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119-hr-7935119th Congress

Shall Not Be Infringed Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative McGuire, John J. [R-VA-5]

Introduced

Summary

Conditions federal crime-control grants on adopting a 'Gun Free Zone' policy. This bill would require states and localities that want Byrne-JAG and COPS grants to align laws and policies with a new federal gun-free zone requirement and creates a private right of action for certain people harmed by gunfire inside those zones.

Show full summary
  • States and local governments would have to change laws and policies to meet the Act's gun-free zone rules or face up to a 99 percent cut to certain Byrne-JAG and COPS grant allocations for a fiscal year.
  • People who are authorized to carry a firearm in their state of residence could sue a state or local government for compensatory damages and pain and suffering if they were harmed by a firearm inside a gun-free zone and could have averted or reduced the harm by carrying.
  • Funds withheld from noncompliant jurisdictions are to be reallocated to jurisdictions that meet the requirement under the same programs.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

New lawsuit right for harmed carriers

If enacted, a person harmed by the use of a firearm by another inside a gun-free zone would be able to sue the State or local government for compensatory damages and damages for pain and suffering. To bring a suit the harmed person would need to be inside a gun-free zone, be authorized to carry a firearm in their State of residence, and show they could have averted or reduced the harm if allowed to carry. This right would begin the first full fiscal year after enactment.

Federal grants cut for gun-free zones

If enacted, beginning the first full fiscal year after enactment, States and local governments receiving Byrne-JAG or COPS grants would have to conform their laws and policies to a specified Gun Free Zone Policy to remain eligible. A "gun free zone" would be any place where the public is prohibited from carrying a firearm under federal, State, or local law. A jurisdiction that fails to comply for a fiscal year could lose up to 99% of the funds that would otherwise be allocated under those programs for that year. Funds not allocated because of a reduction would be reallocated to States that have not failed to comply.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

McGuire, John J. [R-VA-5]

VA • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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