Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act
House Passes Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act, Easing Federal Gun Rules for Less-Than-Lethal Devices
Legislative Progress
233–185
Key Points
- Congress would create a new legal category for certain “less-than-lethal projectile devices,” separating them from some federal gun restrictions.
- To qualify, a device could not use (or be easily changed to use) common handgun/rifle/shotgun ammo, and it could not shoot a projectile faster than 500 feet per second.
- The device must be meant to be used in a way that is not likely to cause death or serious injury, aiming to support de-escalation options.
- The device also could not take certain common firearm-style magazines, especially ones loaded through a pistol grip or commonly used in semiautomatic guns.
- People could send a device to the Attorney General for a decision on whether it fits this definition, and the Attorney General would have 90 days to respond.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Manufacturers and retailers of less-than-lethal devices would benefit from clearer legal status for their products. Right now, some of these devices fall into a gray area under federal firearms law. This bill gives them a defined legal category and a formal process to get the Attorney General's determination within 90 days, reducing regulatory uncertainty and potentially expanding their market.
Activities
Milestones
Received in the Senate.
The Senate has received the House-passed bill and will decide whether to take it up.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 233 - 185 (Roll no. 70).
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 233 - 185 (Roll no. 70).
The House of Representatives voted to approve this bill. It now goes to the Senate.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Vote Results
1 voteRelated News
3 articles
Rep. Fitzgeralds Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act Passes House
Congressman Scott Fitzgerald's bill passed the House 233-185. The legislation modernizes the Gun Control Act of 1968 by excluding “less-than-lethal projectile devices” from the definition of “firearm,” aiming to ease procurement for law enforcement and clarify use-of-force classifications.
Gun Control Groups Freak Out Over House Passage of 'Law Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act'
The House passed H.R. 2189 to reduce regulatory burdens on less-than-lethal products like stun guns. While proponents argue it provides critical de-escalation tools, gun control advocates claim the industry could exploit the new category to sell unregulated, modifiable 'ghost guns.'
Ways and Means Advances Five Tax Measures
The Law Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act (H.R. 3269) advanced out of committee. The bill would amend the Gun Control Act of 1968 by removing 'less-than-lethal' equipment like TASER devices from the definition of a firearm and the associated federal excise tax.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(95)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.