Rubio joins effort to increase penalties for criminals stealing firearms
WASHINGTON, D.C. (FLV) – Nearly two dozen U.S. senators reintroduced legislation to increase penalties for criminals who steal firearms from federally licensed firearms and ammunition dealers.
Supporters of the Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2023 said it aims to address the “unacceptably high number of ‘smash-and-grab’ thefts.”
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., joined the effort led by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to crackdown on these types of crimes.
“Anyone who steals a firearm from a federally licensed firearm seller should face serious criminal penalties,” Rubio said. “This legislation would increase the penalties for thefts targeted at federally licensed gun dealers, sending a clear message that this type of crime will not be tolerated.”
From 2017 to 2021, there were about 5,400 theft incidents reported, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. There were a total of 34,339 firearms were stolen from a Federal Firearms Licensee.
According to a press release, the legislation:
- Increases the statutory maximum penalty for knowingly stealing any firearm in an FFL’s business inventory from 10 to 20 years.
- Imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of 3 years for burglary from an FFL and 5 years for robbery from an FFL.
- Criminalizes the attempted theft of a firearm from a licensed importer, manufacturer, dealer, or collector.
