COOL OFF Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
- Committees
- Judiciary Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Jul 23, 2025
Bottom line
This bill mandates a 3-business-day waiting period for handgun purchases and transfers, aiming to reduce impulsive gun violence while exempting specific professional and temporary uses.
What it actually does
This bill establishes a mandatory 3-business-day waiting period before a person can receive a handgun, applying to both transfers between unlicensed individuals and sales by licensed firearms dealers. It includes specific exceptions for law enforcement, military personnel, armed private security professionals, certain temporary family loans, and temporary transfers for immediate self-defense or supervised activities like target shooting and hunting.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that waiting periods provide a crucial "cooling-off" period, preventing impulsive acts of violence, suicide, and crimes of passion. They contend that a short delay can save lives by allowing time for emotions to subside or for individuals in crisis to reconsider, without unduly burdening responsible gun owners. The exceptions included in the bill are designed to ensure that legitimate needs for immediate firearm access are not hindered.
Opponents contend
Opponents argue that waiting periods infringe upon the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens to self-defense, especially in situations requiring immediate protection. They contend that such delays can leave individuals vulnerable during emergencies and that criminals will not adhere to such laws, making them ineffective against those who intend harm. Critics also argue that the bill creates an unnecessary federal mandate that burdens legal gun ownership.
The bill is very short and easy to read, allowing ample time for evaluation of its provisions.
Section 2(a), amending 18 U.S.C. 922(aa)(1)
3-Day Waiting Period for Private Handgun Transfers
This provision makes it unlawful for individuals not licensed as firearms dealers to receive a handgun from another unlicensed person unless at least three business days have passed since the recipient first offered to take possession of the handgun. This applies to private sales or transfers between individuals, closing a potential loophole in existing federal law.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue this closes a loophole by extending waiting periods to private sales, preventing individuals from circumventing dealer-based waiting periods and enhancing public safety by ensuring a cooling-off period for all handgun acquisitions.
Critics contend
Critics contend this further restricts the rights of law-abiding citizens in private transactions, arguing it is an unnecessary burden on personal property transfers and does not deter criminals, who will simply ignore such laws.
Tradeoffs
This provision balances the desire for immediate access to firearms for self-defense against the public safety goal of preventing impulsive acts of violence in private transactions.
Section 2(b)(1), amending 18 U.S.C. 922(t)(1)
3-Day Waiting Period for Licensed Dealer Handgun Sales
This provision mandates that licensed firearms dealers must wait three business days after contacting the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) before transferring a handgun to a non-licensed individual. This extends the waiting period to all standard retail handgun purchases, ensuring a consistent delay across most commercial transactions.
Section 2(b)(2), adding 18 U.S.C. 922(t)(7)
Exceptions to the 3-Day Waiting Period
This provision outlines several specific exceptions to the 3-business-day waiting period. These include transfers to law enforcement agencies or officers, armed private security professionals, or members of the armed forces acting within their official duties. It also exempts certain temporary loans between close family members (spouses, domestic partners, parents/children, siblings, aunts/uncles/nieces/nephews, or grandparents/grandchildren) for lawful purposes. Additionally, temporary transfers necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm, and temporary transfers for activities like target shooting, hunting, trapping, or fishing are exempt, provided the transferor has no reason to believe the transferee will misuse the firearm or is prohibited from possessing one.
Defines "3 business days" as "a day on which State offices are open."
Section 2(a) and 2(b)(1)(C)
Why it matters:This is a common legislative drafting practice to define terms in context, but a casual reader might assume "business days" refers to federal business days or simply weekdays, missing the state-specific dependency.
Case for: Proponents would argue this provides clarity and consistency, ensuring the waiting period accounts for state-specific holidays or closures, making it practical for local implementation and avoiding conflicts with state government schedules.
Case against: Critics might argue that tying the definition to state office operations could lead to varying interpretations or inconsistencies across states, or that it could unintentionally extend the waiting period beyond three calendar days if state offices are closed for multiple days, creating an unpredictable delay.
Estimated impact: This definition could slightly extend the waiting period in states with more holidays or closures, impacting the timing of handgun receipts for all affected individuals.