# Plain Language Summary: Mass Shooter Prosecution Act of 2023

This bill creates a new federal crime specifically targeting mass shootings carried out with machine guns or certain semi-automatic weapons. Under this law, anyone who kills three or more people in a single incident using these types of weapons can be prosecuted in federal court and sentenced to any number of years in prison or life imprisonment. The key requirement is that the shooting must involve interstate commerce in some way—meaning the weapon crossed state lines, the shooter traveled across state lines to commit the crime, or the shooting affected interstate commerce. This gives federal prosecutors another tool to pursue mass shooters beyond state-level murder charges, potentially allowing for harsher penalties and federal resources to be brought to bear on these cases.

The bill defines "covered semi-automatic weapons" quite broadly to include AR-15 and AK-47 style rifles, semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines and certain features like pistol grips or adjustable stocks, semi-automatic shotguns with similar tactical features, and any devices designed to speed up the firing rate of semi-automatic weapons. Essentially, it targets the types of weapons commonly used in mass shooting incidents. The law also makes it illegal to provide material support to anyone committing these mass shooting crimes, similar to existing laws against supporting terrorists.

The bill also requires the Attorney General to submit annual reports to Congress documenting every case where federal charges are filed under this new law. These reports must include details about each incident—when it happened, how many people were killed or injured, what weapon was used, and demographic information about the people charged. Additionally, the bill requires that demographic data (age, gender, race, ethnicity, and nationality) be included in federal wiretap reports related to these crimes. This reporting requirement creates a public record of how often this law is used and who is being prosecuted under it.