Great news for legitimate FFL holders like us — Senator Lindsey Graham just introduced the FFL Protection Act (S. 4671), and this one's a win.
The bill would strengthen criminal penalties for anyone caught stealing firearms from federally licensed retailers. Let me be clear: this isn't about new restrictions on us. It's about throwing the book at the criminals who break into our stores and turn stolen guns into problems for everyone.
Look, we already jump through hoops to run a legal operation. Background checks, waiting periods, inventory tracking — you name it. But when some hoodlum smashes through our display cases or sticks up our counter, the consequences need to be real. This legislation does exactly that.
The NSSF has been working hand-in-hand with ATF on Operation Secure Store, and the results speak for themselves. According to the latest ATF data, we're seeing a 60% drop in firearms stolen during burglaries and robberies, with over 40% fewer incidents overall. That's real progress.
The industry has also been proactive — matching ATF rewards for information leading to arrests, conducting security seminars, and pushing for better security measures like smash-resistant display cases.
What's refreshing about this bill is that it places responsibility where it belongs: on the criminals, not on law-abiding dealers. We're not the problem here. We never have been.
Bipartisan support is a good sign this could actually go somewhere. I'll be keeping a close eye on how this progresses — anything that protects our stores and gets tougher on thieves is something I can get behind.