HR2948-119

What This Bill Does

The Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act creates a federal grant structure for gun buyback programs. The Bureau of Justice Assistance may award two-year grants to states, local governments, Tribal governments, and covered gun dealers. The Director may acquire and distribute unloaded smart prepaid cards, publish market values for guns, and use the cards as buyback payment tools. Grant recipients must use funds for gun buybacks or subgrants, spend at least 5 percent on destruction of guns, parts, accessories, and ammunition, keep administrative costs at or below 15 percent, and return unused funds or cards after the statutory grant period. Gun dealers must load 125 percent of the Director-determined market value onto cards, may pay more for altered guns, verify firearms against criminal databases, notify ATF within 24 hours if a firearm is reported stolen, deliver guns or ammunition to ATF or the granting state or local government within 30 days, and may not resell collected firearms or ammunition. The bill authorizes 360,000,000 dollars for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2027 and creates a 100,000 dollar penalty for using or accepting a smart prepaid card to acquire or transfer firearms or ammunition.

Who Benefits and How

State governments benefit because they can receive federal grants to run or support gun buyback programs. Local governments benefit from a funded structure for buybacks, destruction, database checks, and dealer subgrants. Tribal governments benefit because they are eligible entities for the federal buyback grant program. Individuals disposing of firearms benefit because buybacks must pay 125 percent of the Director-determined market value through smart prepaid cards. State public safety agencies and local police departments benefit from federal funding for buyback administration and destruction work.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Bureau of Justice Assistance must administer applications, acquire smart prepaid cards, publish market values, monitor returns, and manage 360,000,000 dollars per year in authorization. Covered gun dealers must apply, verify licenses, load smart prepaid cards, check stolen-gun databases, notify ATF, deliver firearms, and avoid resale. ATF field offices must receive guns or ammunition from dealer-run programs and participate in stolen-firearm and crime-gun handling. People who use smart prepaid cards to buy firearms or ammunition face a civil or criminal monetary penalty of up to 100,000 dollars.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes Bureau of Justice Assistance grants for gun buyback programs by states, local governments, Tribal governments, and covered gun dealers.
• Funds the program at 360,000,000 dollars for each fiscal year from 2025 through 2027.
• Requires smart prepaid cards to block firearm or ammunition purchases and to display a gun-and-ammunition restriction.
• Requires at least 5 percent of grant funds for destruction and limits administrative costs to 15 percent.
• Requires stolen-gun checks, ATF notice within 24 hours, firearm delivery within 30 days, and a 100,000 dollar penalty for prohibited card use.