Sponsors (146)
The bill aims to reduce the availability of high‑capacity ammunition feeding devices and strengthen penalties to improve public safety, but it increases criminal exposure and compliance costs for owners, manufacturers, and sellers and raises government enforcement and program costs.
Students, teachers, and community residents: reduced availability of large‑capacity magazines through interstate sales restrictions, buy‑backs, and enhanced penalties could lower the risk of mass‑shooting harm in schools and public places.
Law enforcement and prosecutors: clearer statutory definitions of large‑capacity ammunition feeding devices reduce ambiguity about what is prohibited, aiding more uniform application of the law and compliance efforts.
State and local policing/campus security: retention of authorized official access to LCAFDs preserves law‑enforcement capabilities for policing and protecting institutions while restricting private commercial flows.
Private gun owners and sellers: expanded and clarified definitions (including devices that can be 'readily restored or converted') create greater criminal liability and legal uncertainty for owners near the 15‑round threshold, increasing risk of prosecution or loss of commonly used magazines.
Taxpayers and the justice system: broader application of enhanced penalties and increased enforcement/forfeiture could raise incarceration and court costs and produce additional administrative burdens for courts and law‑enforcement agencies.
Accessory manufacturers, sellers, and hobbyists: tighter definitions and interstate commerce restrictions reduce market access, raise compliance costs, and may expose small manufacturers to criminal or civil risk.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits interstate/foreign import, sale, manufacture, transfer, and possession of large-capacity ammunition feeding devices (>15 rounds or readily converted), with limited exemptions and Byrne-funded buy-back payments.
Introduced February 27, 2025 by Diana DeGette · Last progress February 27, 2025
Prohibits the interstate or foreign import, sale, manufacture, transfer, and possession of large-capacity ammunition feeding devices (magazines, belts, drums, etc. that hold or can be readily converted to hold more than 15 rounds), while carving out specific exemptions for existing owners, federal/state/local and qualified law enforcement (including defined campus officers), certain federal licensees, limited retired-officer uses, and authorized manufacturer testing. It also makes these devices subject to criminal penalties and seizure/forfeiture, and allows Byrne program grant funds to be used to compensate people who surrender covered devices under buy-back programs.