At its core, the bill seeks to limit the sale of military-grade assault weapons and specific types of ammunition—like .223 Remington and 7.62 NATO ammunition—by forbidding the DoD or privately-operated government-owned plants from selling these items in the commercial marketplace. Additionally, the DoD would be restricted from procuring items from dealers or manufacturers who sell these specific military-grade tools to the public.
But wait, there’s more. For firearms and ammunition that don’t fall under the “military-grade” category, the bill sets out strict standards for who can sell to the Department of Defense. Dealers must have a federal license, and over the past three years, must not have had more than 24 firearms traced back to them in crimes, with each crime occurring within three years from the sale. Dealers are also capped on how much ammunition they can sell to individuals within a 30-day period: no more than 500 rounds of covered ammunition or 1,000 rounds of other types.
Moreover, any dealer who wants to do business with the DoD must adhere to a rigorous code of conduct. This includes waiting for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to clear every sale, employing robust security systems against theft, and ensuring that firearms and ammunition transactions are in compliance with federal law. This even extends to requiring that every employee who handles firearms or ammunition undergo mandatory training on recognizing illegal activities and fraudulent purchasers.
Recordkeeping is another pillar of the bill. Dealers must maintain searchable electronic records of all transactions, inventory, and other essential business operations. Additionally, the DoD and government-owned plants must report annually to Congress on their commercial sales activities, including detailing how they prevent firearms or ammunition from leaking to unauthorized buyers or the illegal market.
The bill also establishes licensing requirements for ammunition dealers, mandating that they comply similarly to how firearm dealers are regulated. Through this, they too will gain access to the NICS system to screen buyers.
Why does all this matter? The bill addresses a very palpable concern: the increasing militarization of American streets. It aims to curb the easy accessibility of highly dangerous weapons to the civilian populace by regulating the flow of military-grade items into commercial markets. By doing so, it hopes to reduce gun violence and foster safer communities.
In terms of implications, the bill has a few key impacts. For one, it toughens the operational environment for dealers, who now must step up compliance measures if they wish to do business with the DoD. On the positive side, it could potentially lower rates of gun violence connected with military-grade weapons. Conversely, critics might argue that it places heavy burdens on dealers and limits market demand for high-powered weapons and ammunition.
Funding for implementing these changes will derive from appropriations to the Attorney General for upgrading and maintaining the NICS system, which is integral to the bill’s enforcement mechanisms. The act includes comprehensive financial monitoring and ensures that all transactions by dealerships are subject to close scrutiny.
In terms of next steps, the bill will be reviewed by the Committee on Armed Services and the Judiciary Committee before making its way through the legislative gauntlet. If it survives committee scrutiny, it will move on to potential debate, amendment, and votes in both houses of Congress. If passed, it will require the President’s signature to become law.
In a broader context, this legislation is part of a larger, ongoing national conversation about firearm safety, public security, and the appropriate civilian use of military-grade equipment. As policymakers continue to grapple with these issues, the “Stop Militarizing Our Streets Act of 2024” represents a legislative effort to strike a balance between national defense needs and domestic safety concerns.