Gun Safety Reform: Rights and Responsibility

As your next Congressman, we believe in protecting both our constitutional rights and our communities. I do not support blanket federal bans on firearms like AR-15s,  but I do believe it’s time to modernize our laws and bring commonsense safety standards to gun ownership.

If you need training to drive a car or operate heavy equipment, you should need real training to own a firearm -especially a semi-automatic weapon. Our approach focuses on accountability, education, and prevention, not political theater.

Key Federal Reforms I Support:

Tiered Federal Firearm Licensing

Similar to commercial vs. standard driver’s licenses, I support a tiered federal licensing system based on firearm type and risk:

• Basic background check + safety training for handguns and hunting rifles.

• Advanced certification, including mental health screening and renewal every 3–5 years, for semi-automatic and high-capacity firearms.

Congress can expand and standardize the Brady Background Check system and direct the ATF to implement tiered certifications with minimum federal requirements.

Mandatory Firearm Safety Education

• Require certified safety orientation for all first-time buyers (online or in-person), modeled after driver’s ed.

• Curriculum must include: safe handling, secure storage, accident prevention, legal rights and responsibilities.

Congress can tie this to federal purchase approval standards, similar to how we regulate hazardous equipment or commercial transport.

Regulate Gun Ranges and Dealers at the Federal Level

• Require licensed instructors to oversee first-time shooters at public ranges.

• Mandate standardized safety policies for all federally licensed firearm dealers (FFLs).

• Impose federal penalties for negligent conduct – just like we do in other regulated industries.

National Gun Safety Infrastructure

• Create a federal Gun Owner Safety Portal for certification renewal, safety resources, and reporting concerns.

• Fund a modernized firearm tracking and compliance system, improving coordination across states and agencies while respecting privacy and lawful ownership.

Invest in Community-Based Violence Prevention

• Expand federal funding for local violence interruption programs, especially in high-risk communities.

• Strengthen partnerships between law enforcement, schools, and neighborhood leaders.

• Support grants for school-based prevention, de-escalation training, and gun lock distribution.

Why This Matters:

When I visited a local gun range and admitted I didn’t know how to load the firearm, the staff laughed and walked away. That indifference wouldn’t be tolerated in any other industry,  and it shouldn’t be when lives are on the line.

Gun ownership comes with responsibility. It’s time our federal laws reflect that. We don’t need performative politics. We need real standards that protect rights, save lives, and treat gun safety like the serious issue it is.