegal transfers and poor recordkeeping.
Show full summary
- Licensed importers, manufacturers, dealers, and collectors would face stricter compliance rules. The bill would raise inspections from once to 3 times and allow physical inventories when a dealer unlawfully transferred a firearm or when 10 or more crime guns are traced to them.
- Criminal and civil consequences would get harsher for dealers and related offenders. Certain offenses would see prison terms increase from 1 year to 5 years, serious recordkeeping tied to trafficking could carry up to 10 years, civil fines could reach $10,000 per violation, and a dealer’s license would be terminated after a felony conviction.
- Enforcement capacity and oversight would expand. The ATF Director would be authorized to hire at least 80 additional personnel to support inspections and the agency would have to report to Congress every 2 years on implementation, resource needs, and ways to improve dealer compliance.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Higher fines and license penalties
If enacted, the Attorney General could suspend or revoke a federal firearms license and fine a licensee up to $10,000 per violation. The AG must give written notice and a hearing if requested, and the dealer may seek a de novo district court review within 60 days. A dealer’s license would end on the date of any felony conviction. The AG could also deny a license if issuing it would risk public safety or the applicant is not suitable.
AG authority to require inventories
If enacted, the Attorney General could require a licensed importer, maker, or dealer to do a full physical inventory and give detailed records. That power would apply if the licensee was convicted of an unlawful transfer or if 10 or more crime guns traced back to them. It takes effect upon enactment.
More inspections and ATF staff
If enacted, federal inspectors could visit licensed dealers up to three times instead of once. The ATF Director would be authorized to hire at least 80 additional employees to carry out the extra inspections. This takes effect upon enactment and could raise oversight and compliance time for dealers.
Stronger criminal exposure for dealers
If enacted, some recordkeeping and related dealer offenses would carry higher prison terms. Certain recordkeeping tied to unlawful transfers could be punishable by up to 10 years. Another offense’s maximum would rise from one year to five years. The bill also removes the word "willfully" from some liability rules, lowering the mental-state needed for prosecution.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
MA • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
MN • D
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/30/2025
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov