Bill > S123

This bill establishes a federal grant program to support and incentivize state and local handgun licensing programs, with the goal of reducing gun violence. The bill cites extensive research showing that handgun purchaser licensing laws are associated with significant reductions in firearm-related homicides and suicides. Under the proposed program, the Attorney General may award competitive grants to states, local governments, and Native American tribes to develop, implement, and evaluate handgun licensing requirements. To be eligible for these grants, applicants must have a licensing law that includes specific provisions: applicants must be at least 21 years old, U.S. citizens or permanent residents, apply through local law enforcement, reapply every five years, submit to background checks and fingerprinting, and be prohibited from obtaining a license if they are legally barred from firearm possession. The bill highlights that in 2023, gun violence claimed 46,728 lives, with handguns involved in approximately 90 percent of firearm violence, and provides evidence from states like Connecticut, Maryland, and Missouri demonstrating the potential effectiveness of such licensing programs in reducing gun-related deaths. The grant program aims to encourage the widespread adoption of handgun licensing laws across the United States.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/123/all-info