A newly proposed federal bill should alarm every American who values the Second Amendment. Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim have introduced legislation known as the Federal Firearms Licensing Act, a sweeping proposal that would require citizens to obtain a federal license just to purchase, receive, or possess a firearm.

Under the bill’s language, firearm ownership would no longer be treated as a fundamental right, but as a government-granted privilege. Without a valid federal firearms purchasing license, possession itself would be illegal. This represents a complete inversion of the Second Amendment, which recognizes gun ownership as a pre-existing right—not one granted by the state.

The requirements to obtain this license are extensive and burdensome. Applicants would be required to complete mandatory firearms training, pass written and live-fire exams, submit fingerprints, undergo background investigations, provide proof of identity, and even disclose the make, model, serial number, and seller of the firearm they intend to acquire—before being allowed to purchase it. Even after completing these steps, the government would have up to 30 days to decide whether to issue the license, which would expire after five years and could be revoked at any time.

This type of licensing scheme mirrors gun control models seen in states like New York and New Jersey, where rights have steadily been transformed into permissions through regulation, fees, and administrative delays. While the bill may not advance in the current Congress, it serves as a clear warning of what could come with a shift in political power.

History shows that unconstitutional gun laws are often passed and enforced regardless of legality, forcing citizens to fight them in court after the damage is done. That’s why proposals like this cannot be ignored or dismissed as unlikely. They are trial balloons, signaling future attempts to federalize gun control.

Now is the time to stay engaged, contact lawmakers, and make it clear that the Second Amendment is not negotiable. Liberty is fragile, and once a right becomes a privilege, reclaiming it is far more difficult.