New Federal Legislation Proposes Significant Restrictions on Semi-Automatic Firearms

A substantial new firearms regulation bill has been introduced in Congress that would place limitations on many semi-automatic firearms with detachable magazines. The Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion (GOSAFE) Act, designated as H.R. 2790 in the House and S.1370 in the Senate, represents one of the most comprehensive federal firearms restriction proposals in recent years.

The legislation, introduced by Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Representative Lucy McBath from Georgia, bears similarities to Colorado's earlier proposed regulation SB25-003, though that state bill was ultimately modified before becoming law. The GOSAFE Act arrives during a period of ongoing national conversation about firearms regulations and Second Amendment interpretations.

If enacted, the GOSAFE Act would considerably narrow the types of semi-automatic firearms available to civilians. The bill specifically targets firearms utilizing detachable magazines that operate through direct impingement, short or long-stroke gas piston, blowback, or recoil-operated systems. Many commonly owned modern rifles and handguns used for personal defense would be affected by these restrictions.

The legislation does include several exemptions. Rimfire firearms chambered in .22 caliber or smaller would not fall under the restrictions. Additionally, the bill provides exceptions for certain firearms with permanently fixed magazines, though with capacity limitations—ten rounds or fewer for shotguns and rifles, and fifteen rounds or fewer for handguns.

Under the proposed framework, Americans would still have access to:

• Semi-automatic firearms with low-capacity fixed magazines
• Revolvers
• Single and double-shot firearms
• Manually operated firearms (bolt, lever, or pump actions)

When discussing the bill, Senator Heinrich stated that the GOSAFE Act targets "underlying mechanical principles that make some firearms so much more dangerous, while still protecting Americans' right to own a firearm for legitimate self-defense, hunting, and sporting purposes."

The proposal has received endorsements from several gun safety advocacy organizations, including Everytown, Giffords, March for Our Lives, and Brady. Currently, the legislation has gathered support from twenty-six Democratic co-sponsors in the House and thirteen in the Senate, including Independent Senator Angus S. King Jr. of Maine.

Critics of the bill argue that these restrictions would go beyond what is constitutionally permissible, particularly in light of the Supreme Court's 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, which emphasized that firearms regulations must be consistent with the historical tradition of firearm regulation in America.

The outcome of this legislation remains uncertain, particularly with the current composition of Congress and the ongoing national debate regarding Second Amendment rights and public safety concerns. The bill represents another chapter in the complex discussion about firearms in American society, with passionate advocates on both sides of the issue.