Bills · HR 6223
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 6223Crime and Law Enforcement
Crime Gun Tracing Modernization Act of 2025
INTRO NOV 20· LAST ACTION NOV 20
READING
4MIN
COSPONSORS
0
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it aims to modernize how law enforcement traces firearms used in crimes. Currently, much of this information is on paper, requiring manual searches and often delaying investigations. By creating a centralized, electronic, and searchable database, the bill could significantly speed up the process of identifying where a gun came from, potentially helping law enforcement solve crimes faster.
If this bill becomes law, tracing crime guns could become much more efficient, which could aid in apprehending criminals and disrupting illegal gun trafficking. If it doesn't pass, the current system, which relies heavily on manual processing of paper records, would continue, potentially leading to slower investigations and less effective crime gun tracing. However, some may raise concerns about the scope and security of such a database, even with restrictions, and the potential for government overreach.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Requires the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to establish electronic, searchable databases of all gun transaction records it receives from licensed firearm dealers.
This centralizes and digitizes existing paper records, making them much faster to access for legitimate tracing purposes.
PROVISION 02
Allows licensed gun dealers to voluntarily provide the ATF with electronic access to their records or relinquish older paper records (at least 10 years old) to the ATF.
This provides options for gun dealers to transition to more modern record-keeping or offload storage of old paper records.
PROVISION 03
Specifies that the electronic databases can only be searched for bona fide law enforcement investigations, foreign intelligence information, or compliance inspections of active licensees.
This sets strict boundaries for how the database can be used, aiming to prevent misuse beyond its intended purpose.
PROVISION 04
Prohibits the databases from being electronically searchable by any individual's personally identifiable information, allowing searches only by firearm descriptors and transaction details.
This provision aims to protect the privacy of law-abiding gun owners by preventing the database from being used to create a direct registry of individuals.
PROVISION 05
Mandates regular audits by the Comptroller General of the United States to ensure the ATF and National Tracing Center comply with the bill's requirements.
This adds an oversight mechanism to ensure accountability and adherence to privacy and usage restrictions.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 0
D· New Jersey
YRS IN OFFICE
1
BILLS LED
14
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSNOV 20
Introduced in House
NOV 20
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 6223
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedNov 20, 2025
Last actionNov 20, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · HOUSE · INTRODUCED NOV 20, 2025
House BillHR 6223Crime and Law Enforcement
Crime Gun Tracing Modernization Act of 2025
INTRODUCED NOV 20, 2025· LAST ACTION NOV 20, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
4 min
COSPONSORS
0
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
