WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) co-sponsored the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act of 2021 to address the rapid increase in the number of “smash-and-grab” thefts targeted at federally licensed gun dealers.

“Protecting Second Amendment rights is always a top priority of mine. It’s important that we protect gun shops from those who target their store and that we protect every citizen from illegal guns on the streets,” said Senator Tillis. “This legislation will enhance criminal penalties for those who steal a firearm from a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer. I am proud to co-sponsor this legislation, and am working to ensure that law-abiding North Carolinians are safe from firearm theft.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has reported a 43 percent increase in the number of FFL burglaries and a 15 percent decrease in the number of FFL robberies from 2019 to 2020. While the number of robberies decreased, the number of firearms taken during robberies increased by 53 percent. In 2020, 6,269 firearms were taken in nationwide FFL burglaries and robberies. Of those, 165 firearms were stolen from FFLs in South Carolina.

The FFL Protection Act of 2021:

• 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.

###