{"id":213564,"date":"2025-03-03T15:22:45","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T21:22:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=213564"},"modified":"2026-01-13T04:34:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T10:34:42","slug":"new-bill-strengthens-protections-on-firearm-trace-data","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/new-bill-strengthens-protections-on-firearm-trace-data\/","title":{"rendered":"New Bill Strengthens Protections on Firearm Trace Data"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-\"><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) has introduced the Law Enforcement Protection and Privacy Act, aiming to strengthen the Tiahrt Amendment and crack down on the unauthorized disclosure of firearm trace data. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/119th-congress\/house-bill\/1698?s=1&amp;r=1\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"new-bill-strengthens-protections-on-firearm-trace-data\" title=\"New Bill Strengthens Protections on Firearm Trace Data\">legislation<\/a> responds to politically motivated leaks that have jeopardized law enforcement operations, firearm retailers, and Second Amendment rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We must protect law-abiding citizens from the unlawful disclosure of sensitive firearm trace data.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dN3Xk5vNRt\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"new-bill-strengthens-protections-on-firearm-trace-data\" title=\"New Bill Strengthens Protections on Firearm Trace Data\">https:\/\/t.co\/dN3Xk5vNRt<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Rep. Clay Higgins (@RepClayHiggins) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepClayHiggins\/status\/1895601959350255637?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"new-bill-strengthens-protections-on-firearm-trace-data\" title=\"New Bill Strengthens Protections on Firearm Trace Data\">February 28, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2><br \/>Table of contents<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-why-this-bill-matters\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"new-bill-strengthens-protections-on-firearm-trace-data\" title=\"New Bill Strengthens Protections on Firearm Trace Data\" data-level=\"2\">Why This Bill Matters<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-key-provisions-of-the-law-enforcement-protection-and-privacy-act\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"new-bill-strengthens-protections-on-firearm-trace-data\" title=\"New Bill Strengthens Protections on Firearm Trace Data\" data-level=\"2\">Key Provisions of the Law Enforcement Protection and Privacy Act<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-support-from-2a-and-law-enforcement-groups\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"new-bill-strengthens-protections-on-firearm-trace-data\" title=\"New Bill Strengthens Protections on Firearm Trace Data\" data-level=\"2\">Support from 2A and Law Enforcement Groups<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-the-fight-against-political-abuse\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"new-bill-strengthens-protections-on-firearm-trace-data\" title=\"New Bill Strengthens Protections on Firearm Trace Data\" data-level=\"2\">The Fight Against Political Abuse<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-this-bill-matters\"><strong>Why This Bill Matters<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Tiahrt Amendment, first enacted in 2003, restricts public access to firearm trace data collected by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This data, used in criminal investigations, is meant for law enforcement only. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, under the Biden administration, ATF has been accused of releasing this sensitive information to <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/gun-control-group-targets-iphones-gun-emoji-with-disarmtheiphone-campaign\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"new-bill-strengthens-protections-on-firearm-trace-data\" title=\"New Bill Strengthens Protections on Firearm Trace Data\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"2522\">gun control groups<\/a> and media outlets, leading to &#8220;name-and-shame&#8221; campaigns against firearm dealers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>SEE ALSO: <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/gforce-arms-exodus-affordable-carry\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"new-bill-strengthens-protections-on-firearm-trace-data\" title=\"New Bill Strengthens Protections on Firearm Trace Data\">GForce Arms Exodus: Affordable Carry<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe unlawful disclosure of sensitive firearm trace data greatly jeopardizes criminal investigations and puts law-abiding citizens at risk,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/clayhiggins.house.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"new-bill-strengthens-protections-on-firearm-trace-data\" title=\"New Bill Strengthens Protections on Firearm Trace Data\">said<\/a> Congressman Higgins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His bill is designed to hold violators accountable and prevent further misuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-key-provisions-of-the-law-enforcement-protection-and-privacy-act\"><strong>Key Provisions of the Law Enforcement Protection and Privacy Act<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The bill includes strict penalties for leaking firearm trace data and provides firearm dealers with legal recourse if their information is unlawfully shared. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what the bill does:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Reinforces Tiahrt Amendment Protections<\/strong> \u2013 Ensures that firearm trace data cannot be obtained through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Introduces Fines for Violations<\/strong> \u2013 Sets penalties of $10,000 for a first violation and $25,000 for additional violations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Suspends Access for Offenders<\/strong> \u2013 Those who unlawfully release trace data lose access to the ATF\u2019s Firearm Tracing System for one year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Empowers Firearm Dealers to Sue<\/strong> \u2013 Federal firearms licensees (FFLs) can sue government agencies that unlawfully release their data. If they win, they could receive:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Three times the damages suffered<\/strong> or <strong>$25,000 per violation<\/strong> (whichever is greater).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Punitive damages and attorney\u2019s fees<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Eliminates Sovereign Immunity<\/strong> \u2013 Prevents government agencies from using sovereign immunity as a defense.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-support-from-2a-and-law-enforcement-groups\"><strong>Support from 2A and Law Enforcement Groups<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The bill has received strong backing from Second Amendment advocacy organizations, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>National Rifle Association (NRA)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gun Owners of America (GOA)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>National Association for Gun Rights<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>NSSF\u2019s Lawrence G. Keane called the legislation \u201clong overdue\u201d, stating that it will \u201cprevent politically motivated misuse of trace data that harms law-abiding gun dealers and puts law enforcement at risk.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>GOA\u2019s Aidan Johnston emphasized that the bill protects firearm owners\u2019 privacy and prevents federal overreach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-fight-against-political-abuse\"><strong>The Fight Against Political Abuse<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Biden administration\u2019s ATF has been accused of leaking firearm trace data to anti-gun groups in violation of federal law. This has led to public <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/brady-campaign-targets-states-with-loose-gun-laws-in-video\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"new-bill-strengthens-protections-on-firearm-trace-data\" title=\"New Bill Strengthens Protections on Firearm Trace Data\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"2523\">campaigns targeting lawful<\/a> firearm dealers, falsely implying they contribute to crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Higgins\u2019 bill moves forward, gun owners and FFLs should pay close attention. Ensuring that law enforcement data remains secure is not just about protecting investigations\u2014it\u2019s about defending the integrity of the Second Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong><em>*** <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"new-bill-strengthens-protections-on-firearm-trace-data\" title=\"New Bill Strengthens Protections on Firearm Trace Data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica!<\/a> ***<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This legislation responds to politically motivated leaks that have jeopardized law enforcement operations, firearm retailers, and Second Amendment rights.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":158,"featured_media":213565,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_specdata_upc":"","_specdata_placement":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4024],"tags":[132,607,122],"featured":[],"hunt365":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-213564","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-buzz","9":"tag-news","10":"tag-r2kba"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>New Bill Strengthens Protections on Firearm Trace Data<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Rep. 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