Measure targets FFL gun thefts

U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) recently reintroduced the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act of 2021, which seeks to address the rising number of smash-and-grab thefts targeted at federally licensed gun dealers venues.

The lawmakers cited a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) report detailing a 43 percent rise in FFL burglaries and a 15 percent decrease in FFL robberies from 2019 to 2020. The number of robberies decreased, but the number of firearms stolen during robberies rose 53 percent.

“Anyone who steals a firearm from a federally licensed firearm seller should face serious criminal penalties,” Rubio said. “This legislation would increase federal penalties to help address the growing number of thefts targeted at federally licensed gun dealers.”

The measure boosts the statutory maximum penalty for knowingly stealing firearms in an FFL’s business inventory from 10 to 20 years and hands down a mandatory minimum sentence of three years for burglary from an FFL site and five years for robbery from an FFL.

Graham said the bill would make smash-and-grabs more costly for criminals.

“I believe in responsible gun ownership – not criminals stealing firearms,” he said.