United States 118th Congress Status: Died 45 D cosponsors

HR 8600 — GOSAFE Act Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion Act

Last action — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. Died in session

This bill died with 118th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

To amend title 18, United States Code, to restrict the possession of certain firearms, and for other purposes.

Bill Text

Sections of law this bill changes

4 sections in 2 laws

From the bill's own amending language, matched to the official United States Code (current through Public Law 119-124).

Firearms · 18 U.S.C. ch. 44 3 sections
  • § 921 Definitions Amends

    18 U.S.C. § 921 — at 921(a)

    The law today

    (a) As used in this chapter— (1) The term “person” and the term “whoever” include any individual, corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, society, or joint stock company. (2) The term “interstate or foreign commerce” includes commerce between any place in a State and any place outside of that State, or within any possession of the United States (not including the Canal Zone) or the District of Columbia, but such term does not include commerce between places within the same State but through any place outside of that State. The term “State” includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the possessions of the United States (not including the Canal Zone). (3) The term “firearm” means (A) any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive; (B) the frame or receiver of any such weapon; (C) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or (D) any destructive device. Such term does not include an antique firearm. (4) The term “destructive device” means— (A) any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas— (i) bomb, (ii) grenade, (iii) rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces, (iv) missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce, (v) mine, or (vi) device similar to any of the devices described in the preceding clauses; (B) any type of weapon (other than a shotgun or a shotgun shell which the Attorney General finds is generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes) by whatever name known which will, or which may be readily converted to, expel a projectile by the action of an explosive or other propellant, and which has any barrel with a bore of more than one-half inch in diameter; and (C) any combination of parts either designed or intended for use in converting any device into any destructive device described in subparagraph (A) or (B) and from which a destructive device may be readily assembled. The term “destructive device” shall not include any device which is neither designed nor redesigned for use as a weapon; any device, although originally designed for use as a weapon, which is redesigned for use as a signaling, pyrotechnic, line throwing, safety, or similar device; surplus ordnance sold, loaned, or given by the Secretary of the Army pursuant to the provisions of section 7684(2), 7685, or 7686 of title 10; or any other device which the Attorney General finds is not likely to be used as a weapon, is an antique, or is a rifle which the owner intends to use solely for sporting, recreational or cultural purposes. (5) The term “shotgun” means a weapon designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder and designed or redesigned and made or remade to use the energy of an explosive to fire through a smooth bore either a number of ball shot or a single projectile for each single pull of the trigger. (6) The term “short-barreled shotgun” means a shotgun having one or more barrels less than eighteen inches in length and any weapon made from a shotgun (whether by alteration, modification or otherwise) if such a weapon as modified has an overall length of less than twenty-six inches. (7) The term “rifle” means a weapon designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder and designed or redesigned and made or remade to use the energy of an explosive to fire only a single projectile through a rifled bore for each single pull of the trigger. (8) The term “short-barreled rifle” means a rifle having one or more barrels less than sixteen inches in length and any weapon made from a rifle (whether by alteration, modification, or otherwise) if such weapon, as modified, has an overall length of less than twenty-six inches. (9) The term “importer” means any person engaged in the business of importing or bringing firearms or ammunition into the United States for purposes of sale or distribution; ...

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  • § 922 Unlawful acts Amends

