Bill Overview
Title: Protecting Our Kids Act
Description: This bill makes various changes to federal firearms laws, including to establish new criminal offenses and to expand the types of weapons and devices that are subject to regulation. Among the changes, the bill generally prohibits the sale or transfer of certain semiautomatic firearms to individuals who are under 21 years of age; establishes new federal criminal offenses for gun trafficking and related conduct; establishes a federal statutory framework to regulate ghost guns (i.e., guns without serial numbers); establishes a framework to regulate the storage of firearms on residential premises at the federal, state, and tribal levels; subjects bump stocks to regulation under federal firearms laws; generally prohibits the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, and possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices; and requires the Department of Justice to report on the demographic data of persons who are determined to be ineligible to purchase a firearm based on a background check performed by the national instant criminal background check system.
Sponsors: Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals impacted by changes to federal firearms laws
Estimated Size: 55
- The bill impacts individuals who are potential or current gun owners, especially those considering purchasing semiautomatic firearms, as it restricts the sale to individuals under 21 years old.
- The bill affects people involved in or susceptible to gun trafficking activities, due to the introduction of new criminal offenses.
- Individuals who are in possession of 'ghost guns' will be impacted as such firearms will be subject to regulation.
- Households and individuals owning firearms will need to comply with new regulations governing the storage of firearms at the federal, state, and tribal levels.
- The bill specifically impacts individuals who possess bump stocks and large capacity ammunition feeding devices, as these items will be newly regulated, limited, or prohibited.
- Demographic groups historically impacted by ineligible status during gun background checks will be indirectly impacted due to new reporting requirements for the DOJ.
Reasoning
- The policy targets individuals who are either gun owners or potential gun buyers, specifically those under 21, as well as those involved in gun trafficking or possessing firearms requiring regulation.
- Households with existing firearms are also targets due to new storage requirements.
- The budget limitations suggest the policy will focus on enforcement and compliance rather than offering benefits or incentives, which may limit longer-term positive impacts unless compliance directly improves community safety.
- The distribution of interviews reflects different segments of impact such as young potential gun owners, responsible adult owners, those potentially benefitting from safer communities, and indirect impacts on communities at risk of gun violence.
Simulated Interviews
college student (Texas)
Age: 20 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this bill could make it harder for me to legally obtain a gun, which is frustrating.
- However, I understand the intention is to reduce gun violence, which is important.
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 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
gun safety instructor (Illinois)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- These regulations are a step in the right direction for preventing gun-related accidents.
- However, compliance must be balanced with rights for responsible owners.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
firearm retailer (California)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could hurt my business by reducing my customer base significantly.
- I believe it might improve public safety but it's hard not to worry about my livelihood.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
unemployed (New York)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this bill will make my neighborhood safer.
- It's about time something is done about the easy access to guns.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
school teacher (Arizona)
Age: 45 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could contribute to a safer environment for schools.
- It complements efforts to secure campuses and protect children.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
retired military (Florida)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- These new laws might make my hobby more bureaucratic and costly.
- As a veteran, I value my right to own guns, but I understand the need to reduce crime.
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 | 8 | 9 |
lawyer (Virginia)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This adds complexity to cases but could reduce illegal activities.
- Balancing safety with third amendment rights is key.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
police officer (Ohio)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This helps us get dangerous weapons off the streets.
- It might shift some illegal activity but we'll be better equipped legally.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
gun rights activist (Georgia)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill doesn't address core issues and only restricts law-abiding citizens.
- I worry about overreach from federal levels.
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 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
sociologist (Colorado)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This Act might reduce gun deaths and introduce important safety measures.
- Need to closely monitor its effectiveness over time with data.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $800000000 (Low: $600000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 2: $820000000 (Low: $620000000, High: $1020000000)
Year 3: $840000000 (Low: $640000000, High: $1040000000)
Year 5: $880000000 (Low: $680000000, High: $1080000000)
Year 10: $960000000 (Low: $740000000, High: $1160000000)
Year 100: $1000000000 (Low: $780000000, High: $1180000000)
Key Considerations
- The broad scope of the bill means it impacts multiple federal agencies, particularly DOJ and ATF, which could lead to varying budgetary needs.
- Enforcement and compliance with new gun regulations will depend on state and tribal participation.
- Potential legal challenges could arise due to the expansive nature of the bill affecting firearm rights and ownership.