Martin O'Malley, a former governor of Maryland and mayor of Baltimore, is seeking the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

(CNN) For far too long, Democrats have been too afraid to stand up to the gun lobby.

It's time for that to change. If I am elected president, I will make reducing and preventing gun violence one of my 15 goals to rebuild the American dream . And right now, I am putting forward a comprehensive policy plan for cutting deaths from gun violence in half -- homicides, suicides, and accidents -- within 10 years.

My plan starts with expanding safeguards to all gun purchases, whether from a licensed dealer, online posting, or private sale. Under my plan, a background check would be required for each and every gun purchase. And every person seeking to purchase or transfer a gun would have to obtain a fingerprint-based license, including completing safety training and a waiting period. Without such protections, it will remain far too easy for criminals to legally buy guns.

My plan will also cut gun violence by focusing on the largest purchaser of firearms : our government. By adjusting federal procurement policies, the federal government can encourage both gun manufacturers and dealers to prevent trafficking and violence, while spurring innovations that improve gun safety. This means requiring agencies to purchase only cutting-edge guns, such as those that have hidden serial numbers that cannot be defaced.

Hillary Clinton launched her presidential bid on April 12 through a video message on social media. The former first lady, senator and secretary of state is considered the front-runner among possible Democratic candidates."Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion -- so you can do more than just get by -- you can get ahead. And stay ahead," she said in her announcement video. "Because when families are strong, America is strong. So I'm hitting the road to earn your vote, because it's your time. And I hope you'll join me on this journey."

Ohio Gov. John Kasich joined the Republican field July 21 as he formally announced his White House bid. "I am here to ask you for your prayers, for your support ... because I have decided to run for president of the United States," Kasich told his kickoff rally at the Ohio State University.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich joined the Republican field July 21 as he formally announced his White House bid. "I am here to ask you for your prayers, for your support ... because I have decided to run for president of the United States," Kasich told his kickoff rally at the Ohio State University.

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has made a name for himself in the Senate, solidifying his brand as a conservative firebrand willing to take on the GOP's establishment. He announced he was seeking the Republican presidential nomination in a speech on March 23."These are all of our stories," Cruz told the audience at Liberty University in Virginia. "These are who we are as Americans. And yet for so many Americans, the promise of America seems more and more distant."

Businessman Donald Trump announced June 16 at his Trump Tower in New York City that he is seeking the Republican presidential nomination. This ends more than two decades of flirting with the idea of running for the White House."So, ladies and gentlemen, I am officially running for president of the United States, and we are going to make our country great again," Trump told the crowd at his announcement.

Above all, law enforcement must be empowered to uphold these protective measures -- by revoking the licenses of dealers whose guns routinely end up in the hands of criminals. And to shut down the pipeline of illegal guns that flow from states with weak gun laws to states with strong ones, we should establish strong federal penalties for gun traffickers. Possessing marijuana can be a felony under federal law; outrageously, trafficking guns is not.

Even as the vast majority of gun owners are law-abiding, we know the immense harm that comes if guns end up in the wrong hands. By establishing a national firearms registry, we can track guns to the root cause of tragedies. By requiring all lost or stolen firearms to be reported to law enforcement, we can monitor the number of illegal guns in our communities.

Photos: A father's mission against gun violence Photos: A father's mission against gun violence Christopher Martinez, 20, and five other students were shot to death while celebrating the end of school in the college town of Isla Vista, California. Hide Caption 1 of 9 Photos: A father's mission against gun violence Richard Martinez with a young Christopher. Martinez has made it his mission to fight gun violence. Hide Caption 2 of 9 Photos: A father's mission against gun violence Martinez became an activist when he took to the podium at a press conference intended for law officers to talk about the Isla Vista shootings. Hide Caption 3 of 9 Photos: A father's mission against gun violence Christopher Martinez intended to become a lawyer, following in his father's footsteps. Hide Caption 4 of 9 Photos: A father's mission against gun violence Martinez, a criminal defense attorney, hasn't worked in court in the year since his son's death. Instead, he has traveled to speak against gun violence. Hide Caption 5 of 9 Photos: A father's mission against gun violence The gunman who killed Christopher had a history of mental issues. Martinez thinks it should have been harder for him to get a gun. Hide Caption 6 of 9 Photos: A father's mission against gun violence Martinez has taken his case around the United States. Hide Caption 7 of 9 Photos: A father's mission against gun violence Martinez learned about social media on the fly, and urged students to hashtag the slogan "Not One More." Hide Caption 8 of 9 Photos: A father's mission against gun violence Martinez says he will continue working to keep guns out of the hands of the dangerous and mentally ill. Hide Caption 9 of 9

My comprehensive plan will not stop every senseless gun death. But it will ensure that fewer families are needlessly torn apart by gun violence.

I am not new to this fight. In 2003, seeing the epidemic of gun violence wash over my city of Baltimore when I was mayor, I called for a ban on assault weapons in our state.

Even today, the NRA is targeting me as a "menace" to its cause. I've never given in to the NRA, and I certainly won't as president. I believe that we shouldn't be taking gun safety advice from groups that only exist to sell more guns.

This work is more urgent than ever. Eight law enforcement officers were shot and killed in the line of duty last month. Over Labor Day weekend alone, at least 145 people were killed by gunfire, and twice as many were injured. And yet, Washington still isn't doing anything about it.

Gun violence can be stopped. As president, I will work with anyone, from any party, with the courage to put the right policies in place to do so. We know what works. We simply need the courage and leadership to act to save lives.