With 22 fellow Senators by her side, West Virginia Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito joined the efforct to re-introduce the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act of 2023. According to a press release from Capito, the act would reduce number of “smash-and-grab” thefts targeted at federally licensed gun dealers.
The FFL Protection Act would Increase the statutory maximum penalty for knowingly stealing any firearm in an FFL’s business inventory from 10 to 20 years. enhance penalties for criminals who steal firearms from federally licensed firearms and ammunition dealers. It would also impose a mandatory minimum sentence of 3 years for burglary from an FFL and 5 years for robbery from an FFL, and Criminalize the attempted theft of a firearm from a licensed importer, manufacturer, dealer, or collector.
“Burglaries of gun dealerships continue to rise, which is why we must put solutions forward that deter these would-be criminals from committing these robberies and endangering our communities. I’m proud to support this legislation that implements swift and strong penalties for these crimes, and further protects our communities,” Capito said.
Other than Capito and Graham, the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act of 2023 is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Dr. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Ted Budd (R-N.C.).
The legislation is supported by the National Sports Shooting Foundation (NSSF).
Since 2004, O’Hern has worked with political campaigns in roles ranging from major projects involving nationwide digital marketing for U.S. Presidential candidates, U.S. Congressmen, state governors, and state representatives. O’Hern’s journalism background includes news reporting and editing for various organizations and news publications in Alabama and Florida since 2002. O’Hern graduated from Samford University in Birmingham, Ala with a degree in journalism and a minor in political science.