Criminal Justice (Firearms)

in committee · United States · House Feb 2, 2026

HR 4242: Innovate Less Lethal to De-Escalate Tax Modernization Act

This bill exempts certain less-than-lethal projectile devices from federal sales taxes and National Firearms Act restrictions. It directly affects manufacturers, importers, and producers of these devices, which are defined as non-lethal tools (like rubber bullets or beanbag rounds) designed not to cause serious injury and unable to be easily converted to use standard firearm ammunition. Key mechanisms include a 90-day classification process for manufacturers seeking exemption, an annual public list of approved devices, and annual congressional reports on devices excluded from the exemption. The policy change applies to devices meeting specific safety criteria, such as projectile velocity limits and design features preventing misuse as conventional weapons.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill promotes less-lethal alternatives to reduce serious injury in law enforcement, aligning with criminal justice reform and public safety improvements.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Dec 11, 2025

S 3458: Background Check Completion Act of 2025

This bill amends federal law to remove a specific deadline for completing background checks on firearm purchases. It deletes the requirement that background checks must be completed within 10 business days, as previously established under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. The change directly affects firearm sellers (such as licensed dealers) who conduct these checks, removing a strict timeline for completing the process. The bill focuses on technical adjustments to existing background check procedures without altering the underlying requirements for the checks themselves.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves 10-day deadline for firearm background checks, weakening a key safety measure to prevent gun violence under criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Jun 24, 2025

S 2157: Gun Violence Prevention Through Financial Intelligence Act

This bill directs FinCEN (the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network) to request specific financial data from banks and other financial institutions within one year. The goal is to develop an advisory identifying how homegrown extremists and domestic terrorists obtain firearms, and how the gun market is exploited to fuel gun violence. FinCEN must consult with the FBI, ATF, and gun sellers before gathering data, and must issue the advisory within 540 days - or if insufficient data is collected, submit a detailed report to Congress explaining the gaps. The bill directly affects financial institutions (by requiring data sharing) and indirectly impacts gun sellers (through consultation).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill targets gun violence prevention via law enforcement data collection, supporting criminal justice by enhancing law enforcement capabilities to address a core issue.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

Track

in committee · United States · House Jul 15, 2026

HR 3100: To amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to ensure that businesses and organizations that work with vulnerable populations are able to request background checks for their contractors who work with those populations, as well as for individuals that the businesses or organizations license or certify to provide care for those populations.

HR 3100 amends the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to expand background check requirements. It allows businesses and organizations working with vulnerable populations (like children or elderly individuals) to request background checks for their contractors and for people they license or certify to provide care. The bill modifies the law to include individuals "contracted with" or "licensed/certified by" these organizations as those requiring background checks. This change directly affects organizations serving vulnerable groups, their contractors, and licensed care providers by broadening the scope of background checks mandated under the Act.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands background checks for contractors/licensed personnel working with vulnerable populations, preventing potential crimes and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of safety and prevention.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Feb 3, 2025

S 367: Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2025

The Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2025 bans the civilian sale, transfer, or possession of rifles capable of firing .50 caliber ammunition, directly affecting individuals and businesses handling these weapons. It includes exceptions for government use and rifles owned before the law's enactment, and requires owners to register such rifles with the federal registry within 12 months without fees. The bill also adds new liability for sellers who knowingly transfer these rifles to foreign narcotics traffickers or individuals designated under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Act. Additionally, it expands firearm sales reporting to include rifles and creates a new federal prohibition on firearm transfers to designated foreign traffickers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans .50 cal rifles to prevent cartel access, strengthening law enforcement against drug trafficking.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Feb 25, 2025

S 726: Ethan's Law

S 726, titled "Ethan's Law," requires gun owners to store firearms securely in homes where minors (under 18) or individuals ineligible to own guns (per federal/state law) reside. It makes unsecured storage unlawful if a person "knows or reasonably should know" access is possible, with exceptions for gun safes, secure locations, or carrying firearms on one's person. Violations incur $500 fines per offense, and enhanced penalties apply if injury or death occurs. The bill also creates a federal grant program to support states with similar secure-storage laws and states that non-compliance constitutes negligence. This law directly affects households with minors or prohibited individuals, aiming to reduce accidental shootings, youth access, and firearm thefts.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents gun access by minors, reducing firearm-related incidents and aligning with crime prevention in criminal justice reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

Track

in committee · United States · House Feb 25, 2025

HR 1564: Ethan's Law

Ethan's Law requires gun owners to store firearms securely in homes where minors live or where residents are legally prohibited from owning guns. It makes it unlawful to leave firearms unsecured if a minor or ineligible person could access them, with fines of $500 per violation and harsher penalties if injury or death occurs. The bill creates a federal grant program to help states implement similar secure storage laws and treats unsafe storage as negligence in legal cases. It directly affects households with children or residents who cannot legally possess firearms, aiming to reduce accidental shootings and unauthorized access.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires secure gun storage to prevent access by minors/ineligible persons, reducing gun violence incidents and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

Track

in committee · United States · House Apr 3, 2025

HR 2648: Secure Background Checks Act of 2025

HR 2648, the Secure Background Checks Act of 2025, amends federal law to add two new restrictions to firearm purchase background checks. It prohibits individuals who fail to meet their state's age requirements or who do not reside in (or maintain a business in) the state where the gun seller operates, unless an exception applies. The bill directly affects prospective gun buyers who would now be blocked from purchasing firearms under these new criteria. These changes modify existing provisions in Title 18 of the U.S. Code to expand the categories of people barred from gun purchases based on state residency and age compliance.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds firearm background check restrictions to prevent prohibited purchases, enhancing public safety within criminal justice framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

Track

in committee · United States · House Jun 30, 2025

HR 4251: Protecting Americans from Reckless Gun Dealers Act of 2025

HR 4251, the *Protecting Americans from Reckless Gun Dealers Act of 2025*, requires the Attorney General to submit annual reports to Congress detailing Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) license inspections and enforcement actions against gun dealers. The reports must include monthly inspection counts, serious violations (like refusing inspections or straw sales), license revocations or surrenders, and reasons for not revoking licenses. It also mandates a GAO study evaluating ATF’s enforcement of firearm dealer licensing, focusing on systemic failures, geographic disparities, and revocation timelines. This bill directly affects gun dealers (licensees) and ATF operations by increasing transparency and accountability in license oversight.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates ATF inspection reporting and GAO study to strengthen gun dealer oversight, enhancing law enforcement accountability in criminal justice enforcement.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

Track

in committee · United States · House Nov 12, 2025

HR 6035: Second Amendment Restoration Act of 2025

HR 6035, the Second Amendment Restoration Act of 2025, would repeal specific firearm-related provisions from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (2022), including rules on background checks and gun sales, and restore federal gun laws as they existed before that law was enacted. It also reverses an education-related provision affecting school safety grants under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The bill directly affects federal regulations governing gun ownership and school safety funding by reverting to pre-2022 legal standards. It does not create new gun laws but undoes specific changes made by the 2022 law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRepeals gun control provisions from Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (2022), a criminal justice reform bill, opposing background checks and school safety grants related to gun violence prevention.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationReverses ESEA school safety grants, defunding education programs related to school safety as part of gun law repeal.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms School Safety

Track