Sponsors (83)
The bill aims to improve public safety and enforcement by restricting certain semi‑automatic firearms and large‑capacity devices and funding ATF oversight, but does so at the cost of substantial economic impacts on owners and businesses, new criminal penalties and uncertainty for hobbyists and sellers, and increased administrative and oversight trade‑offs.
Communities and law enforcement: the bill reduces civilian availability of certain gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and large-capacity feeding devices through prohibitions, buy‑backs, and manufacturer pre-approval, which could lower the risk of mass-shooting incidents and other firearm-related harms.
Courts, regulators, and law-enforcement: clearer statutory definitions (e.g., "semi-automatic," "gas-operated," "large capacity") and formalized lists reduce legal ambiguity and help consistent enforcement of federal firearms law.
Residents and state/local governments: Byrne grant eligibility for buy‑backs and authorization to pay individuals for surrendered covered weapons makes it easier to run voluntary buy‑back programs and provides a financial incentive for people to turn in prohibited items.
Owners, retailers, and manufacturers: immediate market losses, potential forfeiture, increased application fees, review delays, and higher compliance costs reduce resale value and raise prices for buyers and small businesses.
Individuals and taxpayers: new criminal prohibitions, misdemeanor penalties, and enhanced felony sentencing expose owners to incarceration, large fines, and collateral consequences (employment, housing), increasing justice-system costs and risks of disproportionate punishment.
Lawful gun owners and veterans: a broad prohibition coupled with significant delegated agency discretion to list banned models could curtail lawful firearm options and force owners into litigation to challenge agency decisions.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Bans certain gas‑operated semi‑automatic firearms and large‑capacity feeding devices in interstate commerce, creates an ATF prohibited‑list and preapproval process, adds penalties, and permits Byrne grant buybacks.
Official title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to restrict the possession of certain firearms, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 9, 2025 by Lucy Mcbath · Last progress April 9, 2025
Prohibits the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, receipt, and possession of specified "gas‑operated" semi‑automatic firearms and certain large‑capacity ammunition feeding devices in interstate or foreign commerce, creates criminal penalties for violations, and requires the ATF to publish and maintain a prohibited‑firearm list and a preapproval process for newly designed semi‑automatic firearms. It also authorizes Byrne Program grant funds to be used for buyback compensation for these firearms and feeding devices, directs fee and tax receipts into a new Firearm Safety Trust Fund to support administration, and establishes administrative appeal and limited judicial review procedures.