    18 U.S.C. § 922

    The law today

    (a) It shall be unlawful— (1) for any person— (A) except a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer, to engage in the business of importing, manufacturing, or dealing in firearms, or in the course of such business to ship, transport, or receive any firearm in interstate or foreign commerce; or (B) except a licensed importer or licensed manufacturer, to engage in the business of importing or manufacturing ammunition, or in the course of such business, to ship, transport, or receive any ammunition in interstate or foreign commerce; (2) for any importer, manufacturer, dealer, or collector licensed under the provisions of this chapter to ship or transport in interstate or foreign commerce any firearm to any person other than a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector, except that— (A) this paragraph and subsection (b)(3) shall not be held to preclude a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector from returning a firearm or replacement firearm of the same kind and type to a person from whom it was received; and this paragraph shall not be held to preclude an individual from mailing a firearm owned in compliance with Federal, State, and local law to a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector; (B) this paragraph shall not be held to preclude a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer from depositing a firearm for conveyance in the mails to any officer, employee, agent, or watchman who, pursuant to the provisions of section 1715 of this title, is eligible to receive through the mails pistols, revolvers, and other firearms capable of being concealed on the person, for use in connection with his official duty; and (C) nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as applying in any manner in the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any possession of the United States differently than it would apply if the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the possession were in fact a State of the United States; (3) for any person, other than a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector to transport into or receive in the State where he resides (or if the person is a corporation or other business entity, the State where it maintains a place of business) any firearm purchased or otherwise obtained by such person outside that State, except that this paragraph (A) shall not preclude any person who lawfully acquires a firearm by bequest or intestate succession in a State other than his State of residence from transporting the firearm into or receiving it in that State, if it is lawful for such person to purchase or possess such firearm in that State, (B) shall not apply to the transportation or receipt of a firearm obtained in conformity with subsection (b)(3) of this section, and (C) shall not apply to the transportation of any firearm acquired in any State prior to the effective date of this chapter; (4) for any person, other than a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector, to transport in interstate or foreign commerce any destructive device, machinegun (as defined in section 5845 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), short-barreled shotgun, or short-barreled rifle, except as specifically authorized by the Attorney General consistent with public safety and necessity; (5) for any person (other than a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector) to transfer, sell, trade, give, transport, or deliver any firearm to any person (other than a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector) who the transferor knows or has reasonable cause to believe does not reside in (or if the person is a corporation or other business entity, does not maintain a place of business in) the State in which the transferor resides; exc...

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  • § 924 Penalties Amends

    18 U.S.C. § 924 — at 924(a)

    The law today

    (a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, subsection (b), (c), (f), or (p) of this section, or in section 929, whoever— (A) knowingly makes any false statement or representation with respect to the information required by this chapter to be kept in the records of a person licensed under this chapter or in applying for any license or exemption or relief from disability under the provisions of this chapter; (B) knowingly violates subsection (a)(4), (f), (k), or (q) of section 922; (C) knowingly imports or brings into the United States or any possession thereof any firearm or ammunition in violation of section 922(l); or (D) willfully violates any other provision of this chapter, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than five years, or both. (2) Whoever knowingly violates subsection (a)(6), (h), (i), (j), or (o) of section 922 shall be fined as provided in this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both. (3) Any licensed dealer, licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed collector who knowingly— (A) makes any false statement or representation with respect to the information required by the provisions of this chapter to be kept in the records of a person licensed under this chapter, or (B) violates subsection (m) of section 922, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than one year, or both. (4) Whoever violates section 922(q) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the term of imprisonment imposed under this paragraph shall not run concurrently with any other term of imprisonment imposed under any other provision of law. Except for the authorization of a term of imprisonment of not more than 5 years made in this paragraph, for the purpose of any other law a violation of section 922(q) shall be deemed to be a misdemeanor. (5) Whoever knowingly violates subsection (s) or (t) of section 922 shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both. (6) (A) (i) A juvenile who violates section 922(x) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both, except that a juvenile described in clause (ii) shall be sentenced to probation on appropriate conditions and shall not be incarcerated unless the juvenile fails to comply with a condition of probation. (ii) A juvenile is described in this clause if— (I) the offense of which the juvenile is charged is possession of a handgun or ammunition in violation of section 922(x)(2); and (II) the juvenile has not been convicted in any court of an offense (including an offense under section 922(x) or a similar State law, but not including any other offense consisting of conduct that if engaged in by an adult would not constitute an offense) or adjudicated as a juvenile delinquent for conduct that if engaged in by an adult would constitute an offense. (B) A person other than a juvenile who knowingly violates section 922(x)— (i) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both; and (ii) if the person sold, delivered, or otherwise transferred a handgun or ammunition to a juvenile knowing or having reasonable cause to know that the juvenile intended to carry or otherwise possess or discharge or otherwise use the handgun or ammunition in the commission of a crime of violence, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both. (7) Whoever knowingly violates section 931 shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 3 years, or both. (8) Whoever knowingly violates subsection (d) or (g) of section 922 shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 15 years, or both. (b) Whoever, with intent to commit therewith an offense punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, or with knowledge or reasonable cause to believe that an offense punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year is to be committed therewith, ships, transport...

