S. 367Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 24, 2025 at 3:07 AM UTC

The Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2025 bans the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, and possession of rifles capable of firing .50‑caliber ammunition, with limited exceptions for government use and rifles owned before the law takes effect. It requires owners of existing .50‑caliber rifles to register them, treats those rifles as destructive devices under federal law, and expands liability for manufacturers who sell them illegally. The bill also adds foreign narcotics traffickers and other designated foreign persons to the list of people barred from obtaining firearms, and updates reporting and background‑check requirements to cover these rifles.

Key Provisions

Makes it illegal for anyone to import, sell, make, transfer, or possess a rifle that can fire .50‑caliber ammunition, except for the U.S. government, state governments, and rifles that were lawfully owned before the bill became law.
Requires owners of pre‑existing .50‑caliber rifles to register them in a national firearms registry within 12 months of enactment, with no fee or tax.
Adds .50‑caliber rifles (that were lawfully possessed before enactment) to the list of “destructive devices” under the National Firearms Act, meaning they are subject to the same registration and transfer rules.
Amends the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act so manufacturers or sellers can be sued if they knowingly sell or attempt to sell a .50‑caliber rifle that is prohibited under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.
Expands the list of prohibited firearm purchasers to include “significant foreign narcotics traffickers” and other foreign persons designated under the Kingpin Act, and updates background‑check statutes to reflect this new prohibition.
Changes reporting rules for multiple‑firearm sales to include rifles along with pistols and revolvers.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

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

Finance Committee

February 3, 2025

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 3, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

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

Finance Committee

February 3, 2025

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about S. 367 on the floor

2 Democrats

Sen. Alex PadillaD-CA · Feb 3, 2025

Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the Muhammad Ali Congressional Gold Medal Act, which I introduced today. Muhammad Ali is often referred to as ``The Greatest,'' an appropriate title which…

Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the Muhammad Ali Congressional Gold Medal Act, which I introduced today.

Muhammad Ali is often referred to as ``The Greatest,'' an appropriate title which he earned through his inspiring athletic achievements, dedication to ensuring that all Americans have equal rights, and advocacy for underserved communities around the world. Ali serves as an example of service and self-sacrifice for all generations.

Muhammad Ali was born in Louisville, KY, on January 17, 1942. From an early age, he excelled in boxing, going on to win a gold medal at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome and becoming an undisputed heavyweight boxing champion. Throughout his career, he helped our Nation grow past the legacy of Jim Crow and segregation in sports. He worked tirelessly to support charitable organizations, including founding the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center and raising over $50 million for Parkinson's research.

Ali's devotion to humanitarian causes and racial equality earned him many accolades, including being chosen as a United Nations Messenger of Peace and receiving an Amnesty International Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also chosen to light the Olympic flame at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and in 2005, President George W. Bush awarded Ali the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Muhammad Ali also left a lasting impact on my home State of California. For nearly 10 years, Ali lived in Los Angeles, and five of his professional fights were held in southern California. Due to his courage and conviction, the 1987 California Bicentennial Foundation for the U.S. Constitution selected Ali to personify the vitality of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

The Congressional Gold Medal is a fitting award for an American who devoted his life and career to uplifting underserved communities in the U.S. and abroad. I want to thank Representative Carson for introducing this bill in the House, and I hope that our colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join us in awarding a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal to Muhammad Ali.

Sen. Richard J. DurbinD-IL · Feb 3, 2025

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Sen. Richard J. DurbinD-IL · Feb 3, 2025

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued February 3, 2025

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 367

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 3, 2025

Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Booker, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Kim, Mr. Gallego, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Reed, and Mr. Wyden) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To prohibit the importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of .50 caliber rifles, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2025.

Prohibition on rifles capable of firing .50 caliber ammunition

(a)

In general

Chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in section 922, by adding at the end the following:

(aa)

Rifles capable of firing .50 caliber ammunition

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), it shall be unlawful for any person to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, a rifle capable of firing .50 caliber ammunition.

(2)

Exceptions

(A)

Government use

Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the importation for, manufacture for, sale to, transfer to, or possession by the United States, a department or agency of the United States, a State, or a department, agency, or political subdivision of a State, of a rifle capable of firing .50 caliber ammunition.

