Kaine, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Ban High-Capacity Gun Magazines
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) joined 21 of his Senate colleagues to introduce the Keep Americans Safe Act (KASA), legislation to reinstate a nationwide ban on the sale, transfer, possession, import, or manufacture of high-capacity gun magazines that hold more than ten rounds. A federal law prohibiting semiautomatic assault weapons and high-capacity magazines was in place from 1994 to 2004—during which time mass shooting fatalities dropped by 70 percent. Companion legislation was introduced in the House by U.S. Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO-01), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), and Brad Schneider (D-IL-10).
“Bans on semiautomatic weapons save lives—proven by the previous ban that lowered death rates of mass shootings by 70 percent. The expiration of this ban, and the continued refusal by many of my Republican colleagues to reinstate it, is leading to preventable tragedies across our nation,” said Kaine. “I’m proud to introduce this commonsense legislation that will once again put in place this essential safeguard to make Virginia and our nation a safer place for all.”
Specifically, the Keep Americans Safe Act would:
- Ban the sale or transfer of high-capacity gun magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds for any use outside of law enforcement;
- Ban the possession of a high-capacity gun magazine manufactured after the date of enactment for any use outside of law enforcement;
- Authorize high-capacity magazine buyback programs; and
- Authorize law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to seize and destroy high-capacity magazines possessed illegally.
The Keep Americans Safe Act is led by U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).
Kaine has long championed efforts to prevent gun violence. Last month, Kaine introduced the Age 21 Act, legislation that would raise the minimum age to purchase assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines from 18 to 21. Last year, Kaine cosponsored the Banning Unlawful Machinegun Parts (BUMP) Act and the Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion (GOSAFE) Act, two pieces of legislation that would ban bump stocks, devices that turn semiautomatic weapons into machine guns by increasing their rate of fire. These bills followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June 2024 that overturned a ban on bump stocks that President Trump signed in his first term.
The full text of the bill is available here.
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