Sponsors (85)
The bill aims to reduce civilian access to certain semi-automatic firearms and large-capacity feeding devices and strengthen enforcement and buy‑back tools to improve public safety, but it does so at the cost of substantial market disruption, compliance burdens, increased penalties with civil‑liberty implications, and new government discretion and funding arrangements.
Communities and law enforcement: reduced civilian availability of certain gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and large-capacity feeding devices (through prohibitions, buy‑backs, and pre-approval rules) which could lower the risk of mass-shooting incidents and improve public safety.
State and local governments: explicit authority to use Byrne grant funds to run buy‑backs and pay people who surrender covered firearms/magazines, making buy‑back programs easier to administer.
Law enforcement and prosecutors: clearer statutory definitions and enhanced penalties for prohibited possession/use give investigators and prosecutors stronger and clearer tools to deter and punish unlawful possession and use.
Owners and retailers: immediate market loss, devaluation, and possible forfeiture risk for newly prohibited gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and high-capacity feeding devices, and limits on interstate resale of pre-enactment large-capacity devices.
Manufacturers and buyers: new application costs, fees, and lengthy ATF review timelines (including a 240‑day baseline) raise production costs and are likely to increase consumer prices or slow product availability.
Hobbyists, gunsmiths, and parts sellers: added criminal prohibitions tied to knowledge/reasonable‑cause standards and marking/recordkeeping requirements create compliance uncertainty and legal risk about which parts or combinations are illegal.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Bans certain 'gas‑operated' semi‑automatic firearms and large‑capacity feeding devices, requires ATF to list prohibited models, creates pre‑approval, sets penalties, and allows Byrne buyback funding.
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, manufacture, sale, transfer, and possession of certain "gas‑operated" semi‑automatic firearms and large‑capacity ammunition feeding devices, creates criminal penalties for violations, and requires the ATF to publish and maintain a prohibited‑firearm list and to review manufacturer applications. It also authorizes Byrne Program grant funds to be used for buyback compensation for covered firearms and magazines and creates a Firearm Safety Trust Fund to receive related fees and taxes. The bill adds precise statutory definitions for terms like “semi‑automatic firearm,” “gas‑operated,” and “large capacity ammunition feeding device,” establishes application, review, and appeal procedures for ATF decisions (including fees and timelines), and sets new criminal and enhanced sentencing provisions for unlawful possession and related felonies.