AIM Act of 2023

To remove obstacles to the ability of law enforcement officers to enforce gun safety laws, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the ATF Improvement and Modernization Act of 2023 AIM Act of 2023 2. Elimination of limitations relating to firearms trace data (a) Tiahrt amendments (1) Fiscal year 2012 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 112–55 (2) Fiscal year 2010 The sixth proviso under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 111–117 beginning in fiscal year 2010 and thereafter in fiscal year 2010 (3) Fiscal year 2009 The sixth proviso under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 111–8 beginning in fiscal year 2009 and thereafter in fiscal year 2009 (4) Fiscal year 2008 The sixth proviso under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 110–161 beginning in fiscal year 2008 and thereafter in fiscal year 2008 (5) Fiscal year 2006 The sixth proviso under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 109–108 under this or any other Act with respect to any fiscal year under this Act (6) Fiscal year 2005 The sixth proviso under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 108–447 under this or any other Act with respect to any fiscal year under this Act (b) Prohibition on use of firearms trace data To draw broad conclusions about firearms-Related crime Section 514 of division B of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 ( 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 113–6 3. Elimination of prohibition on consolidation or centralization in the Department of Justice of firearms acquisition and disposition records maintained by Federal firearms licensees The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 112–55 4. Elimination of prohibition on imposition of requirement that firearms dealers conduct physical check of firearms inventory (a) Fiscal year 2013 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 113–6 (b) Fiscal year 2012 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 112–55 : Provided further (c) Fiscal year 2010 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 111–117 (d) Fiscal year 2009 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 111–8 (e) Fiscal year 2008 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 110–161 (f) Fiscal year 2006 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 109–108 (g) Fiscal year 2005 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 108–447 (h) Fiscal year 2004 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 108–199 5. Elimination of requirement that instant check records be destroyed within 24 hours (a) Fiscal year 2012 Section 511 of division B of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 ( 34 U.S.C. 40901 Public Law 112–55 (1) by striking — (1) (2) by striking the semicolon and all that follows and inserting a period. (b) Fiscal year 2010 Section 511 of division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 ( Public Law 111–117 (1) by striking — (1) (2) by striking the semicolon and all that follows and inserting a period. (c) Fiscal year 2009 Section 511 of division B of the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 ( Public Law 111–8 (1) by striking — (1) (2) by striking the semicolon and all that follows and inserting a period. (d) Fiscal year 2008 Section 512 of division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 ( Public Law 110–161 (1) by striking — (1) (2) by striking the semicolon and all that follows and inserting a period. (e) Fiscal year 2006 Section 611 of the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 ( Public Law 119–108 (1) by striking — (1) (2) by striking the semicolon and all that follows and inserting a period. (f) Fiscal year 2005 Section 615 of division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 ( Public Law 108–447 (1) by striking — (1) (2) by striking the semicolon and all that follows and inserting a period. (g) Fiscal year 2004 Section 617 of division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004 ( Public Law 108–199 (1) by striking (a) (2) by striking — (1) (3) by striking the semicolon and all that follows and inserting a period. 6. Elimination of prohibition on processing of Freedom of Information Act requests about arson or explosives incidents or firearm traces Section 644 of division J of the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003 ( 5 U.S.C. 552 Public Law 108–7 7. Elimination of prohibitions relating to curios or relics (a) Fiscal year 2023 Section 535 of division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 ( Public Law 117–328 (b) Fiscal year 2022 Section 536 of division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 ( Public Law 117–103 (c) Fiscal year 2020 Section 538 of division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 ( Public Law 116–93 (d) Fiscal year 2019 Section 517 of division C of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 ( Public Law 116–6 (e) Fiscal year 2013 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 18 U.S.C. 921 Public Law 113–6 8. Elimination of prohibition on denial of federal firearms license due to lack of business activity (a) Fiscal year 2013 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 113–6 : Provided further Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (b) Fiscal year 2012 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 112–55 : Provided further Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (c) Fiscal year 2010 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 111–117 : Provided further Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (d) Fiscal year 2009 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 111–8 : Provided further Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (e) Fiscal year 2008 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 110–161 : Provided further Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (f) Fiscal year 2006 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 109–108 : Provided further Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (g) Fiscal year 2005 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 108–447 : Provided further Internal Revenue Code of 1986 9. Elimination of prohibition on the transfer of the functions, missions, or activities of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to other agencies or departments (a) Fiscal year 2023 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 117–328 (b) Fiscal year 2022 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 117–103 (c) Fiscal year 2020 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 116–93 (d) Fiscal year 2019 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 116–6 (e) Fiscal year 2018 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 115–141 (f) Fiscal year 2017 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 115–31 (g) Fiscal year 2016 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 114–113 (h) Fiscal year 2015 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 113–235 (i) Fiscal year 2014 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 113–76 (j) Fiscal year 2013 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 113–6 : Provided further (k) Fiscal year 2012 The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Public Law 112–55 : Provided further 10. Elimination of prohibition on searching computerized records of federally licensed firearms dealers who are out of business The matter under the heading Salaries and Expenses Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 112–55 : Provided further 18 U.S.C. 923(g)(4) 11. Elimination of prohibition on denying, or failing to act on, application to import certain shotgun models on the basis that the shotgun was not particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes (a) Fiscal year 2023 Section 536 of division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 ( Public Law 117–328 (b) Fiscal year 2022 Section 537 of division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 ( Public Law 117–103 (c) Fiscal year 2020 Section 539 of division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 ( Public Law 116–93 (d) Fiscal year 2019 Section 531 of division C of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 ( Public Law 116–6 12. Elimination of limits on frequency of record-keeping inspections of inventory and records of Federal firearms licensees Section 923(g)(1)(B)(ii) of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (ii) for ensuring compliance with the record-keeping requirements of this chapter; or . 13. Revising standard for Federal firearm license revocation from willful violation to knowing violation (a) In general Section 923(e) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking willfully knowingly (b) Technical amendment The third sentence of section 923(e) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking Secretary’s Attorney General’s 14. Elimination of de novo review and of opportunity to rely on evidence not previously considered Section 923(f)(3) of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the second sentence, by striking de novo (2) in the third sentence, by striking any evidence submitted by the parties to the proceeding whether or not such evidence only evidence that 15. Revising standards for eligibility of Federal firearms licensees Section 923(d)(1) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking willfully knowingly

Summary: ATF Improvement and Modernization Act of 2023 or the AIM Act of 2023 This bill removes limitations on the authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to conduct activities related to the administration of federal firearms laws. Specifically, the bill removes provisions that limit the use of firearms tracing data; prohibit consolidating or centralizing records maintained by federal firearm licensees, or FFLs (e.g., gun dealers); prohibit imposing a requirement that gun dealers conduct a physical inventory; require national instant criminal background check records to be destroyed within 24 hours; limit the disclosure of data under the Freedom of Information Act; prohibit the ATF from altering the definition of or denying certain import applications for a curio or relic firearm; prohibit the denial of a federal firearms license due to lack of business activity; prohibit transferring the ATF's functions, missions, or activities to other agencies or departments; prohibit the electronic retrieval of information gathered from firearm transaction records of FFLs that go out of business; and prohibit the ATF from denying an application to import certain shotguns. Additionally, the bill raises the liability standard for denying or revoking a federal firearms license from a willful violation to a knowing violation of federal firearms laws or regulations, and removes the de novo standard of judicial review for appealing the denial or revocation of a federal firearms license.