Booker Reintroduces Federal Firearm Licensing Act

“If you need a license to drive a car, you should need a license to own and use a gun.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the toll from the epidemic of gun violence and deadly mass shootings across the country, most recently in Lewiston, Maine, continues to grow, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism, reintroduced the Federal Firearm Licensing Act, legislation that would require individuals to obtain a federal firearm license before purchasing or receiving a firearm.

Studies have shown that licensing laws can significantly reduce gun violence in places that have enacted them. For example, according to the Giffords Law Center, Connecticut saw its gun homicide and gun suicide rates decrease by 28 and 33 percent, respectively, after passing a state licensing law. In contrast, after Missouri repealed its firearm licensing law, the state saw a 47 percent increase in its gun homicide rate and 24 percent increase in its gun suicide rate. Licensing laws also enjoy strong support from Americans, with 77% backing the idea according to a Quinnipiac survey from 2019.

“The epidemic of gun violence and mass shootings continues to claim the lives of thousands of innocent Americans every year,” said Senator Booker. “If you need a license to drive a car, you should need a license to own and use a gun. Data shows that states that have implemented licensing laws have significantly reduced gun-related deaths. This legislation would mirror this common-sense idea at the federal level and enhance public safety by ensuring that individuals seeking to purchase firearms pass a standard background check and are properly trained before obtaining a required license. We are not powerless to stop the carnage in our communities. Meaningful reforms like this will prevent gun violence, save lives, and make our communities safer.”

“This common-sense, straightforward measure would require a license to own a gun. States like Connecticut have successfully implemented this very simple standard—requiring a background check and firearm safety training before being able to purchase a firearm. As gun violence continues to horrifically claim innocent lives and with most Americans in support of licensing laws, this is a bill whose time has come,” said Senator Blumenthal.

“This is simple: in order to buy a deadly weapon, you should be trained and licensed. Right now, you need a license to drive a car, but in some states, you need nothing more than cash to buy a gun. States like Hawai‘i with background checks and gun licensing requirements have shown us that this policy is effective in lowering gun-related deaths. Our bill would apply those same commonsense standards on the federal level, which will help keep more communities safe and save lives,” said Senator Schatz.

“The most recent, devastating mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine is yet another example of the urgent need for meaningful gun reform in this country. Too many Americans are terrified to simply go about living their lives – sending their kids to school, going to the grocery store, attending a concert – due to this scourge of gun violence. We are the only nation on earth whose citizens routinely risk getting gunned down when they walk out of their homes. This is an unacceptable reality. We, as legislators, need to step up and protect our communities the best way we can – with legislation like the Federal Firearm Licensing Act,” said Senator Menendez. “This legislation requires individuals in the United States to obtain a federal firearm license, receive training and go through a background check before purchasing or receiving a firearm. These are not onerous restrictions; they are just common sense. I am proud to join Senator Booker in cosponsoring this critical, life-saving legislation that prioritizes the safety and well-being of individuals and families in New Jersey and throughout the country.”

“Our nation is awash in guns—just this year alone, there have been more than 500 mass shootings in communities across our country,” said Senator Hirono. “As we work to combat our nation’s gun violence epidemic, I hope this bill will move us closer to stemming the scourge of gun violence. I’m proud to support the Federal Firearm Licensing Act to help protect our communities from gun violence.”

“Too many families have buried loved ones because of senseless gun violence and it’s long past time for Congress to find the courage to take action on this issue, ” said Representative Kim. “I’ve heard from families across our state that we should prevent guns from getting into the wrong hands and take common sense steps like requiring background checks and a license to own a lethal weapon to make our communities safer and save lives. I’m proud to reintroduce this bill in the House and I look forward to working alongside my colleagues in the Senate to get this passed into law so we can deliver the security and freedoms our families deserve.”

Specifically, the legislation would require:

• An individual to completed firearm safety training, which must include a written test and hands-on training to ensure safe use and accuracy.
• Attorney General to conduct a history background check of any individual purchasing a firearm.

The federal firearm license must be renewed every five years at which point the applicant will have to go through a background check and undergo firearm safety training again. The bill contains a mechanism for the U.S. Department of Justice to revoke a license if an individual poses a danger to themselves or to others. The legislation would require the Federal Bureau of Investigation to regularly conduct checks to ensure that individuals are in compliance with federal license requirements and keep in place requirements that all people purchasing firearms from a federal firearms licensee undergo a background check.

The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI); U.S. Representative Andy Kim (D-NJ).

The full text of the legislation can be found here.