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Justice system improvement · 34 U.S.C. ch. 101 1 section
  • § 10152 Description Amends

    34 U.S.C. § 10152 — at 10152(a)(1)

    The law today

    (a) Grants authorized (1) In general From amounts made available to carry out this part, the Attorney General may, in accordance with the formula established under section 10156 of this title, make grants to States and units of local government, for use by the State or unit of local government to provide additional personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, training, technical assistance, and information systems for criminal justice or civil proceedings, including for any one or more of the following programs: (A) Law enforcement programs. (B) Prosecution and court programs. (C) Prevention and education programs. (D) Corrections and community corrections programs. (E) Drug treatment and enforcement programs. (F) Planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs. (G) Crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation). (H) Mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs, including behavioral programs and crisis intervention teams. (I) Implementation of State crisis intervention court proceedings and related programs or initiatives, including but not limited to— (i) mental health courts; (ii) drug courts; (iii) veterans courts; and (iv) extreme risk protection order programs, which must include, at a minimum— (I) pre-deprivation and post-deprivation due process rights that prevent any violation or infringement of the Constitution of the United States, including but not limited to the Bill of Rights, and the substantive or procedural due process rights guaranteed under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, as applied to the States, and as interpreted by State courts and United States courts (including the Supreme Court of the United States). Such programs must include, at the appropriate phase to prevent any violation of constitutional rights, at minimum, notice, the right to an in-person hearing, an unbiased adjudicator, the right to know opposing evidence, the right to present evidence, and the right to confront adverse witnesses; (II) the right to be represented by counsel at no expense to the government; (III) pre-deprivation and post-deprivation heightened evidentiary standards and proof which mean not less than the protections afforded to a similarly situated litigant in Federal court or promulgated by the State’s evidentiary body, and sufficient to ensure the full protections of the Constitution of the United States, including but not limited to the Bill of Rights, and the substantive and procedural due process rights guaranteed under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, as applied to the States, and as interpreted by State courts and United States courts (including the Supreme Court of the United States). The heightened evidentiary standards and proof under such programs must, at all appropriate phases to prevent any violation of any constitutional right, at minimum, prevent reliance upon evidence that is unsworn or unaffirmed, irrelevant, based on inadmissible hearsay, unreliable, vague, speculative, and lacking a foundation; and (IV) penalties for abuse of the program. (J) Programs to purchase and operate unmanned aircraft systems (as defined in section 44801 of title 49) to benefit public safety. (K) Programs to purchase and operate counter-UAS systems (as defined in section 44801 of title 49) included on the list of technologies established by subsection (d)(2)(A)(iii) section 124n(d)(2)(A)(iii) of title 6 to exercise the authority granted under subsection (a)(2) of such section. (2) Rule of construction Paragraph (1) shall be construed to ensure that a grant under that paragraph may be used for any purpose for which a grant was authorized to be used under either or both of the programs specified in section 10151(b) of this title, as those programs were in effect immediately before January 5, 2006. (b) Contracts and subawards A State or unit of local government may, in using a grant...

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How this bill changes current law

2 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill introduces new definitions and prohibits the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, and possession of certain gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and large capacity ammunition feeding devices.

  • 18 U.S.C. § 921

    "(38) The term 'semi-automatic firearm' means any firearm that-- \n (A) upon initiating the firing sequence, fires the first chambered cartridge and uses a portion of the energy of the firing cartridge to-- \n (i) extract the expended cartridge case; \n (ii) chamber the next round; and \n (iii) prepare the firing mechanism to fire again; \n (B) requires a separate pull, release, push, or initiation of the trigger to fire each cartridge; and \n (C) is not a machinegun. \n (39) The term 'cycle the action', with respect to a firearm, means to extract the fired cartridge case, chamber the next cartridge, and prepare the firing mechanism to fire again. \n (40) The term 'gas-operated', with respect to a semi-automatic firearm, means any firearm that harnesses or traps a portion of the high-pressure gas from a fired cartridge to cycle the action using-- \n (A) a long stroke piston, where gas is vented from the barrel to a piston that is mechanically fixed to the bolt group and moves to cycle the action; \n (B) a short stroke piston, where gas is vented from the barrel to a piston that moves separately from the bolt group so that the energy is imparted through a gas piston to cycle the action; \n (C) a system that traps and vents gas from either the barrel or the chamber to directly strike or impinge the bolt, bolt carrier, or slide assembly, to unlock and cycle the action; \n (D) a hybrid system that combines elements of a system described in subparagraph (C) with a system described in subparagraph (A) or (B) to capture gas vented from the barrel to cycle the action; \n (E) a blowback-operated system that directly utilizes the expanding gases of the ignited propellant powder acting on the cartridge case to drive the breechblock or breech bolt rearward; or \n (F) a recoil-operated system that utilizes the recoil force to unlock the breech bolt and then to complete the cycle of extracting, ejecting, and reloading. \n (41) The term 'large capacity ammunition feeding device'-- \n (A) means a magazine, belt, drum, feed strip, helical feeding device, or similar device, including any such device joined or coupled with another in any manner, that-- \n (i) has an overall capacity of, or that can be readily restored, altered, or converted to accept, more than 10 rounds of ammunition; and \n (ii) is not permanently fixed; and \n (B) does not include any device designed to accept, and capable of operating only with, .22 or less caliber rimfire ammunition."

