unique issues and dangers facing each different com-
munity. 
(2) Most State constitutions generally allocate 
authority to local governments to regulate in the in-
terests of the public health, safety, and welfare. 
States that have removed authority from local gov-
ernments to regulate guns and ammunition have cre-
ated a dangerous exception to the traditional rule of 
local authority. 
(3) Broad State preemption statutes ignore im-
portant local variations that may necessitate distinct 
approaches to the problem of gun violence. State 
preemption statutes threaten public safety because 
they prevent local governments from implementing 
customized solutions to gun violence in their commu-
nities. 
(4) By mandating a one-size-fits-all approach to 
firearms regulation, preemption statutes deprive the 
public of a critical problem-solving resource—local 
innovation. Local governments are often the source 
of cutting-edge laws to reduce gun violence, which 
are proven successful and later adopted at the state-
wide level. 
(5) State preemption statutes impede local gov-
ernment’s ability to fill regulatory gaps created by 
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inaction at the State and Federal level. Restrictions 
on State and Federal resources also make an extra 
level of local involvement necessary to properly en-
force many gun laws. For example, local law en-
forcement may provide much needed oversight of 
gun businesses, which the Bureau of Alcohol, To-
bacco, Firearms and Explosives is too underfunded 
to provide. 
(6) States should not prohibit or restrict a local 
government from imposing or implementing laws 
that are more restrictive than the laws of the rel-
evant State with respect to— 
(A) any background check requirement in 
relation to any firearm transaction; 
(B) the ability to carry a firearm in public 
places or in locations owned or controlled by a 
unit of local government; 
(C) any requirement relating to the sale of 
ammunition, such as a limitation on the 
amount an individual is allowed to purchase at 
one time; 
(D) any additional requirements relating to 
licensing or permitting the purchase of a fire-
arm; 
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(E) any requirement that firearm owners 
safely store their firearms, or prevent children 
or any other unauthorized person from access-
ing their firearms; 
(F) taxes on the sale of firearms and am-
munition, unless the State prohibits or restricts 
local governments from imposing such taxes on 
most other consumer products; 
(G) the sale, transfer, or possession of spe-
cific types of unusually dangerous firearms and 
accessories, such as assault weapons, bump 
stocks, and high capacity magazines; 
(H) the discharge of firearms in public 
parks and other public places; 
(I) zoning restrictions on gun dealers; and 
(J) purchasing or obtaining a firearm on 
behalf of a third party. 
SEC. 3. GRANTS TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE THROUGH 
LOCAL REGULATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General may make 
grants to States that meet the eligibility requirements of 
subsection (b) for the purposes described in subsection 
(c)(4). 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible for a grant 
under this section, a State may not through statute 
or regulation prohibit or restrict a local government 
from imposing laws that are more restrictive than 
the laws of the relevant State with respect to— 
(A) any background check requirement in 
relation to any firearm transaction; 
(B) the ability to carry a firearm in public 
places or in locations owned or controlled by a 
unit of local government; 
(C) any requirement relating to the sale of 
ammunition, such as a limitation on the 
amount an individual is allowed to purchase at 
one time; 
(D) any additional requirements relating to 
licensing or permitting the purchase of a fire-
arm; 
(E) any requirement that firearm owners 
safely store their firearms, or prevent children 
or any other unauthorized person from access-
ing their firearms; 
(F) taxes on the sale of firearms and am-
munition, unless the State prohibits or restricts 
local governments from imposing such taxes on 
most other consumer products; 
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(G) the sale, transfer, or possession of spe-
cific types of unusually dangerous firearms and 
accessories, such as assault weapons, bump 
stocks, and high capacity magazines; 
(H) the discharge of firearms in public 
parks and other public places; 
(I) zoning restrictions on gun dealers; and 
(J) purchasing or obtaining a firearm on 
behalf of a third party. 
(2) APPLICATION.—To receive a grant under 
this section, a State shall submit to the Attorney 
General an application at such time, in such man-
ner, and containing such information as the Attor-
ney General may reasonably require. 
(c) SUBGRANTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—A State that receives a 
grant under this section shall use the grant to make 
subgrants to any local government that has enacted 
a law that is more restrictive than the laws of the 
State with respect to at least 1 of the following: 
(A) Any background check requirement in 
relation to any firearm transaction. 
(B) The ability to carry a firearm in public 
places or in locations owned or controlled by a 
unit of local government. 
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(C) Any requirement relating to the sale of 
ammunition, such as a limitation on the 
amount an individual is allowed to purchase at 
one time. 
(D) Any additional requirements relating 
to licensing or permitting the purchase of a 
firearm. 
(E) Any requirement that firearm owners 
safely store their firearms, or prevent children 
or any other unauthorized person from access-
ing their firearms. 
(F) Taxes on the sale of firearms and am-
munition, unless the State prohibits or restricts 
local governments from imposing such taxes on 
most other consumer products. 
(G) The sale, transfer, or possession of 
specific types of unusually dangerous firearms 
and accessories, such as assault weapons, bump 
stocks, and high capacity magazines. 
(H) The discharge of firearms in public 
parks and other public places. 
(I) Zoning restrictions on gun dealers. 
(J) Purchasing or obtaining a firearm on 
behalf of a third party. 
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(2) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for a subgrant 
under this subsection, a local government shall sub-
mit to the State an application for the subgrant, at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such in-
formation as the State may reasonably require. 
(3) PREFERENCE IN AWARDS.—A State shall 
give preference in the awarding of the subgrants to 
local governments that have disproportionate levels 
of gun violence or gun homicide. 
(4) USE OF FUNDS.—A subgrantee under this 
section shall use the subgrant to implement and en-
force any requirement referred to in paragraph (1), 
including through the development of protocols, poli-
cies, procedures, or training for law enforcement, 
and the development or use of technology by law en-
forcement, in connection with the implementation or 
enforcement of any such requirement. 
(d) ADMINISTRATION.—A State that receives a grant 
under this section may use not more than 5 percent of 
the grant for the administration of subgrants under sub-
section (c) . 
Æ 
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