S.2088 - Firearm Destruction Licensure Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
The Firearm Destruction Licensure Act of 2025 aims to regulate the destruction of firearms by requiring individuals or entities engaged in the business of destroying firearms to obtain a license from the Attorney General. The bill amends Title 18 of the United States Code, adding definitions and outlining specific requirements for licensed firearm destroyers.
It mandates that licensed dealers who destroy firearms submit annual reports to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), detailing the number and type of firearms destroyed. The Act also provides grants to state, local, and tribal governments for the purpose of paying licensed dealers to destroy firearms using covered methods of destruction.
Finally, the Act includes provisions for rulemaking by the Attorney General to establish acceptable methods of firearm destruction and record-keeping requirements.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill would be increased regulation and oversight of firearm destruction. This would likely lead to more standardized and verifiable methods of firearm disposal.
It could also create a new market for licensed firearm destruction services, particularly for government entities. The reporting requirements aim to provide greater transparency regarding the number and sources of destroyed firearms.
Potential Benefits
- Increased Accountability: The licensure and reporting requirements will provide greater transparency and accountability in the firearm destruction process.
- Standardized Destruction Methods: The Attorney General's rulemaking will establish consistent and effective methods for destroying firearms, ensuring they cannot be restored.
- Reduced Risk of Illegal Firearm Resale: By regulating firearm destruction, the bill aims to prevent destroyed firearms from being illegally resold or used in crimes.
- Funding Opportunities: Grants to state, local, and tribal governments will support the safe and proper destruction of unwanted firearms.
- Data Collection: Aggregate data on firearm destruction will be publicly available, potentially informing policy decisions.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased Costs: The licensing requirements and mandated destruction methods could increase the cost of firearm destruction, potentially burdening small businesses and government agencies.
- Administrative Burden: The reporting requirements may create an administrative burden for licensed dealers.
- Potential for Delays: The licensing process and regulatory compliance could slow down the destruction of firearms, leading to storage challenges.
- Limited Scope: The bill primarily focuses on commercial firearm destruction and may not address the destruction of firearms by individuals.
- Potential for unintended consequences: Overly strict regulations could lead to a black market for firearm destruction.
Constitutional Alignment
The Firearm Destruction Licensure Act of 2025 touches upon the Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to bear arms. However, the bill does not directly restrict the right to own or possess firearms. Instead, it regulates the destruction of firearms, which could be argued as a reasonable measure to prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands.
The bill's provisions for licensing and reporting are within the purview of Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce (Article I, Section 8). The grant program is also consistent with Congress's power to provide for the general welfare (Article I, Section 8).
Overall, the bill appears to be constitutional as it does not infringe upon the Second Amendment right to bear arms and falls within the enumerated powers of Congress.
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).