S-1283 : Still Just a Bill

The "Innovate to De-Escalate Modernization Act" (S. 1283) proposes to update federal firearms laws to incorporate advancements in less-than-lethal weapon technology.

The key provisions of this bill include:

• Exemption of Less-Than-Lethal Projectile Devices: It amends Title 18, United States Code, to exclude "less-than-lethal projectile devices" from the federal definition of a "firearm." This exemption would remove such devices from existing federal firearms restrictions.
• New Definition for 'Less-Than-Lethal Projectile Device': The bill defines a 'less-than-lethal projectile device' as one that:
  • Is not designed or readily convertible to expel standard ammunition (used in handguns, rifles, or shotguns) or any projectile at a velocity exceeding 500 feet per second.
  • Is specifically designed and intended to be used in a manner that is not likely to cause death or serious bodily injury.
  • Does not accept, and cannot be easily modified to accept, an ammunition feeding device loaded through a pistol grip or commonly used in semiautomatic firearms.
• Attorney General Determination: The bill mandates that, upon request, the Attorney General must determine within 90 days whether a device meets the specified definition of a 'less-than-lethal projectile device.'

The purpose of this legislation is to modernize federal regulations to distinguish between traditional firearms and emerging less-lethal technologies.