Bill Would Double Penalty for Stealing Guns from FFLs

By Chris Eger

Those who steal firearms from the inventory of an FFL holder could see 20 years in jail under a new bill. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
Legislation proposed this week in the U.S. Senate would significantly increase the penalties for stealing guns from federal firearms licensees.
The FFL Protection Act, filed by U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, would dial up the number of years in prison for stealing a firearm in a dealer’s business inventory from 10 to 20 years, among other enhancements. Graham said the move comes after recent “smash-and-grab” thefts targeting gun shops.
“I believe in responsible gun ownership – not criminals stealing firearms,” said Graham in a statement.
Besides the penalty increase for stealing firearms, the bill, filed as S. 1788, would impose a mandatory minimum sentence of 3 years for burglary from an FFL and 5 years for robbery from an FFL. Further, it makes the attempted theft of a gun from a licensed firearm importer, manufacturer, dealer, or collector a crime.
According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, there was a 70 percent jump in the number of FFL burglaries and a 266 percent increase in the number of FFL robberies between 2013 and 2017. In 2017, 8,129 firearms

Source: Guns.com