Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2799
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-09: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T23:41:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The "Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act of 2025" aims to close gaps in federal gun laws by banning devices and modifications that allow semiautomatic firearms (guns that fire one round per trigger pull) to mimic the rapid fire of machineguns (guns that continue firing while the trigger is held). It targets items like bump stocks, which use recoil to speed up firing without altering the gun's core mechanics.
Key Provisions
- Definition of Semiautomatic Firearm: Adds a clear definition to U.S. law (18 U.S.C. § 921(a)) describing a semiautomatic firearm as one that fires one cartridge per trigger action, automatically reloads using the previous shot's energy, but requires a separate trigger movement for each shot and is not a machinegun.
- Prohibitions (18 U.S.C. § 922(v)): Starting 120 days after enactment, bans importing, selling, making, transferring, receiving, or possessing:
- Devices (manual, powered, or electronic) attached to semiautomatic firearms that significantly increase the firing rate or simulate a machinegun's action.
- Parts or combinations that speed up firing by removing the need for separate trigger pulls per shot.
- Semiautomatic firearms modified to increase firing rate or mimic machineguns.
- Registration Requirement: Owners of lawfully modified semiautomatic firearms possessed before enactment must register them within 120 days under the National Firearms Act (using Internal Revenue Code procedures, like serial number logging and tax stamps).
- Exceptions:
- Does not apply to U.S. government, state, tribal, or local agencies.
- Allows continued possession and transfer of pre-enactment modified firearms if registered.
- Penalties: Violations are treated as felonies under 18 U.S.C. § 924(a), with potential fines and up to 10 years in prison.
- National Firearms Act Update (26 U.S.C. § 5845): Classifies modified semiautomatic firearms as regulated items (like machineguns), requiring registration, taxes, and oversight by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands the Gun Control Act of 1968 by explicitly prohibiting bump stocks and similar devices, which were previously unregulated after a 2019 court ruling struck down an ATF ban.
- Integrates these items into the National Firearms Act of 1934, making modified semiautomatics subject to strict federal tracking and taxation, unlike before when they were often treated as unregulated accessories.
- Introduces a grace period for registration of existing items, providing a path to compliance rather than immediate confiscation.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases workload for the ATF to enforce bans, process registrations, and inspect firearms; may require updated rules and resources for compliance checks.
- On Citizens: Law-abiding gun owners with bump stocks or similar devices must register or dispose of them, facing criminal risks if non-compliant; limits access to high-rate-of-fire accessories, potentially reducing options for recreational or self-defense shooting.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, but could affect U.S. firearm exports/imports if foreign manufacturers deal in prohibited devices; aligns with global efforts to curb rapid-fire weapons in mass shootings.
- Broader effects include enhanced public safety by reducing tools linked to high-casualty incidents, though it may raise costs for compliant owners due to registration fees (e.g., $200 tax stamp per item).
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Gun Owners and Collectors: Must register or surrender modified firearms/devices, impacting hobbyists and those with legal pre-existing items.
- Firearm Manufacturers, Importers, and Sellers: Prohibited from producing or distributing banned items, potentially disrupting markets for accessories like stocks or triggers.
- Law Enforcement and ATF: Gain clearer authority to regulate and seize illegal items, aiding investigations into gun violence.
- Advocacy Groups: Pro-gun organizations may oppose restrictions on 2nd Amendment rights; gun control advocates support it for preventing mass shootings.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal authority over firearm accessories without needing new ATF rules, reducing reliance on administrative interpretations that courts have overturned; treats violations as serious crimes, enabling federal prosecutions.
- Constitutional: Could face challenges under the 2nd Amendment (right to bear arms), with debates on whether bans infringe on self-defense tools; courts may assess if restrictions are narrowly tailored to public safety, building on precedents like the 1934 machinegun ban upheld as constitutional.
- Political: Represents bipartisan gun control (introduced by Democrats and Republicans), targeting a specific "loophole" from events like the 2017 Las Vegas shooting; may influence broader debates on assault weapons but avoids sweeping changes to avoid partisan gridlock.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (150)
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6], Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1], Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] and 100 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-09: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-09: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-09: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-09 — PDF (4 pages)