Bill > HR1698

This bill provides new legal protections and penalties related to firearm trace data maintained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Specifically, the bill amends the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to exempt the Firearm Trace System database from public disclosure, preventing unauthorized access to sensitive information about firearms. The legislation establishes significant financial penalties for state, local, tribal, or foreign entities that improperly disclose protected firearm trace information, with fines ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 per disclosure and potential loss of access to such information for one year after multiple violations. Additionally, the bill creates a private right of action for licensed firearms entities that are adversely affected by unauthorized disclosures, allowing them to sue for damages up to triple their actual losses or $25,000 per disclosure, plus potential punitive damages and attorney's fees. The bill defines "protected information" as contents of the ATF's Firearms Trace System database and specific reporting and record-keeping information related to firearms licensees. By providing these robust legal mechanisms, the bill aims to enhance privacy protections and prevent misuse of sensitive firearms-related data while offering multiple enforcement routes for potential violations.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1698/all-info