Bill Overview
Title: Blair Holt Firearm Owner Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2022
Description: This bill establishes new requirements and restrictions with respect to the sale, transfer, and possession of firearms. Among the requirements, the bill generally requires owners of certain firearms—handguns and semiautomatic rifles capable of accepting a detachable ammunition feeding device—to obtain a license, and establishes background check requirements for firearm transfers between private parties.
Sponsors: Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1]
Target Audience
Population: People worldwide who own, buy, or sell firearms, or who may in the future.
Estimated Size: 100000000
- The bill affects individuals who are currently or might become owners of certain firearms, specifically handguns and semiautomatic rifles.
- The bill impacts individuals involved in buying or selling firearms between private parties, due to new requirements for background checks.
- Firearm sellers, particularly those in private sales, will need to adhere to new background check protocols.
- Individuals seeking to purchase or own handguns or semiautomatic rifles will need to obtain a license, which introduces a new step in firearm acquisition.
Reasoning
- The policy will primarily impact individuals who own or plan to purchase handguns and semiautomatic rifles, particularly affecting their ease of access and purchase processes due to the requirement of obtaining a license.
- People involved in private firearm sales must adhere to new background check protocols, which may impact their businesses and personal transactions.
- The policy could lead to a sense of increased safety for some individuals due to stricter regulations on firearm ownership.
- However, it could also create a feeling of restriction for current and potential firearm owners, particularly in areas where regulations are currently less stringent.
- Budget constraints mean the policy will focus initially on areas with the highest density of firearm ownership, perhaps leaving rural or economically disadvantaged regions with fewer resources for license processing or background checks.
- The financial cost of obtaining a license or performing background checks may be a barrier for lower-income individuals and small-scale private sellers.
- Overall, the policy might enhance community safety perceptions while posing challenges in licensing compliance and cost for individual gun owners and sellers.
Simulated Interviews
Gun shop owner (Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about the impact on my business with the new licensing and background check requirements.
- It might deter customers from buying due to extra hurdles and potential increased costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Elementary school teacher (California)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think tighter control on firearm licenses could make our community safer.
- Background checks should have always been in place for private sales.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired (Florida)
Age: 67 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned that these new requirements encroach on my rights.
- It adds more bureaucracy to something that is my constitutional right.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 9 |
College student (New York)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful that these laws can prevent future tragedies similar to the loss I experienced.
- Licensing and background checks seem like necessary steps to me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Private firearms instructor (Alabama)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could increase my business as people will require training for licensing requirements.
- Prioritizing safety is always beneficial, but we must consider accessibility for individuals seeking defense tools.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Factory worker (Ohio)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If obtaining a license becomes costly, it might become difficult to keep my inheritance.
- I worry about how this might disproportionately affect working-class firearm owners.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Paralegal (Washington)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better control on who can buy guns seems like a step in the right direction to reduce crime.
- Hopefully, these checks make the community safer.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Nurse (Missouri)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The process seems cumbersome, especially for responsible sport shooters.
- Licensing might deter casual hobbyists but ensure more accountability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Rancher (Montana)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried the licensing process will be time-consuming and bureaucratic.
- In rural areas, we need efficiency, and I hope this doesn't slow things down.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Police officer (Illinois)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm in favor of stricter checks for both safety and professional context.
- Seeing what I see on duty, any step towards controlling illegal firearm use helps.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $450000000, High: $550000000)
Year 2: $450000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $500000000)
Year 3: $400000000 (Low: $350000000, High: $450000000)
Year 5: $350000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $400000000)
Year 10: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $350000000)
Year 100: $100000000 (Low: $90000000, High: $150000000)
Key Considerations
- There is a significant initial investment required for system implementation and administration.
- Coordination with state and local governments is essential to ensure effective execution and compliance.
- Public response to heightened regulation may result in legal challenges, affecting timelines and costs.