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Sen. Cory Booker has taken the strongest position on gun law reform of any candidate in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, with a proposal to require gun owners to get licenses. As Booker says, “If you need a license to drive a car, you should need a license to own a gun.” The licensing plan comes in addition to a set of more standard Democratic gun reforms, like universal background checks, bans on assault weapons and bump stocks, and keeping domestic abusers from owning guns.
Booker’s license plan would require gun buyers to submit fingerprints, be interviewed, have a background check, and take a gun safety course. Much as getting a drivers license involves having your driving ability tested or getting a passport involves submitting proof of citizenship and identity. A database would then register and track guns, something Massachusetts already does—which means “they’re also able to know which weapons to take away if someone’s license is revoked due to, say, criminal activity,” Vox reports.
Studies from two states show how effective gun licensing laws can be. When Connecticut passed a licensing law, gun homicides dropped by 40 percent and gun suicides dropped by 15 percent. Missouri took the opposite route, repealing a licensing law, and its gun homicides rose by 23 percent (non-gun homicide rates didn’t change) and gun suicides rose by 16 percent. Booker’s plan, in other words, would be likely to make a huge difference.
While other 2020 candidates, including Sen. Kamala Harris and Rep. Eric Swalwell, have highlighted gun reform as a key part of their platforms, Booker has decisively taken the lead for the strength and ambition of his proposal.