New Jersey senators push nationwide licensing system for gun ownership
Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim (D-New Jersey) have introduced sweeping legislation that would fundamentally transform how Americans purchase firearms, requiring federal government approval before any citizen could legally acquire a gun.
The Federal Firearm Licensing Act, introduced Dec. 17, 2025, would mandate that every American obtain a federal firearm license before purchasing or receiving any firearm. The proposal represents one of the most comprehensive federal gun control measures in recent years, establishing a nationwide licensing system that would place significant new requirements in between law-abiding citizens and their Second Amendment rights.
Under the proposed legislation, Americans would need to complete mandatory firearms safety training that includes both written testing and hands-on instruction before qualifying for a license. The attorney general would conduct background checks on every applicant, and the FBI would perform regular compliance checks to monitor license holders. Each license would expire after five years, requiring gun owners to renew their permission to purchase firearms.
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The bill would also fundamentally alter how Americans can buy and sell firearms privately. Unlicensed individuals could no longer transfer guns directly to other unlicensed individuals. Instead, all transactions would need to flow through licensed dealers who would conduct background checks. Selling or transferring a firearm to someone without a valid federal or state license issued within the previous 30 days would become illegal, with sellers required to report such transactions to law enforcement.
Booker defended the measure by invoking a recent tragedy at Brown University. “Every day, Americans face the relentless scourge of gun violence, most recently the shooting at Brown University, which claimed the lives of two students and left nine others critically wounded,” the New Jersey senator stated. “With each new tragedy, we are painfully reminded of Congress’s continued failure to pass commonsense legislation that could end this nightmare and finally make our communities safe.”
The senator drew comparisons to vehicle licensing requirements.
“If a license is required to drive a car, it should be required to own a gun,” Booker argued. “The Federal Firearm Licensing Act brings this common sense idea to every community in the nation, mandating background checks and proper training before a license is issued.”
Sen. Kim echoed these sentiments, stating that “families are demanding Congress step up and deliver commonsense steps that prevent guns from getting into the wrong hands and protect innocent lives from the scourge of gun violence in our country.”
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The legislation has drawn support from gun control advocacy organizations. Giffords and the Community Justice Action Fund have endorsed the bill, while cosponsors include Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), Adam Schiff (D-California), Alex Padilla (D-California), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).
Second Amendment advocates have substantial reasons for concern. The bill would create unprecedented federal control over a constitutional right, requiring Americans to seek government permission before exercising their ability to purchase firearms. The mandatory training, testing, and licensing requirements establish barriers that could prevent law-abiding citizens from acquiring guns for self-defense, hunting, or sport shooting.
The five-year renewal requirement means gun owners would need to repeatedly prove their worthiness to the federal government to maintain their ability to purchase firearms. The attorney general would gain authority to revoke licenses if officials deem someone “a danger to themselves or others,” a standard that could be subjectively enforced and susceptible to political manipulation.
The prohibition on private transfers represents a direct assault on how many Americans have traditionally bought and sold firearms within their communities. Gun shows, family transfers, and sales between acquaintances would all require government intermediaries and documentation. The mandatory reporting requirements to law enforcement create a de facto registry of gun transactions that privacy advocates and gun rights supporters have long opposed.
The legislation also establishes ongoing FBI monitoring of license holders through the Rap Back service, meaning gun owners would be subject to continuous government surveillance. This perpetual oversight raises civil liberties concerns that extend beyond the Second Amendment into broader questions about government tracking of citizens exercising constitutional rights.
While the bill includes a provision allowing states with similar licensing systems to potentially gain exemptions from the federal mandate, the legislation would still establish a nationwide framework that could serve as a foundation for future restrictions. Moreover, this could create a slippery slope where today’s licensing requirements become tomorrow’s justification for expanded gun control measures.
The comparison to driver’s licenses, while rhetorically appealing to supporters, fundamentally misconstrues constitutional protections. Driving is a privilege regulated by states, while the Second Amendment explicitly protects the right to keep and bear arms. The Constitution contains no provision requiring Americans to obtain government permission before exercising enumerated rights.
The Federal Firearm Licensing Act faces significant hurdles in a Republican trifecta in Washington and would likely encounter immediate constitutional challenges even if passed. Second Amendment advocacy groups would almost certainly file lawsuits arguing the licensing scheme violates the fundamental right to keep and bear arms by imposing undue burdens on gun ownership.
For Americans who value their Second Amendment rights, this legislation represents a fundamental shift in how the federal government would regulate firearms. Rather than targeting criminals, the bill creates a comprehensive system requiring every American to prove their worthiness to federal authorities before purchasing a gun.
As this legislation moves forward, the debate will ultimately center on whether Americans need government permission to exercise rights the Founders deemed inalienable.
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