Congress·In Committee·S. 3544

Federal Firearm Licensing Act Would Require Safety Training, Background Checks to Buy or Own Guns

Federal Firearm Licensing Act

3 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

Senate

House

President

Law

Key Points

People would need a federal license to buy, receive, or even possess a firearm, unless their state has a similar license system approved by the Attorney General.
To get a license, applicants must pass firearm safety training (written and hands-on tests), submit fingerprints and ID, and pass a background check.
Each license would be for buying one specific gun and would have to be used within 30 days; the license itself would last 5 years before needing renewal.
Private gun sales or transfers would have to go through a licensed gun dealer so a point-of-sale background check happens, not just a handshake deal.
Sellers would have to report gun sales/transfers to the Attorney General within 3 business days, and licenses could be denied or revoked if someone is judged a serious danger.

Gun PolicyCriminal Justice

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Negative Impacts(3)

Gun Owner

Hurts

Mental Health

Hurts

Criminal Record

Hurts

Mixed Impacts(1)

Small Business Owner

Neutral

Positive Impacts(3)

Disability Benefits

Helps

Chronic Illness

Helps

Child Tax Credit

Helps

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Dec 17, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Dec 17, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

After the bill becomes law (start date not specified)

Federal firearm purchasing license system gets built and starts accepting applications

People who want to buy or keep a firearm would need to apply, complete training and testing, submit fingerprints/ID, and wait for approval before a legal purchase/possession in most cases.

When the application system goes live

30-day decision clock begins for license applications

Once an application is received, the government must approve or deny within 30 days, giving buyers a predictable waiting window (though it may still delay purchases).

Once the new transfer rule takes effect (no effective date specified)

Private gun transfers shift to licensed dealers for background checks

Family/neighborhood/online person-to-person sales would usually require a dealer to take possession and run the check, adding steps, time, and likely fees.

After licenses begin being issued

Ongoing monitoring starts for license holders through Rap Back enrollment

If a license holder later gets flagged through new criminal history information, it could trigger review and possible revocation, which could lead to firearm removal.

About 5 years after the first licenses are issued

First wave of 5-year renewals comes due

People who still want to buy/possess firearms would need to renew and meet the requirements again, or risk losing legal ability to possess guns.

Related News

5 articles

NJ Urban News·3 months ago

Booker & Kim Introduce Federal Gun License Bill For NJ

Sens. Andy Kim and Cory Booker introduced the Federal Firearm Licensing Act in December 2025. The bill requires a federal license to buy or receive firearms, mandating safety training, written tests, and background checks to close the 'Iron Pipeline' of illegal gun trafficking.

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The Hill·almost 4 years ago

Booker, Watson Coleman introduce bill to require federal license for gun owners

The proposed Federal Firearm Licensing Act aims to create a national standard for gun ownership. It requires applicants to pass a written firearm safety test and hands-on training. Licenses would be valid for five years and would be required to possess any firearm.

NBC News·almost 4 years ago

Sen. Cory Booker introduces bill to require federal licenses for gun owners

The legislation would require a federal license for firearm possession, involving a background check and safety training. Booker stated the bill is a 'common-sense' approach to ensuring owners are properly trained and vetted before they can legally possess a weapon.

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