H.R. 4198: Clean Hands Firearm Procurement Act

The Clean Hands Firearm Procurement Act is a proposed piece of legislation that aims to establish measures regarding firearms dealers with high numbers of fast-traced firearms in crime scenarios. Below are the key aspects of the bill:

Purpose

The bill's primary objective is to ensure transparency and accountability in federal contracting with firearms dealers who have been associated with a significant number of firearms traced to crimes shortly after sale.

Federal Gun Tracing Notifications

Under this bill, the Attorney General is required to:

• Publish a list of firearms dealers that are classified as "covered" dealers.
• This list must be made publicly available within 120 days of the bill's enactment and updated annually.

Definition of Covered Firearms Dealer

A "covered firearms dealer" is defined as a licensed dealer that has been linked to at least 25 firearms that were traced back to the dealer and recovered by law enforcement within three years of their sale, during two of the three years prior to the publication of the list.

Prohibition on Federal Contracts

The bill stipulates that:

• No federal agency is allowed to enter into a contract with a dealer identified as a covered firearms dealer during the current calendar year or the previous two calendar years.

Waiver Authority

However, the bill includes provisions that allow:

• The Attorney General to grant waivers for contracts with covered dealers if requested by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Homeland Security, but only to protect national security interests.
• The Attorney General must notify specific congressional committee leaders if such a waiver is granted, which may be done in classified form.

Effective Date

The prohibition on federal contracts with covered firearms dealers will take effect 180 days after the bill is enacted.

Definitions Provided in the Bill

• Covered firearms dealer: A licensed dealer with a high number of traced firearms within specific time frames.
• Federal agency: Any department, agency, or office within the United States government.
• Firearm: As defined in existing federal law.
• Licensed dealer: A firearms dealer meeting definitions provided in federal law.
• Time-to-crime: The duration from the last known sale of a firearm to its recovery by law enforcement in relation to a crime.

Relevant Companies

None found.