HR4688-119

What This Bill Does

The COOL OFF Act amends 18 U.S.C. 922 to require a three-business-day waiting period for handgun receipt and transfer. A person who is not federally licensed may not receive a handgun from another unlicensed person in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce unless at least three business days, meaning days when state offices are open, have passed since the recipient most recently offered to take possession. For licensed transfers, if the handgun transfer does not meet listed exceptions, three business days must pass after the licensee contacts the background check system. Exceptions cover transfers to law enforcement agencies, law enforcement officers, armed private security professionals, or armed forces members acting within employment and official duties; lawful family loans between spouses, domestic partners, parents and children, siblings, aunts or uncles and nieces or nephews, or grandparents and grandchildren; temporary transfers necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm for only as long as immediately necessary; and temporary transfers where the transferor has no reason to believe the transferee will commit a crime or is prohibited and possession occurs at a shooting range, while reasonably necessary for hunting, trapping, or fishing with licensing compliance, or in the transferor's presence. The bill updates section 924 penalties and applies to conduct after the 90-day period beginning on enactment.

Who Benefits and How

Handgun violence prevention advocates benefit from a federal three-business-day cooling-off period for handgun transfers. People at risk of impulsive handgun harm benefit if the waiting period delays immediate access. State background check administrators benefit from a uniform minimum waiting period tied to state business days. Law enforcement officers retain access through an official-duty exception.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Handgun buyers must wait at least three business days unless an exception applies. Federal firearms licensees must delay non-exempt handgun transfers until three business days after contacting the background check system. Unlicensed handgun transferors must track when a recipient offered to take possession. Private sellers and recipients face criminal exposure if they complete covered transfers too quickly.

Key Provisions

• Requires a three-business-day waiting period before unlicensed handgun receipt.
• Requires a three-business-day waiting period after licensed dealers contact the background check system for non-exempt handgun transfers.
• Provides exceptions for official-duty law enforcement, armed security, and armed forces transfers.
• Provides exceptions for lawful family loans, temporary emergency transfers, and temporary range, hunting, fishing, or supervised transfers.
• Applies the amendments to conduct after a 90-day implementation period.