Bill Overview
Title: Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act of 2022
Description: This bill makes various changes to the federal framework governing the sale, transfer, and possession of firearms and ammunition. Among other changes, the bill generally requires individuals to obtain a license to purchase, acquire, or possess a firearm or ammunition; raises the minimum age—from 18 years to 21 years—to purchase firearms and ammunition; establishes new background check requirements for firearm transfers between private parties; creates a statutory process for a family or household member to petition a court for an extreme risk protection order to remove firearms from an individual who poses a risk of committing violence; restricts the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices; restricts the manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, or receipt of ghost guns (i.e., guns without serial numbers); requires federally licensed gun dealers to submit and annually certify compliance with a security plan to detect and deter firearm theft; removes limitations on the civil liability of gun manufacturers; allows the Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue safety standards for firearms and firearm components; establishes a community violence intervention grant program; and promotes research on firearms safety and gun violence prevention.
Sponsors: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Target Audience
Population: People interacting with the firearm market
Estimated Size: 80000000
- The bill impacts all individuals who own, plan to own, or may come into contact with firearms, which includes a significant portion of the global population due to international gun trade and tourism involving firearms.
- The bill creates a universal requirement for licenses to purchase, acquire, or possess firearms affecting current and future gun owners.
- Raising the minimum age for purchase of firearms impacts young adults aged 18-21 who are eligible to purchase firearms in their regions currently.
- The establishment of new background checks affects all individuals involved in private party firearm transfers.
- Restrictions on assault weapons, ghost guns, and ammunition feeding devices impact gun owners and manufacturers globally.
- The removal of limitations on gun manufacturer liability affects the global firearms industry, influencing manufacturers' practices worldwide.
- The impact of requiring security compliance from gun dealers affects the operations of these businesses.
- The U.S. is a major player in the global firearms market; changes in its legislation can have ripple effects worldwide.
- Community violence intervention grants and promotion of firearms safety research have far-reaching influences in decreasing violence and increasing safety globally.
Reasoning
- The policy affects a substantial portion of the U.S. population due to the prevalence of gun ownership, with approximately 81 million gun owners.
- Young adults aged 18-21 will experience an immediate change in their rights, potentially affecting their sense of autonomy or security.
- Gun dealers, totaling over 100,000, will be directly impacted by increased compliance requirements, which may influence business operations.
- The policy promotes public safety by potentially reducing gun violence, which could enhance community wellbeing over the long term.
- Families and individuals involved in private sales or seeking risk protection orders will see changes in their interactions with the legal system.
- The legislation's influence on the global gun market includes alterations in manufacturing practices and liability considerations.
Simulated Interviews
gun dealer (Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I understand the need for safety, but the increased compliance and security measures will add costs to my business that could make it hard to stay competitive.
- The bill's liability changes might deter manufacturers from innovating, affecting the products I can offer.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
police officer (California)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could help reduce gun-related incidents, which would make my job safer and more rewarding.
- I'm hopeful the research and community grants will lead to long-term safety improvements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
college student (Florida)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's frustrating that I can't purchase a firearm now due to the age increase. I understand safety concerns, but I feel my rights are being limited.
- I may have to find alternative means for my sense of security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
school teacher (Illinois)
Age: 63 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that makes our communities and schools safer, including restricting access to dangerous firearms, is a step in the right direction. I fully support the policy.
- It's reassuring knowing that measures like this are in place to protect us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
corporate lawyer (New York)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The shift in liability for gun manufacturers could lead to a surge in litigation, which could either strain the industry or lead to more responsible practices.
- This policy introduces significant changes, and it's uncertain how this will play out in the legal landscape.
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 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
firearm enthusiast and collector (Ohio)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Collecting firearms has been a lifelong hobby, and I'm concerned the new restrictions might make it more difficult or expensive.
- While I recognize the need for safety, I hope they maintain allowances for collectors.
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 |
nursing student (North Carolina)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I wanted a firearm for protection, but the new requirements make it harder to do so easily.
- Hopefully, there's an improvement in community safety as a result, but for now, it adds to my stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
firearms manufacturer (Montana)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The restrictions on manufacturing and liability changes could increase our operational costs significantly.
- It's critical to balance safety with business feasibility, and this policy might tip too far.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 9 |
retired community activist (Connecticut)
Age: 70 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've spent years advocating for reforms like these; this policy aligns with my belief that stricter controls will save lives.
- I'm especially hopeful about the funding for community intervention programs to address root causes of violence.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
private security contractor (Missouri)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I rely on firearms for my job, so increased requirements might complicate things, but safety is a priority too.
- As long as the policy allows for necessary access for security professionals, I can adapt.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1000000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1200000000)
Year 2: $900000000 (Low: $700000000, High: $1100000000)
Year 3: $900000000 (Low: $700000000, High: $1100000000)
Year 5: $800000000 (Low: $600000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 10: $500000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $700000000)
Year 100: $200000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $400000000)
Key Considerations
- The balance between increased government spending and potential savings from reduced gun violence must be considered.
- The policy may influence the firearms market, shifting consumer and business behavior, affecting sales and tax revenues.
- Compliance and enforcement strategies will need resource allocation, potentially offsetting expected savings.
- Cooperation with state and local authorities is crucial for effective implementation and cost management.