H.R. 4173: Preventing Pretrial Gun Purchases Act

This bill, known as the Preventing Pretrial Gun Purchases Act, aims to amend existing gun control laws to prevent individuals who are under specific legal restrictions related to pretrial release from purchasing or possessing firearms. Here are the key provisions of the bill:

Definition of Pretrial Release Order

The bill introduces a legal definition for a "pretrial release order" as any court order that governs the release of a person who has been arrested and is awaiting trial for a crime. This applies to federal, state, tribal, or local courts.

Amendments to Gun Control Laws

The bill seeks to make changes to the Gun Control Act of 1968 by updating the laws concerning who is prohibited from owning a firearm. It stipulates that:

• Individuals who are subject to a pretrial release order that prohibits them from purchasing, possessing, or receiving firearms will not be allowed to buy guns.
• Clarifications are made to existing rules about the sale or transfer of firearms, ensuring that those under such orders cannot legally acquire firearms.

Improvement of Reporting Systems

The legislation also proposes that the Attorney General can provide grants to states and tribes to help them report information related to pretrial release orders to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). This aims to ensure that information about individuals who are prohibited from possessing guns due to their legal status is accurately recorded and can be checked when someone tries to purchase a firearm.

Funding for Reporting Compliance

To facilitate these reporting efforts, the bill authorizes the appropriation of $25 million per year from fiscal year 2026 to 2030. This funding is intended to support states and tribes in complying with the requirements of reporting pretrial orders that restrict firearm possession.

Overall Goals

The overarching goal of the Preventing Pretrial Gun Purchases Act is to enhance gun safety by ensuring that individuals who are legally restricted from owning firearms due to a pretrial order are effectively prevented from doing so. By improving reporting to the NICS and closing loopholes in existing firearm purchase laws, the bill aims to reduce the risk of firearms being obtained by individuals deemed a potential threat while awaiting trial for criminal charges.

Relevant Companies

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