H.R. 923

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To prohibit the importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of .50 caliber rifles, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · February 4, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Castro of Texas

H.R. 923

SEC. 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2025.

SEC. 2. Prohibition on rifles capable of firing .50 caliber ammunition

(a) In general
- of title 18, United States Code, is amended— Chapter 44
- In general
  - in section 922, by adding at the end the following:
    - (aa) Rifles capable of firing .50 caliber ammunition
      - (1) In general
        
        Except as provided in paragraph (2), it shall be unlawful for any person to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, a rifle capable of firing .50 caliber ammunition.
        
        In general
      - (2) Exceptions
        
        (A) Government use
        
        Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the importation for, manufacture for, sale to, transfer to, or possession by the United States, a department or agency of the United States, a State, or a department, agency, or political subdivision of a State, of a rifle capable of firing .50 caliber ammunition.
        
        Government use
        
        (B) Grandfathered rifles
        
        Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the sale, transfer, or possession of any rifle otherwise lawfully possessed on or before the date of enactment of the .
  - in section 924(a)(1)(B), by striking or (q)and inserting (q), or (aa).
(b) Inclusion of certain rifles as firearms under National Firearms Act
- (1) In general
  - of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking and inserting . Section 5845(a)
- (2) Effective date
  - (A) In general
    - Subject to subparagraph (B), the amendments made by this subsection shall take effect on the date which is 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act.
  - (B) Registration
    - (i) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A) or any other provision of law, any person possessing a rifle which is capable of firing .50 caliber ammunition which is not registered to such person in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record shall register each such rifle so possessed with the Secretary in such form and manner as the Secretary may require within the 12-month period immediately following the date of enactment of this Act. No fee or tax shall be imposed with respect to any registration required under this subparagraph.
    - (ii) Any registration described in clause (i) shall become a part of the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. No information or evidence required to be submitted or retained by a natural person to register a firearm under this subparagraph shall be used, directly or indirectly, as evidence against such person in any criminal proceeding with respect to a prior or concurrent violation of law.
  - (C) Definitions
    - In this paragraph:
      - (i) The term National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record means the registry established pursuant to of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. section 5841
      - National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record
      - (ii) The term has the same meaning given such term under of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Secretary section 7701(a)(11)(B)
      - Secretary

SEC. 3. Exception to coverage under Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act

Section 4(5)(A) of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act () is amended— 15 U.S.C. 7903(5)(A)
- in clause (v), by striking or at the end;
- in clause (vi), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
  - (vii) an action brought against a manufacturer or seller that knowingly sells or transfers a qualified product, or attempts or conspires to do so, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the transaction is prohibited under section 805(c) of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (). 21 U.S.C. 1904(c)
- by adding at the end the following:

SEC. 4. Federal firearm prohibitor for significant foreign narcotics traffickers and certain other foreign persons

(a) In general
- Section 922(d) of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
- In general
  - in paragraph (10), by striking or at the end;
  - by redesignating paragraph (11) as paragraph (12);
    - is—
      - a significant foreign narcotics trafficker publicly identified by the President in a report under subsection (b) or (h)(1) of section 804 of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (); or 21 U.S.C. 1903
      - a foreign person designated by the Secretary of the Treasury under section 805(b) of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (); or 21 U.S.C. 1904(b)
  - by inserting after paragraph (10) the following:
  - in paragraph (12), as so redesignated, by striking (10)and inserting (11).
(b) Conforming amendments relating to NICS
- Section 103 of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act () is amended— 34 U.S.C. 40901
  - in subsection (b)(2)(D), by inserting after ;
  - in subsection (e)(1)—
    - in subparagraph (A), by inserting after ;
    - in subparagraph (C), by inserting after ;
    - in subparagraph (F)(iii)(I), by striking (g) or (n)and inserting (d)(11), (g), or (n); and
    - in subparagraph (G)(i), by striking (g) or (n)and inserting (d)(11), (g), or (n);
  - in subsection (g), by inserting after ; and
  - in subsection (i)(2)—
    - by striking persons,and inserting persons who are; and
    - by inserting before the period at the end the following: .

SEC. 5. Adding rifles to multiple firearm sales reporting requirements

Section 923(g)(3)(A) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking pistols, or revolvers, or any combination of pistols and revolversand inserting pistols, revolvers, or rifles, or any combination of pistols, revolvers, and rifles.