Importing, selling, manufacturing, transferring, or possessing certain gas-operated semi-automatic firearms would become a federal crime, along with rate-of-fire-increasing devices and magazines, belts, drums, or feed strips holding more than 10 rounds for rifles or 15 for handguns. The Attorney General, through ATF, would publish and update a list of prohibited gas-operated semi-automatic firearms within 180 days, and any semi-automatic firearm designed after enactment would need ATF approval before civilian sale. Single-shot, bolt-action, lever-action, pump-action, revolver, and most .22 rimfire firearms are exempt, as are guns and magazines lawfully owned before enactment and transfers to immediate family members through a licensed dealer. Violators face up to $5,000 in fines and 12 months in prison; using a prohibited firearm during another federal felony adds 2 to 10 years and up to $250,000. The House bill amends Byrne JAG grants to let state and local police use grant funds for buy-back programs that compensate owners who surrender prohibited firearms or magazines. Government, military, and Atomic Energy Act nuclear-security licensees are exempt, and manufacturer application fees and certain firearm taxes flow into a new Firearm Safety Trust Fund administered by ATF.
Average Household Impact
- civilian firearm availability — listed gas-operated semi-automatic firearms removed from sale
- magazine capacity ceiling — magazines over 10 rounds rifle / 15 handgun barred from sale
- federal buy-back funding — Byrne JAG grants may compensate owners who surrender covered items
Civil Liberties
- firearm possession scope — listed gas-operated semi-automatic firearms barred from possession
- grandfather and family-transfer carve-outs — pre-enactment guns kept; family transfers via FFL
Criminal Justice & Due Process
- federal firearm criminal exposure — up to $5,000 fine and 12 months for prohibited possession
- felony-stacking sentence — adds 2–10 years and up to $250,000 if paired with federal felony
Transparency & Accountability
- ATF design-review process — new semi-auto firearm designs require ATF approval before sale
- Firearm Safety Trust Fund — manufacturer fees and NFA taxes funneled into dedicated ATF account
- prohibited-firearm list — ATF must publish and update list within 180 days, with appeals path
Congressional Summary
Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion Act or the GOSAFE ActThis bill establishes a framework to regulate gas-operated semiautomatic firearms and large capacity ammunition feeding devices under federal firearms laws.First, the bill generally prohibits the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, receipt, or possession ofa firearm that is or is modified to operate as a prohibited gas-operated semiautomatic firearm;a combination of parts that modify or can be assembled into a prohibited gas-operated semiautomatic firearm, or that produce an unlawful gas-operated semiautomatic cycling action;a device or combination of parts designed to materially increase the rate of fire of a semiautomatic firearm; ora firearm that is modified to materially increase the rate of fire.Second, the bill generally prohibits (1) the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, or receipt of a large capacity ammunition feeding device; or (2) the possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device manufactured after the date of enactment. A violation is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to 12 months, or both, for each violation. In addition, an individual who possesses a prohibited gas-operated semiautomatic firearm during a federal felony offense is subject to additional penalties—a fine, a mandatory minimum prison term of two years, or both.Finally, the bill allows a state or local government to use Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program funds to compensate individuals who surrender gas-operated semiautomatic firearms and large capacity ammunition feeding devices under a buy-back program.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-04-09
- Date Added
- 2026-05-16
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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