Bill Overview
Title: Federal Firearm Licensing Act
Description: This bill establishes a federal firearm licensing program through which an individual must obtain a federal firearm license from the Department of Justice prior to purchasing or receiving a firearm. To be eligible for such a license, the individual must have completed training in firearms safety and be subject to a background investigation and criminal history check.
Sponsors: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Target Audience
Population: people interested in buying or transferring ownership of firearms
Estimated Size: 80000000
- The legislation requires adults who want to purchase firearms to obtain a federal license, which will impact adult populations purchasing firearms.
- Firearm ownership is predominantly among adults, especially those involved in security, law enforcement, or recreational activities like hunting and shooting sports.
- The legislation will primarily affect potential new firearm buyers and individuals seeking ownership transfers.
- Data from surveys and research suggest that approximately 42% of U.S. households own guns or firearms.
- The global impact depends on the import and export legality changes among international firearm buyers and sellers dealing with the U.S.
Reasoning
- The Federal Firearm Licensing Act is estimated to impact primarily adults interested in buying or transferring firearms. These individuals are a significant subset of the approximately 80 million American gun owners.
- The policy budget must cover administrative costs, training programs, background checks, and licensing, with an emphasis on efficiency and cost-effectiveness to avoid exceeding budget constraints.
- It's important to simulate a variety of individuals ranging from those directly impacted, like gun enthusiasts and law enforcement, to those indirectly affected, like their families or communities.
- The policy's impact on federal licensing processes will likely focus on states with higher firearm ownership, though federal handling implies uniform application across the country.
Simulated Interviews
police officer (Alabama)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Supportive, believes it will ensure responsible ownership.
- Concerned about increased paperwork but sees value in standardized training.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
gun shop owner (Texas)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Worried about impact on business complexity and flow.
- Appreciates the emphasis on safety, expects initial economic impact but long-term trust gain.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
firearms enthusiast (Virginia)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Frustrated with additional steps but recognizes potential for increased safety.
- Thinks it may slow down his purchasing plans.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
teacher (California)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Supports the policy if it can reduce gun violence.
- Indirectly impacted through community safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
college student (New York)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Not personally impacted, sees policy as beneficial from a societal standpoint.
- Aspires to work in policy, views federal coordination positively.
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 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
rancher (Montana)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Highly skeptical, views as infringement on gun rights.
- Additional bureaucracy seen as burdensome, despite understanding safety arguments.
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 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
retired (Illinois)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Hopes the policy reduces illegal gun access.
- Personally unlikely to be directly affected.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
military veteran (Florida)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Believes in the right to bear arms, sees it as slightly protective against misuse.
- Accepts need for reasonable scrutiny but concerned about redundant bureaucracy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
student (Ohio)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Sees licensing as a responsible step for first-time buyers.
- Might delay her plans to acquire firearms for sporting events.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
small business owner (Georgia)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Believes it might decrease impulsive gun buying, but fears loss of customers to cumbersome processes.
- Sees potential long-term benefits if it leads to more informed buyers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2000000000 (Low: $1500000000, High: $2500000000)
Year 2: $1800000000 (Low: $1300000000, High: $2300000000)
Year 3: $1600000000 (Low: $1100000000, High: $2100000000)
Year 5: $1500000000 (Low: $1000000000, High: $2000000000)
Year 10: $1200000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1600000000)
Year 100: $500000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $700000000)
Key Considerations
- The impact on public safety and potential subsequent reduction in violence-related economic costs are important to track.
- Administrative costs might decrease over time as processes become more efficient.