The "Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2025" aims to combat cartel violence by banning .50 caliber rifles, allowing lawsuits against gun manufacturers who knowingly sell to cartels, prohibiting firearm sales to significant foreign narcotics traffickers, and expanding multiple firearm sales reporting requirements to include rifles.
Joaquin Castro
Representative
TX-20
The "Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2025" aims to combat the arming of cartels by banning .50 caliber rifles, allowing lawsuits against gun manufacturers who knowingly sell to prohibited individuals, and prohibiting firearm sales to significant foreign narcotics traffickers. It also expands reporting requirements for multiple firearm sales to include rifles.
.50 Caliber Rifles Banned Under New 'Stop Arming Cartels Act': Registration Required for Existing Owners
The "Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2025" bans the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, and possession of rifles capable of firing .50 caliber ammunition, starting 12 months after enactment. This legislation aims to curb the flow of high-powered weapons to drug cartels, while also adding new regulations for gun owners and manufacturers.
Big Guns, Big Changes
The core of the bill is a straightforward ban on .50 caliber rifles. These are incredibly powerful weapons, and this law is designed to keep them out of the hands of cartels. If you already own one of these rifles legally, you can keep it, but you'll need to register it with the Secretary of the Treasury within 12 months of the Act's enactment. This registration is free, and the information can't be used against you for any prior violations (SEC. 2). For anyone working in law enforcement or government, these rifles are still allowed for official use.
Real-World Impact: Who's Affected?
Imagine a small gun shop owner who occasionally sells high-powered rifles. Under this new law, they'll no longer be able to sell .50 caliber models. For a construction worker or rancher who might use these rifles for specific, legitimate purposes, they'll need to navigate the new registration process to stay legal. The bill also targets gun manufacturers. If a manufacturer knowingly sells any firearm to someone they know, or should know, is linked to drug trafficking under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, they can now be sued (SEC. 3). This is a significant change, opening up manufacturers to legal action in a way they weren't before.
Kingpins and Background Checks
Another key part of this law is aimed directly at foreign drug traffickers. If the President publicly identifies someone as a significant foreign narcotics trafficker, or if the Secretary of the Treasury designates someone under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, they're automatically banned from buying firearms in the U.S. (SEC. 4). This will be integrated into the Brady background check system, so gun dealers will know if a potential buyer is on this list.
Tracking Multiple Sales
Finally, the bill expands existing reporting requirements. Right now, dealers have to report multiple sales of pistols and revolvers. This law adds rifles to that list (SEC. 5). So, if someone buys multiple rifles, pistols, or revolvers within a short period, that information will be reported to the authorities, helping them track potential trafficking patterns. This change impacts both licensed firearm dealers, who have new reporting duties, and individuals making multiple purchases, who will now have these transactions tracked whether they involve handguns or rifles.