U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Jim Risch (R-ID), along with a coalition of pro-Second Amendment lawmakers, have introduced the Sporting Firearms Access Act, a bill designed to prevent the ATF from arbitrarily blocking the import of firearms and ammunition into the United States. The legislation seeks to provide clarity to the “sporting purposes” test used by the ATF to regulate imports under the Gun Control Act of 1968.

The current ambiguity in the law allows the ATF to subjectively determine whether a firearm or ammunition qualifies for importation. According to the proposed legislation, the definition of “sporting purposes” would be expanded to include activities such as hunting, target shooting and competitions. The bill would also prohibit the ATF from denying imports of firearms or ammunition substantially similar to products already available in the U.S. market. To further protect consumers and businesses, the legislation would require the ATF to collaborate with the firearms industry to determine suitability for sporting purposes, provide an appeals process for wrongful determinations and allow for judicial review of ATF decisions.

Restoring Consumer Choice and Protecting Second Amendment Rights

“This legislation will advance fair and free trade and increase consumer choice by removing subjectivity,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. Keane emphasized that the bill would ensure that bureaucratic interpretations of the law do not arbitrarily block Americans from obtaining firearms and ammunition that are clearly intended for lawful sporting purposes. “We commend Senator Risch for his leadership and urge passage of this bill,” he added.

The legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Rick Scott (R-FL), John Cornyn (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Ted Budd (R-NC). Together, the senators aim to restore clarity and fairness to the import process while expanding consumer access to firearms and ammunition.