Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2025

Protection for Lawful Owners: Individuals who already own rifles capable of firing .50 caliber ammunition are protected under a grandfather clause, which allows for the continued sale, transfer, or possession of those rifles if they were lawfully possessed on or before the date of the Act's enactment (Section 2(a)(2)(B)).

Legal Protections for Registrants: People who register their .50 caliber rifles within the required 12-month period are protected from having the information submitted for registration used as evidence against them in criminal proceedings regarding prior or concurrent law violations (Section 2(b)(1)(A)(ii)).

Targeted Restrictions on Traffickers: The bill creates a federal firearm prohibitor for significant foreign narcotics traffickers and certain other foreign persons, preventing them from acquiring firearms (Section 4(a)).

New Restrictions on Ownership: It becomes unlawful for any person to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess a rifle capable of firing .50 caliber ammunition, subject to specific exceptions (Section 2(a)(1)).

Mandatory Registration Requirements: Persons possessing a rifle capable of firing .50 caliber ammunition that is not already in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record must register the rifle with the Secretary within a 12-month period following the Act's enactment (Section 2(b)(1)(A)(B)(i)).

Increased Reporting Burdens: The law expands the requirements for reporting multiple firearm sales to include rifles, rather than just pistols or revolvers (Section 5).