Congresswoman Brown Introduces Bill to Track Success of Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) introduced the Shining a Spotlight on Safer Communities Act, which would require the Department of Justice (DOJ) to report on the implementation and efficacy of anti-firearm-trafficking provisions in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was signed into law by President Biden in 2022.

Congresswoman Brown voted for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which enhances background checks for buyers under 21, provides funding for state red flag laws, expands gun safety laws relating to domestic abusers, funds community violence intervention programs, and invests in mental health services and access. It was the first major piece of gun legislation to be signed into law in over 25 years.

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act also established federal laws against interstate firearm trafficking and straw purchasing, the practice of purchasing a firearm on behalf of someone who is legally prohibited from possessing one. Congresswoman Brown’s legislation would require annual reports from the DOJ to Congress on the number of investigations, prosecutions, and firearm confiscations under the new provisions established by the historic BSCA. 

The legislation was filed with 24 cosponsors and has been endorsed by Brady: United Against Gun Violence, Everytown for Gun Safety, and Giffords.

The members of the House cosponsoring the bill are: Rep. Gabe Amo (RI-01), Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL), Rep. Troy Carter (LA-02), Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Rep. Dwight Evans (PA-03), Rep. Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Rep. Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04), Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Rep. Marcy Kaptur (OH-05), Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02), Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02), Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36), Rep. Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Rep. Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Rep. Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Rep. Gwen Moore (WI-04), Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03), Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09), Rep. Emilia Sykes (OH-13), and Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02).

“The unbearable pain of gun violence is felt everywhere and that includes Northeast Ohio. In December, I was attending a funeral in Cleveland for a gun violence victim, when it was interrupted by gun shots – right outside. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was a productive and historic step in the fight against gun violence.  An essential element of the law are the provisions targeting illegal gun trafficking and straw purchases, which have flooded our communities with weapons of war. But more is needed. The Shining a Spotlight on Safer Communities Act will help Congress and the public track the success of the law and identify areas for further policy initiatives,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.

“The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022 (BSCA) is one of the most comprehensive pieces of gun violence prevention legislation ever passed by Congress. A multifaceted approach to public safety, BSCA addresses supply-side causes of gun violence, including straw purchasing and gun trafficking, which are responsible for the flood of weapons into America’s communities. The Shining a Spotlight on Safer Communities Act will ensure that Congress is provided with annual updates on how federal, state, and local law enforcement are using the new tools included in BSCA to prevent the flow of firearms onto our streets. Brady is grateful to Representative Shontel Brown for her leadership in introducing this bill to ensure BSCA’s success,” said Mark Collins, Director of Federal Policy at Brady.

"The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was a significant step toward a future without gun violence, and we must ensure that this legislation reaches its full potential. The Shining a Spotlight on Safer Communities Act would do just that by tracking the law’s implementation and progress. We thank Representative Brown for introducing the Shining a Spotlight on Safer Communities Act and for reinforcing the gravity of the first significant gun safety legislation to become law in nearly 30 years. We urge Congress to swiftly pass Representative Brown’s bill," said Adzi Vokhiwa, Giffords Federal Affairs Director.

“Congress made history when it passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was the first major federal gun safety bill in nearly 30 years — but that was just the first step. The Shining a Spotlight on Safer Communities Act will help us measure how the DOJ and ATF are using the anti-trafficking and straw purchasing tools provided in BSCA to go after criminals who are funneling crime guns into our communities. We applaud Rep. Brown for introducing this legislation that allows policymakers, law enforcement, and everyday Americans to make sure we’re maximizing BSCA’s life-saving potential,” said John Feinblatt, President of Everytown for Gun Safety.

The Shining a Spotlight on Safer Communities Act

Requires the Office of the Attorney General at the Department of Justice to prepare and submit to Congress a public report, for each year from 2024 through 2027, which includes the following:

• A comprehensive review of the progress, implementation, and enforcement of sections 932 and 933 of title 18 of United States Code as added by section 12004 of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, including:
  • The total number of investigations opened by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives as a result of the law,
  • The total number of investigations opened by other Federal agencies as a result of the law,
  • Any other Federal, State, or local law enforcement agencies involved in the investigations,
  • The total number of investigations that resulted in a formal referral for prosecution and the final outcomes of the investigations, or if there was no referral, why not,
  • Specifics on the number of investigations under each section, along with the number of defendants, demographic information, and other details,
  • The number and types of firearms, ammunition, firearm accessories, etc. that were recovered, seized, or forfeited as a result of the investigations and prosecutions.

###