MASS Act Mandates Licenses for Gun Possession, Requires Secure Storage and Training Nationwide

The Making America Safe and Secure Act of 2025 (MASS Act) creates a federal grant program designed to push states into adopting comprehensive, mandatory firearms licensing systems. If a state accepts this federal money, they must completely overhaul how guns and ammo are regulated. The core change is that you would need a valid firearms license not just to buy a gun or ammunition, but also to possess them, meaning this applies to current gun owners too. The bill outlines that states must set up these systems, run by local police authorities, and require license renewal on a schedule set by the state (SEC. 2).

The New Rules for Gun Ownership

For the average person, getting and keeping a license under this new framework involves several mandatory steps. First-time applicants must complete safety training, and the local licensing authority—likely your chief of police or a police board—must conduct a “thorough background check,” which could include an interview and reference letters confirming the applicant is of “sound mind and character” (SEC. 2). This last part is a bit vague and gives significant discretion to local law enforcement, which could lead to inconsistent standards depending on where you live. Furthermore, if your license is denied or revoked, the state must have a process to ensure you surrender or transfer all your firearms and ammunition, though the bill does require a process for judicial review if you want to appeal the decision.

Secure Storage and Dealer Oversight

The MASS Act introduces a major new rule for everyone: it becomes illegal to store a firearm unless it is locked up or has a tamper-resistant lock engaged, making it inoperable for anyone other than the owner or authorized user. The only exception is if you are currently carrying the gun (SEC. 2). For parents or anyone with children in the house, this mandatory secure storage aims to prevent accidents, but it also creates a new legal requirement for home security that wasn't there before.

On the sales side, the bill requires all dealers and private sellers to verify that a buyer has a valid license before any sale of a firearm or ammunition, and they must report all sales to state authorities. States also have to define who counts as a dealer, setting a maximum threshold of 10 firearms sold per year. This means that if you occasionally sell a few firearms from your collection, you might now need a formal dealer license, adding significant paperwork and regulation to what used to be a simple private transaction.

Who Gets Left Out?

States must establish standards for who counts as a “prohibited individual”—someone who can’t get a license. The bill mandates that states consider factors beyond standard criminal history, including whether a court has deemed the person a danger to themselves or others, or if they’ve been hospitalized for being a danger. This move aims to prevent individuals posing a risk from obtaining weapons, but because the standards are set by the state, the definition of "prohibited" could vary widely. The bill also includes provisions for “extreme risk protection orders” (ERPOs), which temporarily remove guns from individuals deemed dangerous, adding another layer of temporary restriction.

In short, the MASS Act creates a complex, continuous regulatory structure around gun ownership, moving from a transaction-based system (checking background when buying) to a possession-based system (requiring a valid license and secure storage at all times). While the federal grants cover the setup costs for states, the long-term administrative burden—and the costs associated with training, licensing, and renewal fees—will fall squarely on gun owners and the local police departments tasked with running the entire system.