Requiring people prohibited from having guns to turn in guns they already own simply enforces existing law. Federal and state law already provide that certain categories of people, for example felons and domestic abusers, cannot have firearms. Background checks are essential to making sure these people cannot buy new guns. But it is equally important to make sure that they cannot hold onto the guns they already have.

Although federal law prohibits several categories of people with dangerous histories from having firearms, it does not affirmatively require firearms to be turned in once a person becomes prohibited nor does it set forth a process for them to do so. It is up to the states to make sure that prohibited people actually turn in their guns. The process typically involves state and local courts and law enforcement.

A strong law includes a swift timeline and requires a prohibited person to turn in the gun to law enforcement or a licensed firearms dealer. It also allows law enforcement to seek a warrant and seize firearms that are not promptly turned in, and requires any purchase or carry permit to be turned in.