NRA Fumes as More Gun Shops Face Toughest Clampdown

The National Rifle Association (NRA) is opposing growing state and local regulations on firearms dealers, asserting that the proposals pose a threat to small gun shops rather than enhancing public safety. NRA-ILA Executive Director John Commerford criticized progressive politicians for enacting burdensome rules and costly mandates, which would drive independent firearm dealers out of business and limit lawful gun access.

Commerford argued that these proposals, such as the one in Pennsylvania, do not improve firearm safety or reduce theft; instead, they complicate and escalate the cost of running a business, ultimately forcing dealers to close down. The real intention is not to assist gun dealers but to eliminate them and restrict lawful firearm access for law-abiding citizens.

Pennsylvania's Firearms Dealer Accountability and Modernization Act would require annual state inspections for federally licensed firearms dealers, as well as targeted random inspections linked to a higher number of handgun sales related to homicides. The bill also proposes a legal duty to report lost or stolen firearms and ammunition and a grant program to assist dealers in modernizing their operations.

The proposal is currently being circulated among House members for co-sponsors and has not been formally introduced. Upon approval, it would receive a bill number and be referred to a House committee for consideration before advancing to a full chamber vote.