,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #ahdd ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #ac1 #bjai,mr4 ,van ,hollen 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 and ,mr4 ,murphy7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to provide for a grant program for handgun licensing programs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,handgun ,purchaser ,licensing ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds as follows3 7#a7 ,in #bjag1 #ia percent of firearm homicides in the ,united ,states1 in which a firearm type was specified1 were committed with a handgun4 7#b7 ,research by top national experts show that-- 7,a7 adoption of handgun purchaser licensing laws are associated with significant reductions in firearm-related homicides2 and 7,b7 repeal of handgun purchaser licensing laws are associated with significant increases in firearm-related homicides4 7#c7 ,research on the effects of the adoption of a handgun purchaser licensing law in ,connecticut in #aiie showed-- 7,a7 a #dj-percent reduction in the rate of firearm homicide2 and 7,b7 a #ae-percent reduction in firearm suicide rates during the first #aj years the law was in place4 7#d7 ,published research has shown that the repeal of a handgun purchaser licensing law in ,missouri in #bjjg was associated with-- 7,a7 a #bg-percent increase in the rate of firearm homicide2 and 7,b7 a #af-percent increase in firearm suicide rates4 7#e7 ,in ,states that have had effective handgun purchaser licensing laws for decades1 such as ,connecticut1 ,massachusetts1 ,new ,jersey1 and ,new ,york1 the vast majority of firearms traced to crimes originated in ,states that do not have handgun purchaser licensing laws1 which supports the need for handgun purchaser licensing laws in every ,state4 7#f7 ,research has shown that ,states with handgun purchaser licensing laws export far fewer firearms for criminal use in other ,states than ,states that lack handgun purchaser licensing laws4 #c4 ,grant program authorized for handgun licensing 7a7 ,in general ,title ,i of the ,omnibus ,crime ,control and ,safe ,streets ,act of #aifh 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #ajaja et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 ,,oo ,handgun licensing grant program #cjea4 ,definition ,in this part1 the term handgun has the meaning given the term in section #iba7;a7 of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code4 #cjeb4 ,grant program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,attorney ,general may award grants to ,states1 units of local government1 and ,indian tribes for the development1 implementation1 and evaluation of handgun purchaser licensing requirements4 7b7 ,program authorized ,from the amounts appropriated to carry out this part1 and not later than #ij days after such amounts are appropriated1 the ,attorney ,general shall award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to eligible applicants whose applications are approved under subsection 7c7 to assist such applicants in implementing and improving handgun purchaser licensing programs4 7c7 ,application ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this part1 a ,state1 unit of local government1 or ,indian tribe shall submit to the ,attorney ,general an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,attorney ,general may require1 including-- 7#a7 a description of the law that the applicant has enacted to require a license for any purchase of a handgun including a description of any other exemptions to such law2 and 7#b7 a description of how the applicant will use the grant to carry out or improve its handgun purchaser licensing program4 7d7 ,eligibility requirements ,to be eligible for a grant under this part1 an applicant shall have in effect a handgun purchaser licensing law that includes1 with respect to an individual applying for a handgun license or permit1 the following requirements3 7#a7 ,the individual shall be-- 7,a7 not less than #ba years old2 and 7,b7 a citizen or national of the ,united ,states or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence 7as those terms are defined in section #aja7;a7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja7;a7774 7#b7 ,the individual shall apply for the handgun purchaser license or permit at a law enforcement agency in the ,state in which the individual resides4 7#c7 ,the individual shall reapply for the handgun purchaser license or permit after a period not longer than #e years4 7#d7 ,the individual shall1 in connection with the application for the handgun purchaser license or permit-- 7,a7 submit to a background investigation and a criminal history check1 as established by the ,state1 which shall ensure1 at a minimum1 that the individual is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under section #ibb7;g7 of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code2 and 7,b7 submit fingerprints and photographs4 7#e7 ,an individual who is prohibited from possessing a firearm under section #ibb7;g7 of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code1 may not be issued a handgun purchasing license or permit4 7e7 ,use of funds ,grant funds awarded under this part shall be used to improve the handgun purchaser licensing program of that grant recipient4 4 7b7 ,authorization of appropriations ,section #ajja7;a7 of title ,i of the ,omnibus ,crime ,control and ,safe ,streets ,act of #aifh 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #ajbfa7;a77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#bi7 ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out part ,,oo4 4