Sen. Elizabeth Warren and several Democratic lawmakers are once again taking aim at the civilian firearms market with legislation that would bar defense contractors and military-owned plants from selling certain firearms and ammunition to the public.
The proposal, called the Stop Militarizing Our Streets Act, was reintroduced in the Senate by Warren and Andy Kim and in the House by Robert Garcia and Jamie Raskin.
The bill would prohibit Department of Defense contractors and military-owned manufacturing plants from selling what sponsors describe as “military-grade assault weapons and ammunition” into the civilian market.
Elizabeth Warren: “Here we are well into the second week, and it is still the case that the Trump administration cannot explain the reasons we entered this war, the goals we’re trying to accomplish, and the methods we’re doing that. The only part that seems clear is that while… pic.twitter.com/R94FG4vlS0
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 10, 2026
Supporters say the goal is to prevent government-linked manufacturers from supplying firearms and ammunition that later end up in criminal hands.
“Americans’ tax dollars should not be used to fuel gun violence,” Warren said in a statement announcing the legislation. “Congress must step in to keep Americans safe, and that means stopping the U.S. military and giant defense contractors from selling weapons of war to cartels, criminal groups, and mass shooters that terrorize our communities.”
The bill also attempts to reshape how companies that hold Pentagon contracts operate in the commercial firearms market.
Under the proposal, contractors could lose eligibility for Department of Defense work if they sell restricted firearms or ammunition to civilians. It would also require those companies to ensure commercial dealers meet certain conditions. Such as maintaining a low number of crime-gun traces and screening customers before selling to them.
In addition, the legislation would require government-owned plants to report commercial sales to Congress and outline plans to prevent diversion into illegal markets. The Department of Defense would also be required to disclose what firearms contractors sell and how much revenue those companies receive from Pentagon contracts.
Democrats backing the measure argue the bill is necessary to address what they call the “flow of weapons of war” into civilian communities.
But the firearms industry says the legislation misunderstands how the system actually works. Particularly when it comes to ammo produced at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant.
Mark Oliva, managing director of public affairs for National Shooting Sports Foundation, told GunsAmerica the proposal could have unintended consequences for national defense.
“This isn’t the first time anti-gun Democrats have attempted to eliminate commercial sale of ammunition,” Oliva said. “These attempts risk the military readiness of Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, to which the U.S. Army has credited for its ability to keep the warfighter supplied with necessary ammunition needed to defend our nation.”
Oliva added that commercial sales help keep production lines active and the skilled workforce in place so the facility can rapidly scale during wartime demand.
“Commercial utilization enables the Army to ensure the readiness of not just the machinery needed to produce ammunition but also the funds for the necessary skilled labor to keep the plant in peak operation so there are no gaps in military readiness,” he said. “As a veteran who fought in wars with ammunition supplied by Lake City, it is reassuring that the firearm and ammunition industry and the U.S. military have the wisdom to properly invest in readiness.”
The bill has drawn support from gun-control groups including Everytown for Gun Safety, Brady Campaign, Giffords, and March for Our Lives.
Whether the legislation gains traction in Congress remains unclear. Similar proposals in the past have struggled to advance, particularly in a divided legislature where 2A issues often become political footballs.
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