Crime Gun Tracing Modernization Act of 2025

Senate Bill

S. 3289

119th Congress

Crime Gun Tracing Modernization Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Dec 1, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Sheldon Whitehouse

D - RI

Cosponsors

1

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary

The Crime Gun Tracing Modernization Act requires ATF's National Tracing Center to create electronic, searchable databases of all firearm transaction records within 3 years, replacing the current paper-based system. The database would be searchable by gun characteristics (manufacturer, serial number, type) but explicitly not by personal information, and access would be limited to bona fide law enforcement investigations.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

The Crime Gun Tracing Modernization Act requires ATF's National Tracing Center to create electronic, searchable databases of all firearm transaction records within 3 years, replacing the current paper-based system. The database would be searchable by gun characteristics (manufacturer, serial number, type) but explicitly not by personal information, and access would be limited to bona fide law enforcement investigations.

Last updated: 12/27/2025

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Requires ATF to create electronic searchable firearm transaction database within 3 years
Searchable by gun characteristics but NOT by personal information
Access limited to law enforcement investigations and foreign intelligence purposes
Dealers may voluntarily submit paper records after 10 years
Overrides existing appropriations restrictions on ATF database creation
Requires GAO audits every 2 years to verify compliance

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Would modernize ATF crime gun tracing from current paper-based system that can take days or weeks into faster electronic searches. Law enforcement would benefit from quicker firearm traces during investigations. Gun rights advocates may object to creation of what they see as a federal gun registry, though the bill prohibits personal information searches. ATF would need significant resources to digitize decades of records.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

3289, 119th Congress (2025). "Crime Gun Tracing Modernization Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-s-3289