Keep Americans Safe Act
Congress Proposes Ban on Ammunition Magazines Holding More Than 15 Rounds
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill would make it illegal to import, sell, or manufacture ammunition magazines that hold more than 15 rounds. It also covers belts, drums, and other devices that can be easily changed to hold more than that limit.
- People who already own these high-capacity magazines before the law passes would be allowed to keep them. However, any new magazines made after the law starts would have to be marked with a serial number and the date they were made so they can be tracked.
- The ban would not apply to the military, law enforcement officers, or certain security personnel at nuclear power plants. Retired police officers who were given or bought magazines for work would also be allowed to keep them.
- The policy allows state and local governments to use federal grant money to run buy-back programs. This means the government could pay people who choose to hand over their high-capacity magazines voluntarily.
- The goal of the policy is to limit how many shots a person can fire without reloading. If someone breaks this law, the government can seize their equipment and they could face legal penalties.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Firearms retailers, manufacturers, and distributors would lose a significant product line if magazines over 15 rounds are banned from sale and manufacture. Businesses that specialize in firearms accessories would see a major drop in revenue, potentially threatening the viability of smaller shops. The bill does allow manufacturers to produce these devices for government and law enforcement, but the civilian market — which is the vast majority of sales — would be eliminated.
Activities
Broader Impacts
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articles
Major Gun Cases in 2026 Pose Questions for Courts Nationwide
Analysis of the legal landscape for 2026, noting that federal appeals courts are weighing the constitutionality of large-capacity magazine bans following the Supreme Court's Bruen decision, which has complicated the enforcement of policies like the Keep Americans Safe Act.
Hirono, Blumenthal, colleagues introduce bill to ban high-capacity gun magazines
U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono and Richard Blumenthal introduced the Keep Americans Safe Act (S. 803) to reinstate a nationwide ban on magazines holding more than 10 rounds. The bill includes a grandfather clause for existing owners and requires serialization for new production.
Padilla Introduces Bill to Raise Minimum Age to Buy Assault Weapons
Reporting on the Age 21 Act mentions Senator Alex Padilla's continued support for the Keep Americans Safe Act, which aims to ban the importation and sale of high-capacity magazines as part of a broader suite of Democratic gun safety initiatives in the 119th Congress.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Keep Americans Safe Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(144)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.