# Plain Language Summary: Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act of 2025

## What This Bill Does

This bill aims to reduce gun violence by strengthening the background check system and improving how criminal justice and mental health records are shared with authorities. The legislation focuses on making sure that people prohibited from owning guns—such as convicted felons and those with certain mental health adjudications—are properly identified when they try to purchase firearms. It also increases penalties for people who lie on gun purchase forms and for those who illegally attempt to buy guns.

## Who Is Affected

**Law enforcement and federal agencies** would be required to share more records with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). **States** could lose federal grant funding if they fail to provide mental health records to NICS. **Gun buyers** would face stricter scrutiny and increased penalties for fraudulent purchases. **Federal prosecutors** would have more resources to prosecute gun violence cases. The bill also establishes new regional task forces to combat illegal firearms trafficking.

## Key Provisions

- **$20 million annually** (2026-2030) to improve NICS operations and auditing
- **Stricter record-sharing requirements** for federal agencies to submit relevant disqualifying information to NICS
- **Increased penalties** for lying on gun purchase forms ("lying and buying")
- **Federal prosecution incentives** for gun violence cases and illegal firearm purchase attempts
- **Accountability measures** including audits of grant recipients to prevent fraud and waste
- **Study requirement** on causes of mass shootings by the National Institute of Justice