Democrats are looking to place new restrictions on who can use handguns.
The Handgun Trigger Safety Act introduced Tuesday by Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) aims to block criminals and children from using guns that do not belong to them.
Gun dealers would be required to install smart gun technology that fires only if it recognizes the shooter, such as the person who purchased the gun or someone they designate as an authorized user.
Some smart gun technologies use fingerprints, while others require the shooter to wear a bluetooth bracelet or receive a microchip implant that unlocks the gun.
{mosads}The lawmakers also introduced a second bill that would provide $10 million annually in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to research gun violence prevention and firearms safety.
The gun safety bills come on National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
“The epidemic of gun violence in America is not preordained, it is preventable,” Markey said. “In the 21st century, we should use research and advances in technology to our advantage and save lives from tragic and needless gun violence.”
“These bills will keep guns out of the hands that of those who shouldn’t have them,” he added.
The handgun bill would require gun manufacturers to install smart gun technology on all new handguns, starting in five years. Within 10 years, gun dealers would also be required to retrofit used handguns with smart gun technology.
The legislation would set up a fund to reimburse gun dealers for retrofitting handguns with smart gun technology. It would also provide research grants to improve the technology.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is co-sponsoring the handgun bill.
“The majority of Americans support sensible steps to reduce the bloodshed in our streets, schools, churches and other public spaces,” Maloney said.