H.R.2948 - Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.2948, the Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act of 2025, authorizes the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance to provide grants to states, local governments, tribal governments, and covered gun dealers for gun buyback programs. The goal is to reduce gun violence by incentivizing individuals to voluntarily sell their firearms to these entities. The bill also includes a criminal provision that prohibits the use of smart prepaid cards (issued as part of the buyback program) for the acquisition or transfer of firearms or ammunition.
Expected Effects
If enacted, this bill would lead to the establishment and expansion of gun buyback programs across the country. These programs would be funded through federal grants and aim to remove unwanted firearms from communities. The use of 'smart prepaid cards' is intended to prevent the funds from being used to purchase more guns.
Potential Benefits
- Potential reduction in gun violence through the removal of unwanted firearms from circulation.
- Provides funding for states and local governments to implement gun buyback programs.
- Incentivizes gun dealers to participate in gun buyback programs.
- Includes a provision for the destruction of collected firearms and ammunition, preventing their return to the market.
- Mandates criminal database checks on collected firearms to identify if they were used in crimes.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for misuse of funds or smart prepaid cards, despite the restrictions in place.
- Concerns about the effectiveness of gun buyback programs in significantly reducing gun violence.
- Possible burden on taxpayers due to the appropriation of $360,000,000 per year for three fiscal years.
- The definition of 'covered gun dealer' may exclude dealers in areas most affected by gun violence.
- Potential for the program to primarily collect guns from individuals who are not likely to be involved in gun violence.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's alignment with the US Constitution is complex, particularly concerning the Second Amendment. While the bill does not directly infringe on the right to bear arms, some may argue that it indirectly discourages gun ownership through incentivized buyback programs. The bill also touches on interstate commerce through the regulation of smart prepaid cards and firearm transfers, potentially falling under the purview of the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3).
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).