Sponsors (13)
The bill protects possession and manufacture of higher-capacity magazines and limits federal enforcement while clarifying statutory definitions, but it removes local regulatory tools and may increase public-safety risks and transitional legal disputes.
State and local governments and residents in jurisdictions that allow higher-capacity magazines can continue possessing, manufacturing, and selling them without federal penalty because federal enforcement and penalties for capacity-based magazine restrictions are barred.
People and entities subject to 18 U.S.C. § 921(a) benefit from clearer federal definitions of 'firearm magazine' and 'capacity', reducing ambiguity and the likelihood of inconsistent enforcement or litigation over what devices are regulated.
Communities and state/local governments that adopted limits on high-capacity magazines lose the ability to enforce those safety rules and other local policy tools, effectively nullifying local restrictions and reducing local control over firearm regulation.
Law enforcement and families in affected communities may face higher risks of mass-shooting casualties if higher-capacity magazines become more available, potentially worsening public-safety and health outcomes.
Courts, law enforcement, and state/local governments may face increased litigation and enforcement confusion during the law's short transition/30-day effective period, imposing administrative burdens and legal uncertainty.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits federal, state, and local limits or penalties based on firearm magazine capacity and defines "firearm magazine" and "capacity."
Official title: Amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to prohibit capacity-based restrictions on firearm magazines, and for other purposes.
Introduced September 16, 2025 by James Risch · Last progress September 16, 2025
Prohibits federal officers and employees from issuing or enforcing any rule that limits or bans firearm magazines based on how many rounds they hold, and invalidates state and local laws that impose capacity-based limits or penalties. It also defines "firearm magazine" and "capacity" in federal law and makes these changes effective 30 days after enactment.