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S. 2544: Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2016

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S. 2544: Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2016

114th Congress · introduced 2016-02-11 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S877-879)

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2016-02-11 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S877-879) Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2016

Plain summary

Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2016 This bill amends the federal criminal code to prohibit and punish the straw purchasing of firearms. A straw purchase occurs when: (1) a person buys a firearm from an unlicensed seller on behalf of a person prohibited by law from possessing one, or (2) a person buys a firearm from a licensed dealer on behalf of another person. Any person that commits, attempts, or conspires to commit a straw purchasing offense is subject to a fine and/or prison term of up to 15 years (25 years if the firearm is used to commit a crime of violence). The bill expands the penalty for committing a firearms trafficking offense. Individuals who commit such an offense are subject to a fine and/or prison term of up to 15 years. Under current law, the penalty is a fine and/or prison term of up to 10 years. The U.S. Sentencing Commission shall amend the sentencing guidelines and policy statements to reflect increased penalties for persons convicted of straw purchasing firearms or firearms trafficking offenses. Under current law, it is unlawful to import firearms into the United States with the intent to engage in illegal activity. This bill extends the prohibition to the exportation of firearms. The bill makes it unlawful for any person to sell or otherwise dispose of any firearm or ammunition to any person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that such person intends to transfer the firearm or ammunition in furtherance of a federal crime of terrorism, a crime of violence, or a drug trafficking offense. Neither the Department of Justice (DOJ) nor its law enforcement coordinate agencies shall facilitate the transfer of an operable firearm to an individual if any DOJ law enforcement officer involved knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the recipient is an agent of a drug cartel, unless U.S. law enforcement personnel continuously monitor or control the firearm at all times.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2016

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT] · 4 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Susan M. Collins (R-ME), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong114-s2544 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114