What This Bill Does
This bill would create federal criminal penalties for a person who gives firearms to juveniles when those guns are later used in a criminal offense. It is aimed at adults who transfer or provide guns to minors in ways that contribute to gun violence or other crimes. The proposal would add another layer of federal liability on top of existing firearms laws. In practical terms, it targets the chain of responsibility between an adult who supplies the weapon and the juvenile who uses it.
- Creates federal criminal penalties tied to providing firearms to juveniles.
- Applies when the firearm is later used in a criminal offense.
- Targets the adult who supplied the gun, not only the juvenile offender.
- Adds a new federal enforcement tool for gun-related youth crime cases.
Who This Bill Affects
If you are a gun owner, parent, guardian, or another adult who could give a firearm to a minor, this bill would raise the legal stakes if that gun is later used in a crime. It would not create a direct benefit or cost for most people, but it could affect how firearms are stored, shared, or supervised in households where minors are present. For communities dealing with youth gun violence, the bill could give prosecutors another tool to hold adults accountable when a juvenile’s access to a gun leads to criminal harm.
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- Bill
- HR 9399
- Congress
- 119th Congress
- Official title
- To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for criminal penalties for a person who provides fire arms to juveniles if such firearms are thereafter used for the commission of a criminal offense.
- Policy area
- Criminal Justice
- Latest action
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. (June 23, 2026)
- Last updated
- June 24, 2026
Who Supports & Opposes This
- Violence-prevention advocates They argue that adults who put guns in the hands of minors should face serious consequences when those weapons are used to commit crimes. In their view, stronger penalties can deter reckless transfers and reduce youth gun violence.
- Law enforcement officials They may see the bill as a useful addition to prosecutorial tools in cases where investigators can trace a crime gun back to an adult supplier. That can help hold accountable the person who enabled the juvenile's access to the weapon.
- Parents and community safety advocates They often support measures that make it harder for teens to obtain firearms through informal or unsafe transfers. The bill could reinforce the expectation that adults must secure guns and prevent access by minors.
- Gun-rights advocates They may argue the bill expands criminal exposure in a way that could sweep in ordinary household situations or unclear chain-of-custody cases. They may also say existing gun laws already cover unlawful transfers and unlawful possession by juveniles.
- Civil liberties advocates They may worry the law could be applied too broadly if prosecutors can charge adults based on a juvenile's later conduct rather than a clearly intentional transfer. That could create due-process concerns and punishment based on indirect causation.
- Defense attorneys They may contend that proving a causal link between the provision of the firearm and the later criminal offense will be difficult and could lead to uneven charging decisions. They may also argue that the bill could invite overcharging in emotionally charged cases.
Key Implications
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““provide for criminal penalties for a person who provides fire arms to juveniles””
This would create a specific federal penalty for adults who supply guns to minors. The practical effect is to turn certain firearm transfers to juveniles into a more serious federal crime when the gun is later tied to criminal conduct.
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““if such firearms are thereafter used for the commission of a criminal offense””
Liability depends on what happens after the transfer, not just the transfer itself. That means investigators and prosecutors would need to connect the supplied firearm to a later crime involving the juvenile.
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““amend title 18, United States Code””
The proposal would place the new offense within the federal criminal code. That signals a national-law approach rather than leaving the issue entirely to state penalties.
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““criminal penalties””
The bill is about punishment and deterrence, not grants or regulatory guidance. For affected adults, the consequence would be exposure to prosecution, fines, imprisonment, or both depending on how the final language is drafted and applied.
Latest Status
June 23, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
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