GOSAFE Act
Summary
What This Bill Does
The bill amends 18 USC 921-922 to define semi-automatic firearm, gas-operated, and large capacity ammunition feeding device, amends Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program to allow grant funds to be used for compensation under buy-back programs for surrendered gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and large capacity ammunition feeding devices, and creates criminal penalties for violating the gas-operated semi-automatic firearm ban: up to $5,000 fine and 12 months imprisonment per offense. It relies on product standards, compliance mandates, trade restrictions, and definition changes. The main policy areas are Criminal Justice.
Who Benefits and How
Gun violence prevention advocates would be affected and Gun owners participating in buy-back programs could gain revenue opportunities.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives would take on compliance duties, Licensed firearm dealers would take on compliance duties, and Gas-operated semi-automatic firearm manufacturers could lose revenue opportunities.
Key Provisions
- Amends 18 USC 921-922 to define semi-automatic firearm, gas-operated, and large capacity ammunition feeding device.
- Amends Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program to allow grant funds to be used for compensation under buy-back programs for surrendered gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and large capacity ammunition feeding devices.
- Creates criminal penalties for violating the gas-operated semi-automatic firearm ban: up to $5,000 fine and 12 months imprisonment per offense.
- Amends chapter 44 of title 18 USC to require ATF to publish and maintain a list of prohibited gas-operated semi-automatic firearms.
- Requires new section 935 establishing the prohibited firearm determination framework: ATF publishes list, reviews manufacturer applications and appeals, requires dealer purchaser acknowledgment, and establishes...
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
The bill amends 18 USC 921-922 to define semi-automatic firearm, gas-operated, and large capacity ammunition feeding device, amends Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program to allow grant funds to be used for compensation under buy-back programs for surrendered gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and large capacity ammunition feeding devices, and creates criminal penalties for violating the gas-operated semi-automatic firearm ban: up to $5,000 fine and 12 months imprisonment per offense.
Key Policy Areas
Criminal Justice
Primary Purpose
The bill amends 18 USC 921-922 to define semi-automatic firearm, gas-operated, and large capacity ammunition feeding device, amends Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program to allow grant funds to be used for compensation under buy-back programs for surrendered gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and large capacity ammunition feeding devices, and creates criminal penalties for violating the gas-operated semi-automatic firearm ban: up to $5,000 fine and 12 months imprisonment per offense.
Policy Domains
Section 2 - Restrictions (definitions, possession ban, transfer rules, exceptions)
Identified Gains
- Gun violence prevention advocates
- Gun owners participating in buy-back programs
Identified Costs
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
- Licensed firearm dealers
- Gas-operated semi-automatic firearm manufacturers
- Semi-automatic firearm manufacturers (new designs)
- Large capacity ammunition device manufacturers
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeMr. Heinrich (for himself, Mr. King, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Bennet, …
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Introduced in Senate
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Firearm retailers and dealers, Gas-operated semi-automatic firearm manufacturers, Large capacity ammunition device manufacturers
Current firearm owners, Gun owners participating in buy-back programs
Positive-direction: Gun owners participating in buy-back programs
Negative-direction: Current firearm owners
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "attorney_general"
- → Attorney General (enforcement authority)
- "atf_director"
- → Director of ATF
- "attorney_general"
- → Attorney General
- "licensed_manufacturer"
- → Licensed firearm manufacturers
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
Semi-automatic using long stroke piston, short stroke piston, direct impingement, hybrid, blowback, or recoil systems to cycle the action
Firearm that fires first cartridge, uses energy to extract, chamber next, prepare firing mechanism; requires separate trigger pull per cartridge; is not a machinegun
Magazine, belt, drum, or similar device with capacity over 10 rounds, not permanently fixed; excludes .22 rimfire-only devices
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology