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HR 8821 116th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Criminal justice information and records Firearms and explosives Licensing and registrations

Keeping Guns From Criminals Act

Introduced: November 27, 2020 Introduced by: Beyer, Donald S. Democratic · Virginia See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 27, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Nov 27, 2020
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Keeping Guns From Criminals Act

This bill modifies the criminal liability standard for certain firearm sales or transfers.

Current law makes it a crime for any person to knowingly sell or transfer a firearm to a prohibited person (i.e., a person who is prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm). This legislation eliminates the knowingly standard to impose criminal liability on any person who sells or transfers a firearm to a prohibited person, regardless of whether such seller or transferor knows that the buyer is a prohibited person.

A defendant seller or transferor may assert as an affirmative defense against prosecution evidence to prove that the buyer or recipient passed a background check or possessed a valid concealed carry permit in the state of transfer.

The affirmative defense does not apply if the defendant knew or had reasonable cause to believe the buyer or recipient was a prohibited person.

What's happening now November 27, 2020

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 8821: Keeping Guns From Criminals Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-8821/
MLA
"H.R. 8821: Keeping Guns From Criminals Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-8821/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 8821, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-8821/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 8821: Keeping Guns From Criminals Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-8821/)
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