Criminal Justice (Firearms)

in committee · United States · House Feb 4, 2025

HR 923: Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2025

The Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2025 prohibits civilian possession, sale, or transfer of rifles capable of firing .50 caliber ammunition, with exceptions for government use and rifles lawfully owned before the bill's enactment. It requires owners of such rifles to register them with the federal government within 12 months, without fees, and adds these rifles to the National Firearms Act registry. The bill also creates new federal firearm restrictions for significant foreign narcotics traffickers identified under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act and expands reporting requirements for rifle sales to include all rifles. This directly affects civilian rifle owners, sellers, and individuals designated as foreign narcotics traffickers.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill restricts civilian firearm ownership and expands federal registration requirements, limiting individual rights under the guise of criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy Firearms

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 11, 2026

S 4775: Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts Act

The Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts Act expands legal protections for firearm manufacturers and sellers by immediately dismissing any lawsuits currently pending against them that allege harm caused by the criminal or unlawful misuse of their products. The bill defines these protected cases as those where the injury resulted from a third party's illegal actions rather than a defect in the product itself, while explicitly excluding claims involving negligent entrustment, specific federal violations, or design defects. To enforce these protections, the law allows defendants to remove such cases from state courts to federal court and grants them the right to appeal dismissal orders immediately. Additionally, the legislation preempts state and local laws that attempt to hold these companies liable for product misuse and provides for attorney's fees for defendants who successfully assert their immunity.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill limits civil liability for firearm manufacturers regarding third-party misuse, reducing accountability for public safety harms.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms

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in committee · United States · House Jun 11, 2026

HR 9298: Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts Act

This bill, known as the Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts Act, expands legal protections for firearm manufacturers and sellers by strengthening their immunity from civil lawsuits. It requires courts to immediately dismiss any pending cases against these companies that are based on the criminal or unlawful misuse of a gun by a third party, while also clarifying that sellers are not liable for negligence in entrusting products to others. The legislation further restricts who can file such suits by prohibiting foreign governments from bringing these claims and adding a specific exception for victims under the age of 17, though it maintains immunity for cases involving design or manufacturing defects. Additionally, the bill allows companies to move these cases to federal court and grants them the right to appeal dismissal orders immediately, along with the ability to recover legal fees if they win. Finally, it preempts state and local laws that attempt to impose liability on these entities for the same types of misuse-related harms.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill restricts civil liability for gun misuse, limiting accountability and reducing remedies for victims of criminal violence.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms

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in committee · United States · House Jun 8, 2026

HR 9208: HEAR Act of 2026

The HEAR Act of 2026 makes it illegal for most people to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess firearm silencers and mufflers. The law allows exceptions for law enforcement officers, campus security personnel, nuclear facility employees, and licensed manufacturers conducting authorized testing. To help individuals comply with the new restrictions, the bill requires the Attorney General to create a nationwide buy-back program that pays people who surrender their silencers. These changes would take effect 90 days after the bill is signed into law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by banning silencers for most citizens and mandates a buy-back program to remove them, restricting lawful possession.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 3, 2026

S 4671: Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2026

The Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2026 increases penalties for individuals who knowingly violate federal laws regarding the possession of firearms by licensed dealers. Specifically, it raises the maximum prison sentence for such violations to 20 years and mandates a minimum of three years in prison if the offense occurs during a burglary of a licensed business. The law also sets a five-year minimum sentence if the violation happens during a robbery. These changes directly affect federal firearms licensees and anyone attempting to illegally possess firearms from them.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases mandatory prison sentences and expands criminal penalties for firearm violations, restricting due process and enhancing punitive measures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Firearms

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in committee · United States · Senate May 18, 2026

S 4553: Aaron Salter, Jr., Responsible Body Armor Possession Act

This bill, known as the Aaron Salter, Jr., Responsible Body Armor Possession Act, prohibits civilians from buying, owning, or possessing enhanced body armor. The law defines enhanced body armor as protective gear that meets or exceeds the ballistic resistance of RF1 armor, which includes certain helmets and shields. Exceptions are made for law enforcement officers, government agencies, and individuals who already legally owned such armor before the law takes effect. Violating this ban could result in a fine, up to five years in prison, or both penalties.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill restricts civilian access to body armor, limiting self-defense capabilities and reducing protections for individuals against violent crime.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Firearms

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in committee · United States · House May 7, 2026

HR 8678: Zero Tolerance for Political Violence Act of 2026

This bill, titled the Zero Tolerance for Political Violence Act of 2026, proposes to increase the mandatory minimum prison sentences for individuals who attempt to assassinate specific federal officials. The legislation directly impacts anyone attempting to kill the President, Cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, and members of Congress. Under the new provisions, a conviction for such an attempt would result in a minimum of 25 years in prison or life imprisonment. These changes amend existing federal statutes to enforce stricter penalties uniformly for designated targets.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases mandatory minimum prison sentences and expands criminalization, which aligns with indicators for opposing criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Sentencing Violent Crime

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in committee · United States · House Feb 25, 2026

HR 7703: Stop Illegal Alien Cops Act

The Stop Illegal Alien Cops Act amends federal law to modify exemptions for government entities regarding firearms. Currently, federal, state, and local government agencies are generally exempt from many federal prohibitions when acquiring or supplying firearms for official use. This bill would remove that exemption for specific prohibitions, making it unlawful for government entities to provide firearms to or employ individuals who are unlawfully in the United States. Additionally, the bill removes the

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill restricts law enforcement by prohibiting government entities from employing or arming individuals unlawfully in the US, limiting police operational capacity.75% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill restricts government entities from employing individuals unlawfully in the US and removes firearm exemptions for such individuals, limiting protections for immigrants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · United States · House Mar 24, 2026

HR 8064: Career Criminal Accountability Act of 2026

This bill creates a federal "three-strikes" sentencing system that mandates longer prison terms for repeat offenders based on the severity of their prior convictions. It directly affects defendants convicted of federal crimes by requiring judges to calculate "strikes" from past misdemeanor and felony convictions, with violent felonies and firearm offenses counting as full strikes while lesser offenses count as partial strikes. Under the new rules, offenders with three or more strikes face consecutive sentences of 10 to life years in prison depending on whether their current offense involves violence or firearms, while preventing enhancements from being triggered solely by misdemeanor convictions. The law also limits how juvenile convictions count toward strike totals and excludes strikes from a single continuous criminal episode to prevent harsh penalties for related crimes committed at once.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill mandates longer prison terms for repeat offenders through a three-strikes system, increasing mandatory sentences and reducing judicial discretion.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms Sentencing

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in committee · United States · House Feb 25, 2026

HR 7678: Gun Owner Registration Information Protection Act

HR 7678, the Gun Owner Registration Information Protection Act, prohibits federal funding for state or local databases that track lawfully owned firearms or their owners. The bill allows federal funding for databases recording lost or stolen firearms but bans it for databases listing legal gun ownership. This means states cannot use federal money to create or maintain systems that compile information about legally owned guns. The bill directly affects state and local governments that rely on federal funds for firearm ownership databases.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill restricts federal funding for law enforcement databases tracking legal firearms, limiting data collection capabilities for criminal justice agencies.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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