H.R. 4257, the "End Domestic Terrorism Act," creates a new federal crime targeting mass killings involving machineguns or certain semiautomatic weapons that kill three or more people in a single incident. The law applies to killings at specified locations such as schools, places of worship, government buildings, entertainment venues, retail stores, and other public spaces, with a requirement that the offense involve interstate commerce or federal jurisdiction. Violations carry a sentence of any term of years or life imprisonment. The bill also expands the definition of what constitutes a "covered semiautomatic weapon" to include various rifles and shotguns with specific features like pistol grips, detachable magazines, or grenade launchers, as well as any weapon the Attorney General determines is substantially similar. The legislation requires the Attorney General to submit annual reports to Congress on charges filed under the new statute and to publish public reports within 180 days of charges, detailing victim numbers, government response costs, lost business revenue, and victim compensation provided.
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