H.R. 5134 – STOP Straw Purchases Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 8:36 PM UTC

The STOP Straw Purchases Act would make it harder and riskier to buy guns for someone else by increasing criminal penalties and creating new offenses for people who run or encourage straw‑purchase schemes. It adds tougher fines and longer prison terms for the actual straw purchaser and for anyone who organizes, supervises, or induces such purchases. The bill also requires the ATF’s firearms transaction form to warn buyers about these penalties. It applies to anyone involved in illegal firearm transfers, including sellers, buyers, and criminal organizers.

Key Provisions

Raises the maximum fine for a straw purchaser who deceives about the true buyer to $750,000 and the maximum prison term to 25 years.
Creates a new crime for anyone who induces or manages a series of straw‑purchase violations for profit, punishable by up to $1 million in fines and 30 years in prison.
Creates a separate crime for anyone who obtains a firearm by inducing another person to lie about being the actual buyer, punishable by up to $750,000 in fines and 25 years in prison.
Requires the ATF to add a statement of these penalties to the standard Firearms Transaction Record form.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee

March 20, 2018

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 1, 2018

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

March 1, 2018

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee

March 20, 2018

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 5134 on the floor

1 Republican

Rep. Don BaconR-NE-2 · May 15, 2018

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week to show support of those who put their lives on the line every day to protect Nebraskans and all Americans. These law…

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 1, 2018

I

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5134

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 1, 2018

Mr. Bacon (for himself and Mr. Carbajal) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to combat straw purchases of firearms.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the STOP Straw Purchases Act.

2.

Increase in penalties for straw purchasers of firearms

Section 924(a)(2) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting , except that in the case of a violation of section 922(a)(6) involving deception as to the identity of the actual transferee of a firearm, the violator shall be fined not more than $750,000, imprisoned not more than 25 years, or both before the period.

3.

Prohibition on continuing criminal enterprise involving straw purchases of firearms; prohibition on obtaining firearm by inducing straw purchase

(a)

Prohibitions

Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(aa)

It shall be unlawful for any person, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, to—

(1)

induce, or act in concert with, another person to engage in a continuing series of violations of subsection (a)(6) involving deception as to the identity of the actual transferee of a firearm, from which such person obtains substantial income or resources; and

(2)

with respect to such other person, occupy a position of organizer, a supervisory position, or any other position of management.

(bb)

It shall be unlawful for any person, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, to obtain a firearm by inducing another person to violate subsection (a)(6) by falsely claiming to be the actual transferee of the firearm.

.

(b)

Penalties

Section 924(a) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following:

(8)

Whoever knowingly violates section 922(aa) shall be fined not more than $1,000,000, imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.

(9)

Whoever knowingly violates section 922(bb) shall be fined not more than $750,000, imprisoned not more than 25 years, or both.

.

4.

Inclusion in firearms transaction record form of outline of penalties for the straw purchase of a firearm

The Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives shall ensure that the Firearms Transaction Record form used by the Bureau includes a statement outlining the penalties for acting as the straw purchaser of a firearm. For purposes of this section, a person acts as the straw purchaser of a firearm if the person violates section 922(a)(6) of title 18, United States Code, through deception as to the identity of the actual transferee of the firearm.