Congress·In Committee·S. 367

Congress targets .50 caliber rifles with ban, registration rule for current owners, and limits tied to drug kingpins

Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2025

about 1 year ago·View on Congress.gov

⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

Senate

House

President

Law

Key Points

Would ban most people from importing, making, selling, transferring, or owning rifles that can fire .50 caliber ammo after the law takes effect.
People who already legally own a .50 caliber rifle before the law starts could keep it, but it would be treated like a heavily regulated firearm.
Current owners would have a 12-month window to register their .50 caliber rifle with the federal registry, with no registration fee or tax.
Gun makers and sellers could face lawsuits if they knowingly sell or transfer guns in illegal deals tied to major foreign drug trafficking bans.
Would expand background-check-related blocks and sales rules to help stop firearms from being sold to foreign drug kingpins and certain designated foreign persons.

Gun PolicyCriminal JusticeNational SecurityForeign Policy

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Negative Impacts(3)

Small Business Owner

Hurts

Gig Worker

Hurts

Retiree

Hurts

Mixed Impacts(7)

Gun Owner

Neutral

Immigrant

Neutral

Green Card

Neutral

Visa Holder

Neutral

Undocumented

Neutral

Criminal Record

Neutral

Federal Employee

Neutral

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Feb 3, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S546)

Feb 3, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

On the date the bill is enacted, if it becomes law

Ban starts on importing, selling, making, transferring, or newly possessing .50 caliber rifles

After this date, people generally cannot legally buy or newly get a .50 caliber rifle. Only government use and rifles already legally owned by that date are exempt.

Begins on enactment date and runs for the next 12 months

12-month registration window opens for people who already own .50 caliber rifles

Owners of unregistered .50 caliber rifles would have up to 12 months to register each one. The bill says no registration fee or tax, and the information submitted can’t be used to prosecute past or concurrent violations.

Related News

4 articles

Texas Public Radio (TPR)·about 1 year ago

San Antonio Rep. Castro files bill aimed to curb flow of high-caliber U.S. weapons into Mexico

Covers introduction of the Stop Arming Cartels Act, including the proposed prohibition on nongovernmental .50 caliber rifles, NFA-style regulation of existing rifles, and dealer reporting requirements.

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Joaquin Castro (press release via congressional website)·about 1 year ago

Reps. Castro, Escobar, Frost, and Senator Durbin Introduce Stop Arming Cartels Act

Announcement describing the bill’s main provisions: banning future nongovernmental .50 caliber rifles, NFA registry treatment for existing rifles with a 12-month registration window, and changes tied to Kingpin Act-related transactions.

Dick Durbin (press release via Senate website)·about 1 year ago

Durbin, Castro Introduce Bill To Curb Firearms Trafficking From The United States To Mexican Drug Cartels

Explains the Stop Arming Cartels Act provisions: ban on future .50 caliber rifles, NFA-style regulation of existing rifles with a 12-month grace period, PLCAA exception tied to Kingpin Act violations, and NICS-related changes.