SECURE Firearm Storage Act

To amend title 18, United States Code, to require federally licensed firearms importers, manufacturers, and dealers to meet certain requirements with respect to securing their firearms inventory, business records, and business premises. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Safety Enhancements for Communities Using Reasonable and Effective Firearm Storage Act SECURE Firearm Storage Act 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 (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 (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 describe how the applicant plans to comply with subsection (m) and shall be in such form and contain only such other (2) in subsection (d)(1)— (A) by striking and (B) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (G) and inserting ; 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.

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.