End Domestic Terrorism Act

This bill, titled the End Domestic Terrorism Act, adds a new federal offense (18 U.S.C. Sec. 2332j) for mass killings committed with a machinegun, a destructive device, or a “covered semiautomatic weapon.” A person who kills three or more people in a single incident with one of these weapons, in a circumstance or at a location described in the bill (e.g., using interstate commerce, transporting the weapon in commerce, or the offense occurring at a school, house of worship, government building, and various public venues), could be imprisoned for any term of years or life. The bill also expands penalties to include providing material support to terrorists under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2339A to cover charges under 2332j, adds several related reporting and demographic requirements, and directs ongoing federal rulemaking to define what counts as a “covered semiautomatic weapon.” In short, the bill broadens federal tools to prosecute mass killings involving particular firearms and imposes new transparency requirements on the Department of Justice (DOJ) and federal prosecutors. Potential impact: - Creates a new, potentially broad federal charge for mass killings involving specified firearms, with very stiff penalties. - Narrows the circumstances under which federal charges can be brought by tying the offense to interstate commerce and specific locations. - Increases reporting and data transparency around such cases, including demographic information. - Introduces regulatory processes to expand the list of “covered semiautomatic weapons” over time.