Assault Weapons Ban of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3115
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-07T08:05:41Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 aims to regulate semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices (commonly called high-capacity magazines) by prohibiting their manufacture, sale, import, transfer, and possession, while affirming that the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms is not absolute. It seeks to reduce gun violence by targeting firearms and accessories often associated with mass shootings and high-casualty incidents.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: Expands federal firearm definitions in 18 U.S.C. § 921(a) to include:
- Semiautomatic pistols, shotguns, and assault weapons (e.g., rifles with detachable magazines and features like pistol grips, folding stocks, or grenade launchers; specific models like AK-47 variants, AR-15s, and others).
- Large-capacity ammunition feeding devices (devices holding more than 15 rounds for rifles/pistols or 5 rounds for shotguns, excluding certain .22 caliber tubular magazines).
- Related terms like "barrel shroud" (a heat-protecting cover around the barrel), "pistol grip," "threaded barrel" (for attaching silencers), and "grandfathered semiautomatic assault weapon" (pre-existing lawful weapons exempt from the ban).
- Prohibitions:
- Bans the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity devices in interstate or foreign commerce (18 U.S.C. § 922(v) and (w)).
- Includes parts or combinations that could assemble such weapons, belt-fed semiautomatics, and specific listed rifles, pistols, and shotguns (e.g., AK types, AR types, UZI variants).
- Requires secure storage for grandfathered weapons to prevent access by prohibited persons (e.g., felons, those with domestic violence convictions) (18 U.S.C. § 922(aa)).
- Grandfather Clause and Exceptions:
- Lawfully owned semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity devices before enactment are exempt from the ban but cannot be transferred without a background check (via a licensed dealer).
- Exceptions apply to government entities, qualified law enforcement officers (including retired and campus officers), licensed manufacturers/importers for testing, and certain nuclear facility security.
- Manually operated firearms (e.g., bolt-action, pump-action), antiques, permanently inoperable guns, and rimfire-only weapons are excluded.
- Appendix A lists exempted firearms (e.g., certain hunting rifles like the Browning BAR, lever-actions like the Winchester Model 94, and traditional shotguns).
- Markings and Tracking:
- New semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity devices must have serial numbers including manufacture date.
- The Attorney General must track and report annually on assault weapons used in crimes.
- Transfers and Background Checks:
- Private transfers of grandfathered weapons require a licensed dealer to conduct a background check (18 U.S.C. § 922(t)), effective 90 days post-enactment; temporary loans for target shooting at licensed ranges are allowed.
- Repeals and redesignates prior background check provisions for consistency.
- Penalties and Enforcement:
- Violations carry penalties under 18 U.S.C. § 924 (up to 10 years imprisonment for unlawful possession/transfer).
- Extends seizure and forfeiture rules to banned items.
- Buy-Back Programs: Allows Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (34 U.S.C. § 10152) to fund voluntary surrender programs for these weapons and devices.
- Severability: If any part is ruled unconstitutional, the rest remains in effect.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Revives and broadens the expired 1994 federal assault weapons ban by adding more specific firearm models, covering semiautomatic pistols and shotguns explicitly, and lowering magazine limits (from 10 rounds in 1994 to 15/5 here).
- Introduces mandatory background checks for private transfers of grandfathered weapons, closing a loophole in current law (which requires checks only for dealer sales).
- Adds secure storage requirements for grandfathered weapons, absent in prior law.
- Expands exemptions for law enforcement and creates a public crime-tracking database for assault weapons.
- Updates penalties and forfeiture to include new subsections (v, w, aa) in 18 U.S.C. § 922.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Attorney General gain responsibilities for enforcement, tracking, and regulations (e.g., dealer fees for transfers). Local law enforcement benefits from exemptions but may face increased workload for buy-backs or seizures. Federal grants could fund state/local buy-back programs, potentially reducing illegal weapons.
- On Citizens: Law-abiding gun owners with pre-enactment weapons retain possession but face restrictions on transfers/sales (requiring dealer involvement) and storage rules, limiting inheritance or gifting without checks. Prohibited persons (e.g., felons) gain indirect protection via storage mandates. Could reduce access to certain firearms for hunting/sport but disrupt markets for collectors and enthusiasts.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, but the import ban could affect trade with foreign manufacturers (e.g., of AK or AR variants), potentially straining relations with arms-exporting countries if not grandfathered.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Gun Owners and Collectors: Restricted from acquiring or transferring banned items; grandfathered owners must comply with storage and check rules.
- Firearm Manufacturers and Dealers: Prohibited from producing/selling new assault weapons or large-capacity devices; licensed dealers handle transfers but face new record-keeping limits.
- Law Enforcement and Security Personnel: Exempted for official use, including retired officers and campus police; benefits from crime-tracking data.
- Prohibited Individuals: Indirectly protected by storage requirements preventing access to grandfathered weapons.
- Advocacy Groups: Gun rights organizations (e.g., NRA) may oppose as infringing on Second Amendment rights; gun control groups (e.g., Everytown) may support for public safety.
- Government and Taxpayers: Federal agencies enforce via regulations; Byrne Grants redistribute funds for buy-backs, potentially costing millions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal/Constitutional: Likely to face Second Amendment challenges, similar to the 1994 ban (upheld in some courts but expired). The grandfather clause and exceptions aim to balance public safety with rights, but definitions of "assault weapons" could be contested as vague or overbroad. Secure storage rules may raise privacy concerns under the Fourth Amendment.
- Political: Introduced by a large bipartisan group of House Democrats, it reflects ongoing debates on gun control post-mass shootings. Passage could energize partisan divides, with Republicans viewing it as overreach and Democrats as necessary reform. Severability clause protects against partial invalidation, but implementation via regulations gives the executive branch flexibility.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (187)
Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-33], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31], Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7], Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4], Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] and 137 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-04-30: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-30: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 — issued 2025-04-30 — PDF (126 pages)