WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim, both Democrats from New Jersey, have reintroduced the Federal Firearm Licensing Act, a bill designed to create a national licensing system for gun ownership in the United States. The proposal would require individuals to obtain a federal license before purchasing or receiving a firearm, expanding the licensing standards already adopted in several states.
Now, Booker and Kim want to take the power of gun registration from the states and give it to the federal government.
Booker said the measure was driven by the steady rise in gun violence and the lack of federal safeguards to prevent weapons from reaching dangerous individuals.
Referencing the recent mass shooting at Brown University, he described the proposal as “a commonsense step to end this nightmare and finally make our communities safe.” The bill, he said, mirrors systems that have proven effective in states such as Connecticut, which saw sharp declines in gun homicides and suicides after passing licensing laws.
Under the legislation, prospective gun buyers would be required to complete a written and practical firearm safety test, undergo a full background check conducted by the Department of Justice, and renew their license every five years. Licenses could be revoked if individuals are deemed a threat to themselves or others. The FBI would conduct periodic compliance reviews to ensure the law’s integrity.
Supporters argue the licensing framework would align firearms with other regulated privileges, such as driving, by ensuring only trained and vetted individuals can legally own guns.
“Families are demanding Congress step up and deliver commonsense steps that prevent guns from getting into the wrong hands,” Kim said.
Gun control advocates, including Giffords and the Community Justice Action Fund, endorsed the bill, pointing to research linking licensing laws to substantial reductions in gun violence. Vanessa Gonzalez of Giffords called the proposal “an effective way to make sure guns are only purchased and used by responsible Americans.”
The bill has drawn support from several Democratic senators, including Brian Schatz, Elizabeth Warren, Richard Blumenthal, Adam Schiff, Alex Padilla, and Mazie Hirono. It faces an uncertain path in Congress, where gun legislation continues to divide lawmakers along partisan lines.
The Federal Firearm Licensing Act aims to make firearm ownership a licensed responsibility nationwide.