Kustoff, Blackburn Introduce Legislation to Crack Down on Crime

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN) introduced the Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act in the House of Representatives. This legislation will reinstate an important tool for prosecutors to seek enhanced penalties against violent, repeat offenders. 

Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) introduced the companion legislation in the U.S. Senate. 

“Career criminals are a danger to our citizens and our communities,” said Congressman Kustoff. “The Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act will reinstate a critical tool that allows prosecutors to seek tougher penalties for violent career criminals. I appreciate Senator Marsha Blackburn and Senator Tom Cotton for their work on this important bill.” 

“Violent, repeat offenders have no business being back on our streets,” said Senator Blackburn. “We’ve seen the heartbreaking consequences of rewarding repeat offenders with the freedom to victimize more law-abiding Americans. The Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act would empower prosecutors to keep dangerous felons behind bars and prevent future tragedies.”

"Violent, repeat criminals should be behind bars, not roaming the streets threatening law-abiding citizens,” said Senator Cotton. “The Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act will give back federal prosecutors the tool they need to lock up hardened, repeat offenders.”
 

The Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act is endorsed by Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Organizations, and the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition.

"I am grateful for Congressman Kustoff and Senator Blackburn’s leadership on this important legislation that ensures serious federal time for dangerous criminals. Career criminals with guns put our communities at risk. This legislation restores prosecutors' ability to seek appropriate enhanced penalties for dangerous repeat offenders while ensuring the law meets constitutional standards. This common-sense approach will keep violent criminals off our streets," said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti.

“This bill empowers law enforcement and the justice system to better protect the public—especially at a time when some of our nation’s cities are still struggling to bring down violent crime rates. The Fraternal Order of Police firmly stands behind this effort to bring clarity, consistency, and safety back to our neighborhoods,” said Patrick Yoes, the Fraternal Order of Police National President.

“Congress passed the Armed Career Criminal Act in 1984 to protect our nation’s communities from the most dangerous violent criminals. Unfortunately, this important law was essentially voided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015 due to part of the definition of “violent felony” being unconstitutionally vague, taking away an important tool that law enforcement used to get the worst career criminals off our streets. The Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act will fix and restore the Act, giving law enforcement and prosecutors back a significant resource in the fight against violent crime. We thank Senator Blackburn for her leadership and support,” said Bill Johnson, Executive Director of the National Association of Police Organizations.

“The National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition (NNOAC) strongly supports the Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act, led by Senator Blackburn and Congressman Kustoff, because it gives law enforcement and prosecutors the tools they need to keep communities safe. Violent, repeat offenders continue to drive much of the serious crime in our neighborhoods, and this legislation ensures they can be effectively identified and prosecuted. By clearly defining serious felonies, the bill strengthens our ability to focus federal resources where they’re most needed. We appreciate Senator Blackburn and Congressman Kustoff’s leadership on this important public safety measure,” said Eric Brown, President of the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition.

Background:
In 1984, the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA) was included in the Comprehensive Crime Control Act with the intent to guard Americans from the most dangerous career offenders by defining the parameters under which offenders are classified. However, in the 2015 case Johnson v. United States, the Supreme Court ruled the residual clause unconstitutional, thus providing a loophole for repeat offenders to end up back on the streets.

Today, under the current ACCA, individuals with three prior “serious drug felonies” or “violent felonies” who are found in possession of a firearm are subject to a 15-year mandatory minimum penalty. 

The Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act of 2025 would:

• Establish a new, clear definition of a “serious violent felony”
• Empower prosecutors to hold habitual violent offenders accountable when they’re caught with a firearm
• The Armed Career Criminal Act would still apply only in a case where a felon who possesses a firearm --in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) --has previously been convicted three times of serious felonies, which must have been committed on different occasions.
   

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