Bill · S. 123· Senate(119-S-123)
Handgun Permit to Purchase Act
- Introduced
- 1/16/2025
- Last activity
- 1/16/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Chris Van Hollen
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Handgun Permit to Purchase Act authorizes a grant program focused on handgun licensing. This legislation amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to allow the Attorney General to award grants to States, local governments, and Indian tribes. These funds are intended to help applicants develop, implement, or improve handgun purchaser licensing requirements. To qualify for a grant, applicants must have a law in place that requires specific criteria for handgun purchasers. These requirements include age limits, residency-based applications, and background checks.
Yes
Does this put more limits on buying or owning guns?+8
The bill provides funding to implement handgun purchaser licensing requirements including background checks and age limits.
The opposite· 3 of 5
Would gun owners be better off under this?-6
The bill imposes mandatory licensing, periodic renewals, and background checks on handgun purchasers.
Does this protect the right to own guns?-5
The bill imposes new licensing, background check, and renewal requirements for handgun purchasers.
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?-3
The bill mandates a minimum age of 21 for handgun purchasers, restricting access for those in their late teens and early twenties.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Reduction in violence: The bill's findings suggest that adopting handgun purchaser licensing laws is associated with significant reductions in firearm-srelated homicides (Section 2).
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Decrease in suicides: Findings in the text indicate that a handgun purchaser licensing law in Connecticut was associated with a 32.8-percent reduction in firearm suicide rates (Section 2).
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Lower rates of mass shootings: Research cited in the bill shows that States with strong firearm purchaser licensing laws were associated with 56 percent lower rates of fatal mass shooting incidents and 67 percent fewer mass shooting victims (Section 2).
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Financial assistance for licensing programs: The Attorney General may award grants to assist States, local governments, and Indian tribes in the development, implementation, and evaluation of handgun purchaser licensing requirements (Section 3(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Age restrictions: To be eligible for a handgun license under the required laws, an individual must be not less than 21 years old (Section 3(a)).
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Residency and status requirements: Applicants for a license must be a citizen or national of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence (Section 3(a)).
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Mandatory renewal: The bill requires that an individual reapply for a handgun purchaser license or permit after a period not longer than 5 years (Section 3(a)).
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Increased administrative requirements: Applicants must submit to a background investigation, a criminal history check, fingerprints, and photographs (Section 3(a)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Gun Owners-6Good For Young Adults-3Good For Immigrants-2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Gun Control Measures+8Improves Second Amendment Protections-5
- Economy And Finance
- Reduces Government Spending-1
- 1/16/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Christopher MurphyDemocrat · Connecticut