(B)

Grandfathered rifles

Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the sale, transfer, or possession of any rifle otherwise lawfully possessed on or before the date of enactment of the Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2025.

; and

(2)

in section 924(a)(1)(B), by striking or (q) and inserting (q), or (aa).

(b)

Inclusion of certain rifles as firearms under National Firearms Act

(1)

In general

Section 5845(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking and (8) a destructive device and inserting (8) a destructive device; and (9) a rifle which is capable of firing .50 caliber ammunition and is lawfully possessed on or before the date of enactment of the Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2025.

(2)

Effective date

(A)

In general

Subject to subparagraph (B), the amendments made by this subsection shall take effect on the date which is 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act.

(B)

Registration

(i)

In general

Notwithstanding subparagraph (A) or any other provision of law, any person possessing a rifle which is capable of firing .50 caliber ammunition which is not registered to such person in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record shall register each such rifle so possessed with the Secretary in such form and manner as the Secretary may require within the 12-month period immediately following the date of enactment of this Act. No fee or tax shall be imposed with respect to any registration required under this subparagraph.

(ii)

Inclusion in registry

Any registration described in clause (i) shall become a part of the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. No information or evidence required to be submitted or retained by a natural person to register a firearm under this subparagraph shall be used, directly or indirectly, as evidence against such person in any criminal proceeding with respect to a prior or concurrent violation of law.

(C)

Definitions

In this paragraph:

(i)

National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record

The term National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record means the registry established pursuant to section 5841 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(ii)

Secretary

The term Secretary has the same meaning given such term under section 7701(a)(11)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Exception to coverage under Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act

Section 4(5)(A) of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (15 U.S.C. 7903(5)(A)) is amended—

(1)

in clause (v), by striking or at the end;

(2)

in clause (vi), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(vii)

an action brought against a manufacturer or seller that knowingly sells or transfers a qualified product, or attempts or conspires to do so, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the transaction is prohibited under section 805(c) of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (21 U.S.C. 1904(c)).

Federal firearm prohibitor for significant foreign narcotics traffickers and certain other foreign persons

(a)

In general

Section 922(d) of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (10), by striking or at the end;

(2)

by redesignating paragraph (11) as paragraph (12);

(3)

by inserting after paragraph (10) the following:

(11)

is—

(A)

a significant foreign narcotics trafficker publicly identified by the President in a report under subsection (b) or (h)(1) of section 804 of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (21 U.S.C. 1903); or

(B)

a foreign person designated by the Secretary of the Treasury under section 805(b) of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (21 U.S.C. 1904(b)); or

; and

(4)

in paragraph (12), as so redesignated, by striking (10) and inserting (11).

(b)

Conforming amendments relating to NICS

Section 103 of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (34 U.S.C. 40901) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b)(2)(D), by inserting or that transfer of a firearm or ammunition to the individual would violate subsection (d)(11) of such section 922 after section 922 of title 18, United States Code,;

(2)

in subsection (e)(1)—

(A)

in subparagraph (A), by inserting or to whom transfer of a firearm would violate subsection (d)(11) of such section 922, after section 922 of title 18, United States Code or State law,;

(B)

in subparagraph (C), by inserting or that transfer of a firearm or ammunition to the person would violate subsection (d)(11) of such section 922, after section 922 of title 18, United States Code,;

(C)

in subparagraph (F)(iii)(I), by striking (g) or (n) and inserting (d)(11), (g), or (n); and

(D)

in subparagraph (G)(i), by striking (g) or (n) and inserting (d)(11), (g), or (n);

(3)

in subsection (g), by inserting or that transfer of a firearm to a prospective transferee would violate subsection (d)(11) of such section 922, after section 922 of title 18, United States Code or State law,; and

(4)

in subsection (i)(2)—

(A)

by striking persons, and inserting persons who are; and

(B)

by inserting before the period at the end the following: , or to whom transfer of a firearm would violate subsection (d)(11) of such section 922.

Adding rifles to multiple firearm sales reporting requirements

Section 923(g)(3)(A) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking pistols, or revolvers, or any combination of pistols and revolvers and inserting pistols, revolvers, or rifles, or any combination of pistols, revolvers, and rifles.