STOP Straw Purchases Act

To amend title 18, United States Code, to combat straw purchases of firearms. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the STOP Straw Purchases Act 2. Increase in penalties for straw purchasers of firearms Section 924(a)(2) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting , except that in the case of a violation of section 922(a)(6) involving deception as to the identity of the actual transferee of a firearm, the violator shall be fined not more than $750,000, imprisoned not more than 25 years, or both 3. Prohibition on continuing criminal enterprise involving straw purchases of firearms; prohibition on obtaining firearm by inducing straw purchase (a) Prohibitions Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (aa) It shall be unlawful for any person, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, to— (1) induce, or act in concert with, another person to engage in a continuing series of violations of subsection (a)(6) involving deception as to the identity of the actual transferee of a firearm, from which such person obtains substantial income or resources; and (2) with respect to such other person, occupy a position of organizer, a supervisory position, or any other position of management. (bb) It shall be unlawful for any person, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, to obtain a firearm by inducing another person to violate subsection (a)(6) by falsely claiming to be the actual transferee of the firearm. . (b) Penalties Section 924(a) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following: (8) Whoever knowingly violates section 922(aa) shall be fined not more than $1,000,000, imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both. (9) Whoever knowingly violates section 922(bb) shall be fined not more than $750,000, imprisoned not more than 25 years, or both. . 4. Inclusion in firearms transaction record form of outline of penalties for the straw purchase of a firearm The Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives shall ensure that the Firearms Transaction Record form used by the Bureau includes a statement outlining the penalties for acting as the straw purchaser of a firearm. For purposes of this section, a person acts as the straw purchaser of a firearm if the person violates section 922(a)(6) of title 18, United States Code, through deception as to the identity of the actual transferee of the firearm.

Summary: STOP Straw Purchases Act This bill amends the federal criminal code to establish new offenses: for inducing another person to make false statements to a licensed gun dealer about the actual identity of a firearm purchaser, and for obtaining a firearm by inducing another person to make false statements to a licensed gun dealer claiming to be the actual firearm purchaser. Additionally, it establishes an enhanced penalty for a criminal offense involving a false statement to a licensed gun dealer in connection with a firearm acquisition, if the false statement misrepresents the actual identify of a firearm purchaser. Finally, the bill directs the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to include, on the Firearms Transaction Record form, a statement outlining penalties for acting as the straw purchaser of a firearm.