Federal Firearm Licensing Act
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced
Summary
Creates a federal license required to buy, receive, or possess a firearm. The Attorney General would run a new Federal Firearm Purchasing License system with training, checks, and reporting rules for buyers and sellers.
Show full summary
- Individuals and households would need a Federal Firearm Purchasing License to acquire or possess a gun. The license application would require safety training with a written and live-fire test, a background check, fingerprints, ID, and details about the firearm. The license would cover one firearm and must be used within 30 days.
- Gun sellers and transferors would have to report each transfer to the Attorney General within 3 business days. Reports must include seller and buyer IDs and the firearm make, model, and serial number.
- The Attorney General would be required to issue or deny licenses within 30 days and could deny or revoke licenses for safety or legal reasons based on specified danger factors. Applicants could get judicial review. States could keep their own systems if they meet substantially similar standards.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
State exemption from federal license
If enacted, the Attorney General could exempt people in a State from the federal purchasing-license requirement. The exemption would apply only if the Attorney General determines the State issues a substantially similar State firearm license with comparable requirements. If your State gets that written determination, you would not need the federal FFPL.
New federal gun purchase license
If enacted, you would need a federal firearm purchasing license (FFPL) to buy, receive, or possess a firearm. The Attorney General would have to approve or deny applications within 30 days. Each license would let you buy one firearm and must be used within 30 days; each license would expire after 5 years. To get a license you would need safety training, a written law test, and live firing tests, plus ID, fingerprints, a background check, and details about the gun and seller. The Attorney General would notify State and local officials about applications, enroll licensees in Rap Back, set renewal rules, and could revoke licenses for danger with a court hearing and firearm removal procedures.
New rules for private gun sales
If enacted, most private gun sales between two unlicensed people would be unlawful unless a licensed dealer first takes the firearm and follows transfer rules. A seller could not sell a gun to someone who did not have the required federal or similar State license during the previous 30 days. Anyone who sells or otherwise disposes of a firearm would have to report the transaction to the Attorney General within 3 business days, including seller and buyer IDs and the gun's make, model, and serial number.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Richard Blumenthal
CT • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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