Congress Passes Legislation Exempting Specific Less-Than-Lethal Launchers From Federal Firearms Regulations

This bill would carve out a new legal category for less-than-lethal projectile devices — things like pepper ball launchers or rubber bullet guns — so they are no longer treated the same as firearms under federal law. That means people who own or want to buy these devices would face fewer federal restrictions, like background check requirements and dealer licensing rules that currently apply to firearms. It opens the door for easier access to non-lethal self-defense tools.

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.