New Model Policy Guide Aims to Strengthen Firearm Purchaser Licensing Laws
A team of experts from the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions at the Bloomberg School of Public Health have compiled leading research, analysis, and expert guidance into a new resource to inform the development of firearm purchaser licensing (FPL) laws, also known as permit-to-purchase laws.
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The new Firearm Purchaser Licensing Model Policy Guide contains 33 recommendations to assist policymakers as they draft or amend Firearm Purchaser Licensing Laws. These recommendations are grounded in public health research, existing policy, and implementation experience. Policymakers can use the Model Policy Guide’s recommendations to construct the best possible policies for their communities.
Firearm purchaser licensing laws require individuals to obtain a license before purchasing a firearm. The standard regulatory practices, such as comprehensive background checks and fingerprinting, are designed to prevent guns from falling into the hands of people who are prohibited from possessing or acquiring them. FPL laws are one of the most effective policies to address and reduce multiple forms of gun violence, including firearm homicide, firearm suicide, mass shootings, and shootings both by and of police, as well as the diversion of firearms into illicit markets. As of July 2025, thirteen states and Washington, DC have adopted some form of Firearm Purchaser Licensing law. However, these policies vary in scope, effectiveness, and implementation across jurisdictions.
“This guide provides promising practices supported by public health research and subject matter experts to shape the most effective version of an FPL policy," says Kelly Roskam, JD, Director of Law and Policy at the Center and lead author of the guide. “Lawmakers should ensure essential elements are in place and strive to incorporate other practices recommended in this guide to improve the life-saving potential of this policy.”
The Firearm Purchaser Licensing Model Policy Guide provides readers:
- The nature of and evidence for firearm purchaser licensing policies
- Recommended elements of successful Firearm Purchaser Licensing laws
- Explanations for key policy components and recommendations
found that when isolated from other factors, Firearm Purchaser Licensing laws were associated with an estimated 14% reduction in firearm homicide rates in large, urban counties. found that for youth ages 15-24, adoption of these laws was associated with lower rates of firearm homicide and suicide.
Public support is strong. A nationally representative 2023 survey found that 72% of U.S. adults, including 64% of firearm owners, favor requiring a person to obtain a license from a local law enforcement agency before buying a gun.
“Firearm purchaser licensing laws can save lives by helping prevent unlawful purchase of firearms, especially for those who pose increased risks of harm to themselves or others, such as minors, and others prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms under state or federal law,” says Cass Crifasi, PhD ‘14, MPH, co-director of the Center and contributing author of the guide.
Firearm Purchaser Licensing laws represent one critical piece of a comprehensive public health approach to prevent gun violence in the U.S. With this guide, policymakers have the resources, research, and data they need to pursue laws that prioritize public safety. Policies like this effectively save lives across the nation.
See our other model policy guides and resources:
