What This Bill Does
This bill prohibits firearms dealers from selling a firearm before a background check is completed. The bill makes changes to existing federal firearm background check rules under a law called the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act.
Who It Affects
Firearms dealers (businesses that sell firearms).
Key Provisions
• Firearms dealers cannot sell a firearm prior to the completion of a background check (Sec. 2(a))
• The waiting period language is removed from federal firearms law, including a reference to "10 business days" (Sec. 2(b)(2))
• The bill makes technical corrections to align the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act with these changes (Sec. 2(b)(1))
What Changes
If this becomes law, firearms dealers would no longer be allowed to sell a firearm until a background check is fully completed. A previous law phrase allowing sales after a certain number of business days would be removed from federal law.
Important Definitions
None defined in this bill text.
II
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 1116
To prohibit firearms dealers from selling a firearm prior to the completion
of a background check.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MARCH 30, 2023
Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. COONS,
Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mr. CASEY, Mr.
MENENDEZ, Mr. KAINE, Ms. WARREN, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. MARKEY,
Mr. PADILLA, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr.
CARDIN, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. BROWN, Mr. HEINRICH, Mr. BOOKER, and
Ms. BALDWIN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To prohibit firearms dealers from selling a firearm prior
to the completion of a background check.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Background Check
4
Completion Act of 2023’’.
5
SEC. 2. COMPLETION OF BACKGROUND CHECKS.
6
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 922(t)(1) of title 18,
7
United States Code, is amended—
8
VerDate Sep 11 2014
06:09 Apr 11, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S1116.IS
S1116
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
2
•S 1116 IS
(1) in subparagraph (B)—
1
(A) by striking ‘‘(i)’’;
2
(B) by striking ‘‘or’’ and inserting ‘‘and’’;
3
and
4
(C) by striking clause (ii);
5
(2) by striking subparagraph (C); and
6
(3) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as sub-
7
paragraph (C).
8
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
9
(1) Section 12001(a)(3) of the Bipartisan Safer
10
Communities Act (Public Law 117–159; 136 Stat.
11
1324) is amended by striking ‘‘paragraphs (1)(B)
12
and (2) are repealed, and the provisions of law
13
amended by those paragraphs are restored as if
14
those paragraphs had not been enacted’’ and insert-
15
ing ‘‘paragraph (2) is repealed, and the provision of
16
law amendment by that paragraph is restored as if
17
that paragraph had not been enacted’’.
18
(2) Section 103(l)(3) of the Brady Handgun Vi-
19
olence Prevention Act (34 U.S.C. 40901(l)(3)) is
20
amended by striking ‘‘, but in no case more than 10
21
business days,’’.
22
Æ
VerDate Sep 11 2014
06:09 Apr 11, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\S1116.IS
S1116
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB