Bloomberg’s Gun Safety Plan Would Require Permits to Buy Guns, Ban ‘Assault Weapons’

Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg unveiled a gun control plan this week that includes a ban on “assault weapons” and the requirement of every gun buyer to obtain a permit before purchasing firearms.

Bloomberg, who has poured millions into gun safety groups in recent years, is campaigning on his “track record of taking on” the National Rifle Association (NRA) “and winning,” his campaign said in the introduction to the plan (pdf).

“Mike’s candidacy is about getting things done,” it added. “That’s why he has offered a new gun safety policy proposal aimed at stopping the epidemic of gun violence in America. This comprehensive gun safety policy includes five key pillars designed to create an effective background checks system, keep guns away from people who pose a danger to themselves or others, protect young people in schools and Americans in their homes, tackle daily gun violence in the hardest-hit communities, and confront the gun industry head-on.”

In one of the strictest proposals released by a 2020 candidate, Bloomberg said that if elected he would require every gun buyer to get a permit before making a purchase through a combination of federal and state programs. His campaign said that 11 states already require people to get permits before buying new handguns.