HR 18
Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2025
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Bill overview
This bill, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2025, aims to increase background checks on firearm sales between private individuals. It requires that any transfer of a firearm from an unlicensed person to another unlicensed person must first be processed through a licensed dealer, manufacturer, or importer, who will conduct a background check. Certain exceptions apply, such as gifts between family members, transfers for self-defense, and transfers at shooting ranges, but the bill also includes provisions for licensed dealers to ensure proper notification of the prohibition.
Key provisions
- Requires licensed dealers to conduct background checks on all firearm transfers between private parties.
- Prohibits private sales unless a licensed dealer first takes possession of the firearm.
- Exempts certain family transfers (spouses, parents/children, siblings, etc.) from the background check requirement.
- Allows transfers for self-defense in specific circumstances, subject to certain conditions.
- Permits transfers at shooting ranges and during hunting/fishing activities.
- Requires licensed dealers to notify potential buyers of the prohibition on private firearm sales.
- Mandates the availability of Spanish and English versions of background check forms and notices.
- Addresses the interpretation of the law to prevent the creation of a national firearms registry.
Who is affected
- Firearm purchasers
- Licensed firearms dealers
- Firearm manufacturers
- Firearm importers
- Private gun owners
Sponsors
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 18
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To require a background check for every firearm sale.
This Act may be cited as the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2025
.
The purpose of this Act is to utilize the current background checks process in the United States to ensure individuals prohibited from gun purchase or possession are not able to obtain firearms.
Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
It shall be unlawful for any person who is not a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer to transfer a firearm to any other person who is not so licensed, unless a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer has first taken possession of the firearm for the purpose of complying with subsection (t).
Upon taking possession of a firearm under subparagraph (A), a licensee shall comply with all requirements of this chapter as if the licensee were transferring the firearm from the inventory of the licensee to the unlicensed transferee.
If a transfer of a firearm described in subparagraph (A) will not be completed for any reason after a licensee takes possession of the firearm (including because the transfer of the firearm to, or receipt of the firearm by, the transferee would violate this chapter), the return of the firearm to the transferor by the licensee shall not constitute the transfer of a firearm for purposes of this chapter.
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to—
a law enforcement agency or any law enforcement officer, armed private security professional, or member of the Armed Forces, to the extent the officer, professional, or member is acting within the course and scope of employment and official duties;
a transfer to an executor, administrator, trustee, or personal representative of an estate or a trust that occurs by operation of law upon the death of another person;
a temporary transfer that is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm, including harm to self, family, household members, or others, if the possession by the transferee lasts only as long as immediately necessary to prevent the imminent death or great bodily harm, including harm to self, and the harm of domestic violence, dating partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, and domestic abuse;
a transfer that is approved by the Attorney General under section 5812 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or
a temporary transfer if the transferor has no reason to believe that the transferee will use or intends to use the firearm in a crime or is prohibited from possessing firearms under State or Federal law, and the transfer takes place and the transferee’s possession of the firearm is exclusively—
at a shooting range or in a shooting gallery or other area designated for the purpose of target shooting;
has no reason to believe that the transferee intends to use the firearm in a place where it is illegal; and
while in the presence of the transferor.
It shall be unlawful for a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer to transfer possession of, or title to, a firearm to another person who is not so licensed unless the importer, manufacturer, or dealer has provided such other person with a notice of the prohibition under paragraph (1), and such other person has certified that such other person has been provided with this notice on a form prescribed by the Attorney General.
(s) or (t)and inserting
(s), (t), or (aa).
Nothing in this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, shall be construed to—
authorize the establishment, directly or indirectly, of a national firearms registry; or
interfere with the authority of a State, under section 927 of title 18, United States Code, to enact a law on the same subject matter as this Act.
The amendment made by subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.