YourVoice.Now Summary
Gun LawsPeople under federal gun-buying ages, or buying from out-of-state dealers, would be barred from having those guns.
Gun Laws
Federal law now bars dealers from selling handguns or their ammo to people under 21, or any gun to people under 18. The bill would bar people below those ages, who are also below their own state's age limit, from having or receiving such guns, with up to 15 years in prison.
Dealers already may not sell most guns to people who live in another state. The bill would make the buyer barred from having such a gun too, with up to 15 years in prison; in-person rifle and shotgun sales legal in both states and short sporting rentals are exempt.
People charged with a crime that carries more than a year in prison already may not ship or receive guns while the charge is pending. The top prison term for breaking that rule would rise from 5 years to 10, and it would cover knowing violations, not only willful ones.
More about this bill
If you are under 21 or buy a gun from an out-of-state dealer, federal gun law would treat you differently. Today federal age limits mainly stop licensed dealers from selling. Dealers cannot sell a handgun or its ammo to anyone under 21. They cannot sell any gun to anyone under 18. The bill would put people below those ages on the federal list of those barred from having guns. It covers people who also fall short of their own state's age rule. A second change covers people who do not live in the dealer's state. They would also join that list. In-person rifle and shotgun sales that follow both states' laws stay legal. Short rentals for lawful sport stay legal too. Breaking either new rule could bring up to 15 years in prison. The bill also raises the top penalty for a person under felony indictment who ships or receives a gun. That would go from 5 years to 10.
Congressional Summary
Secure Background Checks Act of 2025 This bill extends federal restrictions on the receipt, possession, shipment, and transportation of firearms and ammunition to two new categories of persons: persons who fail to meet the minimum age requirements imposed by federal law and by the law of their resident state; and persons who are out-of-state residents and do not qualify for an exception, such as the temporary loan or rental of a firearm for lawful sporting purposes. Additionally, the bill imposes criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both—on an individual who ships, transports, or receives a firearm or ammunition while under indictment for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding 1 year.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-04-03
- Date Added
- 2026-10-02
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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