BUMP Act
- Bill Number
- S. 1374
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-09: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-23T18:28:56Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S. 1374: Banning Unlawful Machinegun Parts Act (BUMP Act)
Purpose
This bill aims to close loopholes in federal gun laws by banning devices and modifications that convert semiautomatic firearms (guns that fire one round per trigger pull) into weapons that mimic the rapid fire of machineguns (guns that fire continuously while the trigger is held). It seeks to enhance public safety by prohibiting these "conversion devices" and illegal alterations, building on existing restrictions under the National Firearms Act and other statutes.
Key Provisions
- Definition of Semiautomatic Firearm: Adds a clear definition in 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(31) to describe a semiautomatic firearm as one that uses energy from the fired cartridge to reload and prepare for the next shot but requires a separate trigger action for each round, excluding machineguns.
- Prohibitions (18 U.S.C. § 922(v)): Starting 120 days after enactment, bans the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, receipt, or possession of:
- Devices (manual, power-driven, or electronic) designed to attach to semiautomatic firearms and significantly increase their firing rate or simulate machinegun action (e.g., bump stocks or similar).
- Parts or combinations that eliminate separate trigger movements to boost firing speed.
- Semiautomatic firearms modified to increase firing rate or mimic machineguns.
- Registration Requirement: Owners of legally modified semiautomatic firearms possessed before the 120-day deadline must register them under the Internal Revenue Code's firearms registration process (26 U.S.C. § 5841). Registered items can be lawfully transferred or possessed.
- Exceptions:
- Does not apply to imports, manufacturing, sales, transfers, or possession by federal, state, tribal governments, or their agencies/subdivisions.
- Allows continued possession and transfer of pre-enactment modified firearms if registered.
- Penalties: Violations fall under 18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(2), treating them similarly to other firearms offenses (up to 10 years imprisonment and fines).
- Amendment to National Firearms Act (26 U.S.C. § 5845(a)): Classifies modified semiautomatic firearms (as defined) as "firearms" under the Act, subjecting them to taxation, registration, and regulation like other restricted weapons.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands the definition of regulated items beyond traditional machineguns by targeting conversion devices and modifications that achieve similar effects without reclassifying the base firearm as a machinegun.
- Introduces a 120-day grace period for registration of existing modified firearms, unlike prior laws that offered no such amnesty for emerging technologies like bump stocks (banned by ATF rule in 2019 but facing legal challenges).
- Integrates these prohibitions into the core firearms chapter (Chapter 44 of Title 18), linking them directly to interstate commerce and aligning with the National Firearms Act for enforcement consistency.
- Shifts some modified semiautomatics into NFA oversight, requiring background checks, taxes, and serial numbers for previously unregulated items.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Law-abiding gun owners with affected devices or modifications must register or dispose of them within 120 days, potentially leading to increased compliance costs (e.g., registration fees) and restrictions on personal firearm use. Non-compliance could result in felony charges.
- On Government Agencies: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) will handle enforcement, registration processing, and seizures, increasing workload and resource needs. State and local law enforcement may assist in compliance checks.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could affect U.S. exports of firearms or parts if manufacturers adapt to comply, and imports of prohibited devices from abroad would be blocked.
- Broader effects include reduced availability of high-rate-of-fire accessories, potentially decreasing risks in mass shootings but raising concerns about access for lawful self-defense or sport shooting.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Gun Owners and Enthusiasts: Individuals possessing semiautomatic rifles, pistols, or related accessories; required to register or relinquish items.
- Firearms Manufacturers and Sellers: Companies producing guns, parts, or devices; face bans on new production/sales, possible inventory losses, and need to redesign products.
- Law Enforcement and Regulators: Federal (ATF, DOJ) and state agencies tasked with implementation, inspections, and prosecutions.
- Advocacy Groups: Pro-gun organizations (e.g., NRA) may oppose as overreach; gun control advocates (e.g., Everytown) likely support for safety gains.
- Government Entities: Exempted but may use regulated items for official purposes.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens ATF authority over "functionally equivalent" weapons, potentially resolving ambiguities from court rulings (e.g., challenges to bump stock bans). Violations carry severe penalties, but exemptions preserve government access.
- Constitutional: Could spark Second Amendment lawsuits claiming infringement on individual rights to bear arms, especially if courts view modifications as non-"arms" or essential for self-defense; contrasts with Supreme Court precedents upholding reasonable regulations on dangerous weapons.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Democrats and some Republicans/Independents) signals cross-aisle support for targeted gun control post-mass shootings, but may fuel debates on federal overreach versus public safety. Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee, passage depends on broader gun reform dynamics.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (30)
Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV], Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV], Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA], Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI], Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL], Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME], Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI], Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ], Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-09: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-04-09: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Banning Unlawful Machinegun Parts Act — issued 2025-04-09 — PDF (4 pages)