Graham Reintroduces Legislation to Combat 'Smash-And-Grab' Crimes

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today reintroduced the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act of 2026 to address the dangerously high number of "smash-and-grab" thefts targeting gun dealers by enhancing penalties for criminals who steal firearms from federally licensed firearms and ammunition dealers.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reported that from 2021 to 2025, 4,046 FFL theft incidents were reported. During these incidents, a total of 23,319 firearms were stolen from FFLs.

South Carolinians have been directly impacted by these burglaries as thieves have stolen 618 firearms from FFLs across the state between 2021 and 2025. Just last week, two men drove a car through a pawn shop in Spartanburg and stole multiple weapons before fleeing the scene of the crime.

"I am proud to reintroduce this important legislation to make 'smash-and-grabs' more costly for criminals. Americans have a right to lawfully buy, own and sell firearms - criminals who steal them must pay the price," said Senator Graham.

In addition to Graham, this legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Jim Justice (R-West Virginia), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska) and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina).

The legislation is supported by NSSF, The Firearm Industry Trade Association.

"This legislation is what true gun safety looks like. Congress is sending a clear message that the safety of our communities is nonnegotiable and targeting firearm retailers to steal guns in order to commit further crimes is intolerable," said Lawrence G. Keane, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for NSSF. "The firearm industry is grateful to Senator Lindsey Graham for providing those firearm retailers who follow the law the protection they deserve. This legislation assigns the responsibility for crime where it belongs - with the criminal. These are real solutions that make our communities safer."

The FFL Protection Act of 2026:

• Increases the statutory maximum penalty for knowingly stealing any firearm in an FFL's business inventory from 10 to 20 years.
• Imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of 3 years for burglary from an FFL and 5 years for robbery from an FFL.
• Criminalizes the attempted theft of a firearm from a licensed importer, manufacturer, dealer, or collector.

The full text of the bill is available HERE.

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