The Stop Militarizing Our Streets Act of 2026 restricts the Department of Defense from buying from or selling to firearms and ammunition dealers that do not meet strict federal safety, security, and sales compliance standards.
Elizabeth Warren
Senator
MA
The Stop Militarizing Our Streets Act of 2026 restricts the Department of Defense from conducting business with firearm and ammunition dealers who do not meet strict federal safety and compliance standards. The bill prohibits the government from purchasing from or selling to dealers who supply military-grade weapons to the commercial market or fail to adhere to rigorous security, recordkeeping, and background check requirements. By leveraging federal procurement power, the legislation aims to ensure that companies supplying the military also uphold high standards of public safety and accountability.
Pentagon to Blacklist Non-Compliant Gun Dealers: New Standards for Ammunition Sales and Background Checks Set for 2026.
The Stop Militarizing Our Streets Act of 2026 uses the massive purchasing power of the Department of Defense (DoD) to overhaul how firearms and ammo are sold in the civilian world. Essentially, the bill tells manufacturers and dealers: if you want to sell gear to the military, or buy surplus from them, you have to follow a strict new set of safety rules in your private business. This includes a total ban on the DoD buying from or selling to anyone who deals in 'military-grade assault weapons'—defined in Section 2 as semi-automatic, gas-operated firearms with fixed magazines holding over 10 rounds—in the commercial market. For everything else, the Pentagon is cutting ties with any dealer that doesn't meet a high bar for security and background checks.
The New Rulebook for Local Shops
Under Section 2, if a local gun shop or online retailer wants to remain part of the federal supply chain, they have to treat ammunition sales much like firearm sales. For the first time, ammo dealers would need a federal license and must run every buyer through the NICS background check system. There is also a new 'speed limit' on purchases: an individual can't buy more than 500 rounds of 'covered ammunition' (like .223 or 7.62 NATO) or 1,000 rounds of other ammo from the same dealer within a 30-day window. For a hobbyist who spends every weekend at the range, this means more frequent trips to the shop and a paper trail for every box of shells.
High-Tech Security and the Three-Year Rule
The bill also gets into the weeds of how shops are run. To stay compliant, dealers must implement high-end security systems—think cameras, alarms, and specific locking requirements—and maintain an electronic, searchable inventory. They also have to keep their 'crime gun' numbers low. If the Attorney General traces more than 24 guns used in crimes back to a specific dealer within three years of their original sale, that dealer is disqualified from doing business with the DoD. It’s a move designed to make shop owners much more selective about who they’re selling to, backed by mandatory employee training on how to spot 'straw purchasers' or people who might be a danger to themselves or others.
Who Pays and Who Benefits?
While the goal is to dry up the pipeline of illegal weapons, the practical reality for a small business owner—like a mom-and-pop shop in a rural area—is a significant jump in overhead. Between the cost of electronic inventory software, new security hardware, and the time spent on mandatory staff training, some smaller players might find it too expensive to keep up. On the flip side, for the average citizen, this creates a more transparent marketplace. You’ll see more consistent background checks at gun shows and online, as Section 2 explicitly forbids dealers from selling in any marketplace that doesn't require NICS checks for every single seller. It’s a high-stakes play: using the military’s checkbook to force a safety upgrade across the entire industry.