    New definitions for semi-automatic firearms, gas-operated firearms, and large capacity ammunition feeding devices are added.

  • 18 U.S.C. § 922

    (v)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) or (4), it shall be unlawful for any person to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, receive, or possess, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, a firearm, device, or combination of parts described in subparagraphs (A) through (H), knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that-- \n (A) the firearm is included on the list of prohibited gas-operated semi-automatic firearms described in section 935(a); \n (B) the modified non-prohibited firearm, as modified, operates as a firearm included on the list of prohibited gas-operated semi-automatic firearms described in section 935(a); \n (C) the combination of parts is designed and functions to modify an otherwise non-prohibited firearm so that the firearm, as modified, operates as a gas-operated semi-automatic firearm included on the list of prohibited gas-operated semi-automatic firearms described in section 935(a); \n (D) the combination of parts is designed to be assembled into a firearm that operates as a firearm included on the list of prohibited gas-operated semi-automatic firearms described in section 935(a); \n (E) the combination of parts functions to produce a gas-operated semi-automatic cycling action that was not lawfully manufactured as part of an approved firearm design described in section 935(c); \n (F) the manual, power-driven, or electronic device is primarily designed, or redesigned, so that if the device is attached to a semi-automatic firearm the device-- \n (i) materially increases the rate of fire of the firearm; or \n (ii) approximates the action or rate of fire of a machinegun; \n (G) the device, part, or combination of parts is designed and functions to materially increase the rate of fire of the semi-automatic firearm by eliminating the need for the operator of the firearm to make a separate movement for each individual function of the trigger; or \n (H) the semi-automatic firearm has been modified in any way that-- \n (i) materially increases the rate of fire of the firearm; or \n (ii) approximates the action or rate of fire of a machinegun.

    New prohibitions are established on the possession and transfer of certain gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and devices.

Action History

  1. Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

  2. Introduced in House

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 44 co-sponsors · 502 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (44)

Not signed on (502)

502 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Subjects

public-safety
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Frequently asked questions

What does HR 8600 do?
To amend title 18, United States Code, to restrict the possession of certain firearms, and for other purposes.
Who sponsors HR 8600?
HR 8600 is sponsored by McBath, Lucy (Democratic), Beyer, Donald S. (Democratic), Williams, Nikema (Democratic), Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" (Democratic), Moore, Gwen (Democratic), Stevens, Haley M. (Democratic), Raskin, Jamie (Democratic), Davis, Danny K. (Democratic), Suozzi, Thomas R. (Democratic), Thanedar, Shri (Democratic), Salinas, Andrea (Democratic), Foushee, Valerie P. (Democratic), Menendez, Robert (Democratic), Deluzio, Christopher R. (Democratic), DeSaulnier, Mark (Democratic), Gottheimer, Josh (Democratic), Scholten, Hillary J. (Democratic), Cohen, Steve (Democratic), Schneider, Bradley Scott (Democratic), Norton, Eleanor Holmes (Democratic), Caraveo, Yadira (Democratic), Kim, Andy (Democratic), Schakowsky, Janice D. (Democratic), Goldman, Daniel S. (Democratic), Lee, Barbara (Democratic), Balint, Becca (Democratic), Amo, Gabe (Democratic), Evans, Dwight (Democratic), Scanlon, Mary Gay (Democratic), Carbajal, Salud O. (Democratic), Garcia, Sylvia R. (Democratic), Pingree, Chellie (Democratic), Watson Coleman, Bonnie (Democratic), Ramirez, Delia C. (Democratic), Sewell, Terri A. (Democratic), Frost, Maxwell (Democratic), Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch (Democratic), Cleaver, Emanuel (Democratic), Landsman, Greg (Democratic), Lieu, Ted (Democratic), Brownley, Julia (Democratic), Ross, Deborah K. (Democratic), Casten, Sean (Democratic), Wilson, Frederica S. (Democratic), and Auchincloss, Jake (Democratic).
What is the current status of HR 8600?
This bill died with 118th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 8600?
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