A Democratic bill with 41 Democratic cosponsors · See all 42 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 seeks to regulate semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices. It makes the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, and possession of these items unlawful for most people. However, the bill provides exemptions for firearms owned before the enactment date, certain manually operated firearms, and specific models listed in Appendix A. Law enforcement officers and government agencies are also exempt. Additionally, the bill requires secure storage for grandfathered weapons if they are accessible to prohibited persons.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +10
Does this put more limits on buying or owning guns?
The bill implements a comprehensive ban on semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity magazines.
- Scored +5
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill creates a federal ban on firearms that overrides disparate state laws on assault weapons.
- Scored +4
Would children be better off under this?
Secure storage requirements for grandfathered weapons aim to prevent unauthorized access by prohibited persons, including minors.
The opposite· 3 of 9
- Scored -9
Does this protect the right to own guns?
The bill explicitly aims to ensure the right to bear arms is not unlimited and restricts possession of specific firearm types.
- Scored -8
Would gun owners be better off under this?
The bill bans the possession and transfer of a wide variety of popular firearms and magazines.
- Scored -5
Would business owners be better off under this?
Firearm manufacturers and retailers would see a significant loss in available products for sale.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Public Safety Tracking: The Attorney General must maintain and publicly release a record of semiautomatic assault weapons used in crimes, which provides transparency regarding these weapons' roles in criminal activity (Section 3(a)(6)).
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Prevention of Unauthorized Access: The bill requires that grandfathered assault weapons be locked with a secure storage or safety device if they would otherwise be accessible to individuals prohibited from possessing firearms (Section 3(aa)).
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Preservation of Specific Firearm Rights: Individuals can continue to possess, sell, or transfer semiautomatic assault weapons that were lawfully possessed on the date the act was enacted (Section 3(a)(2)).
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Exemptions for Common Utility: People can still use firearms that are manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action, as well as antique firearms and those only capable of firing rimfire ammunition (Section 3(a)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Restriction of Ownership: It becomes unlawful for general citizens to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess semiautomatic assault weapons (Section 3(a)(1)).
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Restriction of Accessories: The bill bans the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, and possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices that hold more than 10 rounds (Section 3(w)(1)).
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Legal Risks for Storage: Owners of grandfathered weapons could face legal penalties if they do not store the weapon securely or keep it within close proximity to their person when prohibited individuals are present (Section 3(aa)).
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Increased Forfeiture: The bill expands the seizure and forfeiture laws to specifically include large capacity ammunition feeding devices (Section 3(d)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — Secure storage requirements for grandfathered weapons aim to prevent unauthorized access by prohibited persons, including minors. Would gun owners be better off under this? — The bill bans the possession and transfer of a wide variety of popular firearms and magazines. Would business owners be better off under this? — Firearm manufacturers and retailers would see a significant loss in available products for sale.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Small firearm manufacturers and specialty retailers would be negatively impacted by the ban on these products. Is this likely to create jobs? — Banning the manufacture and sale of a wide range of firearms and accessories may reduce employment in the firearms industry. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Restrictions on a specific commercial sector of the economy generally dampen growth in that sector.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this make trade with other countries easier? — Banning the import of these specific firearms may reduce trade in that sector.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill creates a federal ban on firearms that overrides disparate state laws on assault weapons. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires the Attorney General to maintain and publicly release records of assault weapons used in crimes. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Federal mandates on firearm ownership restrict the ability of states to permit such weapons. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — Expands seizure and forfeiture laws for high-capacity magazines.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this put more limits on buying or owning guns? — The bill implements a comprehensive ban on semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity magazines. Does this protect the right to own guns? — The bill explicitly aims to ensure the right to bear arms is not unlimited and restricts possession of specific firearm types.
- 7/23/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/5/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/30/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 40 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Angela AlsobrooksDemocrat · Maryland
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
Michael BennetDemocrat · Colorado
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Lisa Blunt RochesterDemocrat · Delaware
Maria CantwellDemocrat · Washington
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Richard DurbinDemocrat · Illinois
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Ruben GallegoDemocrat · Arizona
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii
Maggie HassanDemocrat · New Hampshire
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Timothy KaineDemocrat · Virginia
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Patty MurrayDemocrat · Washington
Christopher MurphyDemocrat · Connecticut
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Jon OssoffDemocrat · Georgia
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Gary PetersDemocrat · Michigan
John ReedDemocrat · Rhode Island
Jacky RosenDemocrat · Nevada
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont
Charles SchumerDemocrat · New York
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Brian SchatzDemocrat · Hawaii
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota
Elissa SlotkinDemocrat · Michigan
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Raphael WarnockDemocrat · Georgia
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont
Sheldon WhitehouseDemocrat · Rhode Island
Mark WarnerDemocrat · Virginia
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts