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Responsible Firearms Marketing Act
To direct the Federal Trade Commission to conduct a study and submit to Congress a report on unfair or deceptive acts or practices that may be prevalent in the advertising or marketing of firearms and to issue regulations to prohibit unfair or deceptive acts or practices related to the advertising or marketing of firearms, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill would direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a study on advertising and marketing practices in the firearms industry, including whether such practices may be deceptive or unfair, particularly those designed to appeal to minors or that imply or encourage illegal use. The FTC would submit a report to Congress within two years of enactment with recommendations. Within 18 months of submitting the report, the FTC would be required to issue regulations prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices in firearms advertising and marketing, including those targeting minors, encouraging illegal use, or marketing semiautomatic assault weapons. Violations of the regulations would be treated as violations of the Federal Trade Commission Act and subject to FTC enforcement and penalties.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
12 cosponsors
- Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD)
- Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ)
- Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL)
- Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI)
- Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA)
- Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] (D-CT)
- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA)
- Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI] (D-RI)
- Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (I-VT)
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA)
- Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (D-MA)
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Richard Blumenthal’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- APOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENT $9,500
- FREEPOINT COMMODITIES LLC $6,600
- ALIX PARTNERS $6,600
- PALANTIR $6,600
- KRUX INC. $6,600
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Richard Blumenthal → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- Feb 12, 2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. · senate
- Feb 12, 2026 Introduced in Senate
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Full text
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 12, 2026
Mr. Blumenthal (for himself, Ms. Alsobrooks, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Murphy, Ms. Warren, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Reed, Mr. Markey, and Mr. Booker) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
A BILL
To direct the Federal Trade Commission to conduct a study and submit to Congress a report on unfair or deceptive acts or practices that may be prevalent in the advertising or marketing of firearms and to issue regulations to prohibit unfair or deceptive acts or practices related to the advertising or marketing of firearms, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Responsible Firearms Marketing Act”.
SEC. 2. UNFAIR OR DECEPTIVE ACTS OR PRACTICES RELATED TO THE ADVERTISING OR MARKETING OF FIREARMS.
(a) Study and Report by the Federal Trade Commission.—
(1) Study.—
(A) In general.—The Commission shall conduct a study, using the Commission’s authority under section 6(b) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 46(b)), regarding the advertising or marketing of firearms. Such study shall identify potentially unfair or deceptive acts or practices that may be prevalent in such advertising or marketing, as well as any other information determined appropriate by the Commission.
(B) Considerations.—In conducting the study under subparagraph (A), the Commission shall consider—
(i) advertising or marketing materials that may—
(I) be designed to appeal to individuals who are younger than 18 years of age; or
(II) imply or encourage illegal use of the advertised or marketed product; and
(ii) advertising or marketing of semiautomatic assault weapons.
(2) Report.—Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1), together with such recommendations for legislation or administrative action as the Commission determines appropriate.
(3) Exemption from paperwork reduction act.—Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, shall not apply to the collection of information under paragraph (1).
(b) Regulations.—
(1) In general.—Not later than 18 months after submitting the report required by subsection (a)(2), the Commission shall promulgate regulations under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, to prohibit any manufacturer, dealer, or importer of firearms from engaging in any unfair or deceptive act or practice related to the advertising or marketing of firearms.
(2) Requirements.—In promulgating regulations under paragraph (1), the Commission shall address—
(A) unfair or deceptive advertising or marketing that—
(i) may be designed to appeal to individuals who are younger than 18 years of age;
(ii) may imply or encourage illegal use of the advertised or marketed product; or
(iii) relates to the sale of semiautomatic assault weapons; and
(B) any other unfair or deceptive acts or practices related to the advertising or marketing of firearms by manufacturers, dealers, or importers of firearms.
(c) Enforcement.—
(1) Unfair or deceptive acts or practices.—A violation of a regulation promulgated under subsection (b) shall be treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)).
(2) Powers of the commission.—
(A) In general.—The Commission shall enforce the regulations promulgated under subsection (b) in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this Act.
(B) Privileges and immunities.—Any person who violates a regulation promulgated under subsection (b) shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.).
(C) Authority preserved.—Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the authority of the Commission under any other provision of law.
(d) Definitions.—In this section:
(1) Commission.—The term “Commission” means the Federal Trade Commission.
(2) Firearm; importer; manufacturer; dealer.—The terms “firearm”, “importer”, “manufacturer”, and “dealer” have the meanings given such terms in section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code. <all>
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