Safety Enhancements for Communities Using Reasonable and Effective Firearm Storage Act

Summary: Safety Enhancements for Communities Using Reasonable and Effective Firearm Storage Act or the SECURE Firearm Storage Act  This bill amends the federal criminal code to require that all licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, or licensed dealers of firearms shall keep and store all firearms in the business inventory of the licensee at the premises covered by the license. When the premises are not open for business, the licensee shall secure all firearms by complying with prescribed security measures, including trigger guards and safes. Further, when such premises are not open for business, the licensee shall store certain paper records in a secure location.  The Department of Justice shall promulgate regulations prescribing additional security requirements as deemed necessary. The bill includes a set of civil penalties, including fines and potential license suspension or revocation, for noncompliance with the foregoing security requirements. An application for a firearms license must describe how the applicant plans to comply with these security requirements.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Safety Enhancements for Communities 
Using Reasonable and Effective Firearm Storage Act'' or the ``SECURE 
Firearm Storage Act''.

SEC. 2. SECURITY REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERALLY LICENSED FIREARMS 
              IMPORTERS, MANUFACTURERS, AND DEALERS.

    (a) In General.--Section 923 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(m) Except as provided in subsection (j):
            ``(1) A person who is a licensed importer, licensed 
        manufacturer, or licensed dealer shall keep and store all 
        firearms in the business inventory of the licensee at the 
        premises covered by the license. When the premises are not open 
        for business, the licensee shall, with respect to each such 
        firearm--
                    ``(A) secure the firearm with a hardened steel rod 
                \1/4\ inch thick through the space between the trigger 
                guard, and the frame or receiver, of the firearm, with 
                the steel rod secured by a hardened steel lock that has 
                a shackle, and the lock and shackle protected or 
                shielded from the use of a bolt cutter, and the rod 
                anchored to prevent the removal of the firearm from the 
                premises; or
                    ``(B) store the firearm at the premises in a locked 
                fireproof safe, locked gun cabinet (and if the locked 
                gun cabinet is not steel, the firearms within the 
                cabinet must be secured with a hardened steel rod \1/4\ 
                inch thick, protected or shielded from the use of a 
                bolt cutter and anchored to prevent the removal of the 
                firearms from the premises) or locked vault.
            ``(2) When the premises are not open for business, the 
        licensee shall store all paper records of the business 
        inventory and firearm transactions of, and other dispositions 
        of firearms by, the licensee at the premises in a secure 
        location such as a locked fireproof safe or locked vault.
            ``(3) The Attorney General shall, by regulation, prescribe 
        such additional security requirements as the Attorney General 
        deems appropriate with respect to the firearms business 
        conducted by a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or 
        licensed dealer, such as requirements relating to the use of 
        the following:
                    ``(A) Alarm and security camera systems.
                    ``(B) Site hardening.
                    ``(C) Other measures necessary to reduce the risk 
                of theft at the business premises of a licensee.''.
    (b) Penalties.--Section 924 of such title is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
    ``(q) Penalties for Noncompliance With Firearms Licensee Security 
Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--
                    ``(A) Penalty.--With respect to a violation by a 
                licensee of section 923(m) or a regulation issued under 
                such section, the Attorney General, after notice and 
                opportunity for hearing--
                            ``(i) in the case of the 1st such violation 
                        or related series of such violations on the 
                        same date, shall subject the licensee to a 
                        civil penalty in an amount equal to not less 
                        than $1,000 and not more than $10,000;
                            ``(ii) in the case of the 2nd such 
                        violation, shall subject the licensee to a 
                        license suspension until the licensee cures the 
                        violation and may subject the licensee to a 
                        civil penalty in an amount provided in clause 
                        (i); or
                            ``(iii) in the case of the 3rd such 
                        violation or related series of violations on 
                        the same date, shall revoke the license issued 
                        to the licensee under this chapter and may 
                        subject the licensee to a civil penalty in an 
                        amount provided in clause (i).
                    ``(B) Review.--An action of the Attorney General 
                under this paragraph may be reviewed only as provided 
                under section 923(f).
            ``(2) Administrative remedies.--The imposition of a civil 
        penalty or revocation of a license under paragraph (1) shall 
        not preclude any administrative remedy that is otherwise 
        available to the Attorney General.''.
    (c) Application Requirement.--Section 923 of such title is 
amended--
            (1) in the 2nd sentence of subsection (a), by striking ``be 
        in such form and contain only that'' and inserting ``describe 
        how the applicant plans to comply with subsection (m) and shall 
        be in such form and contain only such other''; and
            (2) in subsection (d)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (F)(iii);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of 
                subparagraph (G) and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(H) the Attorney General determines that the description 
        in the application of how the applicant plans to comply with 
        subsection (m) would, if implemented, so comply.''.
    (d) Effective Dates; Regulations.--
            (1) Initial firearm storage requirements.--Section 
        923(m)(1) of title 18, United States Code, as added by the 
        amendment made by subsection (a) of this section, shall take 
        effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.
            (2) Initial paper records storage requirements.--Section 
        923(m)(2) of title 18, United States Code, as added by the 
        amendment made by subsection (a) of this section, shall take 
        effect on the date that is 90 days after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.
            (3) Additional security requirements.--Within 2 years after 
        the date of the enactment of this section, the Attorney General 
        shall issue the regulations required by section 923(m)(3) of 
        title 18, United States Code, as added by the amendment made by 
        subsection (a) of this section, and the regulations shall take 
        effect 1 year after the date issued.