# Plain Language Summary: Keep Americans Safe Act

This bill would ban the manufacture, sale, import, and possession of high-capacity ammunition magazines and similar devices that hold more than 15 rounds of ammunition. The law would apply to magazines, drums, belts, and other feeding devices used in firearms. The main idea is to limit how much ammunition someone can fire before needing to reload, which supporters argue could reduce casualties during mass shooting incidents by forcing shooters to pause and change magazines more frequently.

The ban wouldn't apply to magazines that people already own before the law takes effect—this is a "grandfather clause" that lets current owners keep what they have. However, anyone who tries to buy, sell, make, or bring these high-capacity magazines into the country after the law passes would be breaking federal law. The bill does carve out exceptions for law enforcement officers, military personnel, nuclear facility security staff, and retired police officers who received magazines as part of their retirement benefits. Gun manufacturers and importers could also possess them for testing purposes with government approval.

To enforce the law, the bill requires that any new high-capacity magazines manufactured after the law passes must have a serial number and manufacturing date stamped on them. This helps authorities track and identify illegal devices. The bill also allows law enforcement to seize and forfeit any illegal magazines they find, and it sets up penalties for violations. Additionally, the law would let local police departments use federal grant money to run "buy-back" programs where they compensate people who voluntarily turn in their high-capacity magazines.

Keep Americans Safe Act

DeGette, Diana

Keep Americans Safe Act This bill establishes a new criminal offense for the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device (LCAFD). The bill does not prohibit certain conduct with respect to an LCAFD, including the following: <ul> <li> importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession related to certain law enforcement efforts, or authorized tests or experiments;</li> <li>importation, sale, transfer, or possession related to securing nuclear materials; and</li> <li> possession by a retired law enforcement officer.</li> </ul> The bill permits continued possession of, but prohibits sale or transfer of, a grandfathered LCAFD. Newly manufactured LCAFDs must display serial number identification and the date of manufacture. Additionally, the bill allows a state or local government to use Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program funds to compensate individuals who surrender an LCAFD under a buy-back program.