Gun owners would generally need licenses for handguns and certain rifles

Individuals would generally need a federal gun-owner license or a license from a federally approved state system to possess covered guns. Covered guns are handguns and semiautomatic rifles that can accept detachable ammunition devices holding, or readily restored or converted to hold, more than 10 rounds. Antique firearms are excluded. Knowingly violating the possession licensing requirement could bring a fine, up to 10 years in prison, or both. Possession licensing would apply two years after enactment to guns acquired before enactment and one year after enactment to guns acquired on or after enactment.

The Attorney General would check federal applicants' fingerprints against nationwide criminal records and decide whether they meet the license requirements. These requirements would apply to people seeking federal gun-owner licenses. Applicants under 21 would need parental or guardian consent and no nontraffic misdemeanor conviction or juvenile delinquency finding. A mental health facility stay within the previous five years or an intellectual or developmental disability would bar a license under the standard rules. Other restrictions cover criminal history, firearm bans, protection orders, dangerous mental conditions, and intentional false statements. Earlier mental health facility stays would require a qualifying evaluation. People denied a license could apply for relief and seek court review if relief is denied.

A licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer would generally have to take possession before a private gun transfer. This rule would cover transfers between people who are not licensed importers, manufacturers, or dealers, including transfers of guns outside the possession licensing rule. Under this general rule, exceptions would cover specified family gifts and loans, estate transfers, urgent efforts to prevent death or serious injury, and certain temporary transfers. Other exceptions would cover specified official duties and federally approved transfers. The general private-transfer requirement would take effect 180 days after enactment.

Dealers would verify that recipients' gun-owner licenses remain valid and send transfer reports to federal or approved state authorities. These duties concern handguns and semiautomatic rifles that accept detachable ammunition devices holding, or readily restored or converted to hold, more than 10 rounds. Antique firearms are excluded. The separate dealer-check requirement for covered guns would also apply to family gifts and loans.

People could face fines and up to five years in prison when a child gets a gun and causes death or serious injury under the stated conditions. The rule concerns children under 18 and loaded guns or unloaded guns with ammunition on premises the person controls. The gun or ammunition must have crossed state or national borders. The person must know or recklessly disregard that a child can get the gun. The person must also know or recklessly disregard that the child will cause death or serious injury, or know or reasonably should know that the child's possession is unlawful. Exceptions cover secured guns, specified official duties, lawful defense, and situations where the person reasonably would not expect a child to be present. The child-access offense would take effect one year after enactment.