Bill Summary
The National Firearms Amendments Act of 2019 is a bill that aims to amend the existing Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in order to make certain types of semiautomatic rifles subject to the regulations of the National Firearms Act. Specifically, any semiautomatic rifle that is capable of accepting a detachable magazine would fall under the definition of a firearm in the National Firearms Act. This bill also includes a definition for "detachable ammunition feeding device" and "ammunition feeding device" and outlines the requirements for registration of such firearms. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives would be authorized to receive funding in order to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Possible Impacts
1. The bill could affect gun owners who possess semiautomatic rifles with detachable magazines, as they would be required to register their firearms and potentially face criminal charges if they fail to do so within 120 days of the bill's enactment.
2. The bill could also affect gun manufacturers and retailers, as they would need to ensure that all semiautomatic rifles they sell comply with the new regulations and potentially face financial losses if their products no longer meet market demand.
3. The bill could also impact law enforcement agencies, as they would be responsible for enforcing the new regulations and potentially face challenges in identifying and tracking the ownership of semiautomatic rifles with detachable magazines.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1263 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1263
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to subject to the
requirements of the National Firearms Act any semiautomatic rifle that
has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 14, 2019
Mr. Deutch introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means
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A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to subject to the
requirements of the National Firearms Act any semiautomatic rifle that
has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Firearms Amendments Act of
2019''.
SEC. 2. SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLE WITH CAPACITY TO ACCEPT DETACHABLE MAGAZINE
TREATED AS FIREARM UNDER NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT.
(a) In General.--Section 5845(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 is amended--
(1) by striking ``; and (8) a destructive device.'' and
inserting ``; (8) a destructive device; and (9) a semiautomatic
rifle or shotgun that has the capacity to accept a detachable
ammunition feeding device.'', and
(2) by adding at the end the following: ``The term
`detachable ammunition feeding device' means an ammunition
feeding device that can be removed from a firearm without
disassembly of the firearm action. The term `ammunition feeding
device' means a magazine, belt, drum, feed strip, or similar
device, but does not include an attached tubular device which
is only capable of operating with .22 caliber rimfire
ammunition. The term `semiautomatic rifle or shotgun' means any
repeating rifle or shotgun which utilizes a portion of the
energy of a firing cartridge to extract the fired cartridge
case and chamber the next round, and which requires a separate
pull of the trigger to fire each cartridge.''
(b) Applicability.--Any person who, on the date of the enactment of
this Act, lawfully owns or possesses a semiautomatic rifle or shotgun
(as defined in section 5845(a) of such Code, as amended by this Act)
that has the capacity to accept a detachable ammunition feeding device
(as defined in such section) shall, not later than 120 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, register the semiautomatic rifle or
shotgun in accordance with section 5841 of such Code. Such registration
shall become a part of the National Firearms Registration and Transfer
Record required to be maintained by such section. The prohibition on
possession of an unregistered firearm under section 5861 of such Code
shall not apply to possession of such a semiautomatic rifle or shotgun
that has the capacity to accept such a detachable ammunition feeding
device on any date that is 120 days or less after the enactment of this
Act.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and
Explosives such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.
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