[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 24, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3517-S3518]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Schiff, Mr. 
        Booker, Mr. Kim, and Mrs. Klobuchar):
  S. 2158. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to make 
fraudulent dealings in firearms and ammunition unlawful, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Stopping 
the Fraudulent Sale of Firearms Act, a vital piece of legislation 
designed to close dangerous loopholes in online firearm sales.
  The Stopping the Fraudulent Sale of Firearms Act would make it a 
Federal crime to fraudulently advertise or sell firearms ammunition 
online, including by circumventing technology companies' terms of 
service.
  Gun violence remains one of the most urgent crises facing our Nation, 
claiming more than 46,000 lives in 2023 alone, the third-highest number 
of gun-related deaths ever recorded. To reduce gun violence in our 
communities, it is critical that existing gun safety measures are fully 
enforced.
  Background checks, red flag laws, and other safeguards are designed 
to keep firearms out of the wrong hands, but online marketplaces have 
created new avenues to bypass these protections.
  Individuals who would fail a routine background check--such as those 
with felony convictions, domestic violence restraining orders, or a 
history of severe mental illness--can easily obtain firearms online, 
even in States with strong gun laws. This loophole undermines the very 
protections meant to keep our communities safe.
  Technology companies have taken steps to curb illegal gun sales on 
their platforms, but sellers continue to exploit gaps in enforcement. 
Some platforms have banned firearm sales outright, yet sellers 
circumvent these restrictions by disguising listings.
  On Facebook Marketplace, for example, guns are often advertised as 
``stickers'' featuring firearm brand logos, while the actual weapons 
are

[[Page S3518]]

sold off the record. These deceptive tactics allow firearms to be 
purchased without background checks, fueling illegal gun trafficking 
and putting lives at risk.
  Fraudulent firearm listings undermine essential safeguards contribute 
to gun trafficking, and increase the risk of violent crime. Around 80 
percent of firearms used in criminal activity are obtained from sellers 
who do not conduct background checks, including fraudulent online 
dealers. From 2017 to 2021, unlicensed sellers were responsible for 
more than half of all trafficked firearms, amounting to over 68,000 
guns.
  The Stopping the Fraudulent Sale of Firearms Act would directly 
address this growing threat. By prohibiting fraudulent transactions and 
holding deceptive sellers accountable, this bill would reinforce 
background check requirements and help prevent firearms from falling 
into the wrong hands.
  Public safety is a shared responsibility, and this bill represents an 
important step forward in our collective efforts to reduce gun violence 
and protect our communities. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this legislation and working to pass the Stopping the 
Fraudulent Sale of Firearms Act without delay.

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