Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) introduced the "Preventing Private Paramilitary Activity Act" on the anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol protests.

The bill seeks to limit most militia activity, creating criminal penalties for people who engage in certain conduct including intimidating elected officials, interfering with government proceedings and pretending to be law enforcement.

Markey claimed the bill will prevent another Jan. 6 incident while citing fake news about the events that transpired.

"Three years ago, white supremacists affiliated with paramilitary organizations stormed the U.S. Capitol, shattering windows, walls, and the families of five U.S. Capitol police officers," Sen. Markey said in a news release earlier this month.

"Private paramilitary actors, such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, pose a serious threat to democracy and the rule of law, and we must create new prohibitions on their unauthorized activities that interfere with the exercise of people's constitutional rights. The forces of bigotry, hatred, and violent extremism must be stopped for the sake of our democracy."

Raskin claimed militia groups use "political violence" to intimidate people and threaten democracy.

"Our legislation makes the obvious but essential clarification that these domestic extremists' paramilitary operations are in no way protected by our Constitution," he said in a statement. "I'm grateful to Senator Markey for his partnership on this critical effort to protect the rule of law, deter insurrection and defend our democracy."

Notably, none of the Proud Boys or Oath Keepers were charged with violent offenses on Jan. 6 yet some were still sentenced to decades in prison.