Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act

House Votes

This bill raises and clarifies penalties for people who break a federal gun possession law and already have a serious criminal record. If someone is convicted of violating that law and has three or more past “serious felony” convictions from different incidents, the judge must give a prison sentence of 15 to 30 years. The court cannot give probation or suspend that sentence.

A “serious felony” means a crime that has a maximum possible sentence of at least 10 years, or a set of convictions handled together where the judge ordered a total of at least 10 years, even if the person didn’t serve all that time. These changes apply only to crimes committed after the law takes effect, and the bill does not create a new right to challenge past sentences under this section.

Key points

• Who is affected: People convicted of a federal gun possession offense who already have three or more serious felony convictions from separate occasions.
• What changes: Mandatory 15–30 years in prison; no probation or suspended sentence. Clear definition of “serious felony” tied to crimes with a 10-year maximum or combined sentences totaling at least 10 years.
• When: Only for offenses committed after the law is enacted; no new way to challenge earlier sentences under this law.