Responsible Firearms Marketing Act

The Responsible Firearms Marketing Act would require the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a comprehensive study of firearms advertising and marketing practices. The study would identify potentially unfair or deceptive acts, including marketing that targets individuals under 18 years old, encourages illegal firearm use, or involves semiautomatic assault weapons. The FTC would submit its findings and recommendations to Congress within two years of enactment.

Following the study, the bill would authorize the FTC to issue regulations prohibiting manufacturers, dealers, and importers of firearms from engaging in unfair or deceptive advertising or marketing practices. Violations would be treated as violations of existing FTC consumer protection rules, allowing the agency to impose penalties including fines and damages to consumers. The FTC would enforce these regulations using its standard authority under the Federal Trade Commission Act.

This bill is currently in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and has not yet been voted on by the full House. If enacted, it would extend existing consumer protection standards to the firearms industry's marketing practices.