Second Amendment Restoration Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6035
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-12: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 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
- 2026-03-26T08:06:27Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Second Amendment Restoration Act of 2025 aims to repeal the firearm-related provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) of 2022. It seeks to eliminate what the bill describes as unnecessary restrictions on Second Amendment rights—the constitutional guarantee allowing law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms—while arguing these provisions do not improve public safety. The goal is to restore prior legal protections and redirect federal focus toward addressing underlying causes of violence, such as mental health or crime prevention.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: The bill is titled the "Second Amendment Restoration Act of 2025."
- Congressional Findings:
- Affirms the Second Amendment's protection of gun rights for law-abiding individuals.
- States that BSCA's firearm rules create undue burdens without clear safety benefits.
- Emphasizes restoring constitutional rights and prioritizing root causes of violence over new restrictions.
- Repeals:
- Fully repeals Title II of Division A of the BSCA, which covers firearm regulations (e.g., enhanced background checks, funding for state programs).
- Repeals Subtitle D of Title III of Division A, which amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) related to firearms in schools.
- Restoration of Prior Law:
- Reverts specific sections of federal laws to their pre-BSCA state, including:
- Parts of Title 18 U.S. Code (e.g., sections 921, 922, 924 on firearms definitions, prohibitions, and penalties).
- Amendments to the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (background checks for gun purchases).
- Changes to the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act (federal grants for law enforcement).
- Section 534 of Title 28 U.S. Code (Department of Justice data collection).
- ESEA provisions on school safety and firearms.
- Removes references to new sections (932, 933, 934) from the table of contents in Title 18.
- Funding Elimination: Strikes language in the BSCA's supplemental appropriations that funds expansion of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to include more juvenile records for disqualifying gun purchases.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill would reverse key BSCA reforms enacted in 2022 following mass shootings:
- Background Checks: Undoes expanded checks for buyers under 21, which required reviewing juvenile and mental health records.
- "Boyfriend Loophole" Closure: Reinstates the prior exemption allowing domestic abusers in non-marital relationships to possess guns.
- State Incentives: Removes federal grants encouraging states to report more juvenile delinquency records to NICS and to implement "red flag" laws (temporary gun removal from at-risk individuals).
- School and Data Provisions: Restores pre-BSCA rules on firearm storage in schools and federal reporting on gun trafficking.
Overall, it reverts U.S. gun laws to their 2022 status quo, eliminating new federal mandates and funding tied to enhanced firearm controls.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Law-abiding gun owners and buyers (especially younger adults) would face fewer restrictions on purchasing firearms, potentially easing access but raising concerns about reduced safeguards against high-risk individuals. Domestic violence survivors might lose protections from abusive partners retaining guns.
- On Government Agencies: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), FBI (via NICS), and Department of Justice would see reduced administrative burdens and funding cuts for background check expansions and data sharing. State law enforcement and education departments could lose grants for gun violence prevention programs.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could affect U.S. credibility in global discussions on arms control or violence prevention treaties.
- Broader Effects: May lead to increased gun availability, potentially influencing crime rates or school safety, though the bill argues it refocuses efforts on violence root causes without specifying how.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Gun Rights Advocates and Owners: Primary beneficiaries, including individuals, the National Rifle Association (NRA), and Second Amendment supporters who view BSCA provisions as overreach.
- Law Enforcement and Justice Agencies: Impacted by changes to background checks, data reporting, and funding; some may support easier enforcement, while others rely on BSCA tools for public safety.
- Victims' Rights Groups and Domestic Abuse Survivors: Potentially harmed by reinstating loopholes for abusers.
- Educators and Schools: Affected by repealed ESEA changes on firearm policies in educational settings.
- States and Local Governments: Lose incentives for implementing gun safety measures, affecting varying state-level gun laws.
- Federal Policymakers: Sponsors (Republican House members) represent pro-gun districts; opponents may include gun control advocates like Everytown for Gun Safety.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Constitutional: Directly invokes the Second Amendment, framing repeals as a restoration of individual rights against federal "burdens." Could spark legal challenges testing the balance between gun rights and public safety regulations under Supreme Court precedents like New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022), which expanded gun carry rights.
- Legal: By restoring prior statutes verbatim, it avoids creating new ambiguities but may lead to litigation over implementation, such as how states handle reverted NICS reporting. No new penalties or definitions are introduced.
- Political: Highlights partisan divides on gun control; introduced by conservative lawmakers in a Republican-led House, it signals opposition to Biden-era reforms. If passed, it could energize gun rights voters but face Senate resistance or veto, underscoring ongoing debates post-mass shootings. Referred to Judiciary and Education committees for review.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (15)
Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Clyde, Andrew S. [R-GA-9], Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26], Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21], Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9], Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6], Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Collins, Mike [R-GA-10], Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6], Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3], Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3], Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4], Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3], Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4]
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-12: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 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.
- 2025-11-12: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 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.
- 2025-11-12: Introduced in House
- 2025-11-12: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Second Amendment Restoration Act of 2025 — issued 2025-11-12 — PDF (4 pages)