Gun Control Debates

As the technology, build, and practicality of the hand gun changed over the past couple of hundred years, so has the increased want and demand. Of course, as more people started owning guns, the crime rate and deaths by gun shot up. Basically, it used to be every man for himself. As the government started worrying farther than just setting the rules but actually having people abide by the rules, laws and restrictions were set to try to regulate who owned guns and why they would use them. In 1934, Congress first started regulating the sale of automatic firearms. Not until four years later did the government think to make it federal law to require gun sellers to be licensed and to prohibit felons from purchasing them (Policy Issue p1). Even with rules that shops were supposed to follow, there are loopholes. The problem with some people in the U.S. is they will go buy guns because they have no criminal record, and then sell it to someone who is willing to pay them for the gun. Different laws over the years, still standing and also withdrawn, have spelled out different ideas of regulations, “The Gun Control Act of 1968 regulated imported guns, expanded gun-dealer licensing requirements, and expanded the list of persons not eligible to buy guns to include person convicted of any non-business related felony, minors, persons found to be mentally incompetent, and users of illegal drugs,” (Policy Issue p1). Gun

The exact number of gun owners in America is unknown. There are approximately 44 million firearms owners in the US, according to a National Institute of Justice survey conducted in 1994. Looking at firearm production data from 2010, various gun manufactures state the figure is as high as 300 million people. (Agresti and Smith, justfacts.com, 02/12/12). Regardless of the precise number of guns in America they are an everyday reality. For the gun enthusiast there are a number of activities which in some families, have taken on an almost religious reverence. Hunting is engaged in by 23 to 43.7 million Americans, according to a national survey in 2001, conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Generations of families , fathers , grandfathers and sons have enjoyed the great outdoors, refining and taking pleasure in hunting.Target shooting, collecting and self protection constitutes the remainder of “legal gun owners in the U.S. Groups such as the National Rifle Association are the most outspoken and self proclaimed defender of gun owner’s rights. In 2011 the N.R.A. joined a lawsuit to continue its primary role in America. In a court update Chris Cox writes (2011), “The NRA fights to enforce--and extend--gun owners' rights.” Cox’s writing on this case illustrates the divide between state and federal government restrictions, and

The federal government has approved guidelines on gun ownership which includes registration of all guns, proof of ownership and a clean background check. Immense portions of the population are in opposition of gun control and feel individual gun ownership is a constitutional right that should not be limited or controlled.

Throughout the history of the United States of America there has been debate on gun control. The debate has become even more relevant as more semi-automatic assault rifles are being sold and the amount of shootings we have been having, especially in this last month. There are a variety of views one can take on this argument. Many conservatives have been saying that more gun control is not necessary as it’s not the guns killing the people, it’s the people pulling the trigger that are killing innocent lives. On the other hand, people who are more liberal would like to see legislation passed that would put control on the sale of firearms as keeping weapons out of the hands of dangerous people who will willingly pull the

Gun control has recently brought a massive uproar to the United States after several tragedies combined mass murder with firearms. Some argue that guns are meant to be used for our protection and it takes someone to pull the trigger while others believe that guns are intended to cause serious harm or death to the intended target. The right to own a firearm stems from the second amendment of the constitution and states that a well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to bear arms, shall not be infringed. The first piece of gun control legislature that was passed in the United States was in 1911 when Sullivan’s Law passed to make buying or carrying a handgun without a permit a felony

America needs to institute, and initiate gun control laws throughout the entire nation. But not everybody who inhabits the United States believes in regulating arms. Those who are against establishing gun laws argue that gun control directly infringes upon their “right to bear arms” granted to them by the 2nd Amendment. Anti gun control supporters, such as the National Rifle Association, often claim that the act of regulating guns is a sufficient reason why such an Amendment was introduced in the constitution; to protect themselves from any and all forms of violation of civil liberties and freedom. Supporters of anti gun laws are unwilling to welcome any interpretations of the 2nd Amendment that do not match up “word for word,” as was written in the Bill of Rights.

The National firearm act of 1934 regulating only fully automatic firearms like sub-machine guns is approved by Congress. Then Roosevelt wins approval of the National Firearms Act of 1938, which requires the licensing of interstate gun dealers, who must record their sales. It prohibits sales to individuals under accusation or convicted of crimes of violence. The Gun Control Act of 1968 was passed for the purpose of keeping firearms out of the hands of those not legally permitted to possess them because of age, criminal background, or incompetence. In 1972 the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms is created listing as part of its mission the control of illegal use and sale of firearms and the enforcement of Federal firearms laws. The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act enforces a five-day waiting period on the purchase of a handgun and requires that local law enforcement agencies conduct background checks on purchasers of handguns. Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 band all sale, manufacture, importation, or possession of a number of specific types of assault weapons. Given this information you

With 88.8 firearms per 100 people, the United States has the highest gun ownership rate in the world. This means that for every 4 people, 1 of them own some type of firearm in the United States. This helps indicate that most Americans believe in owning guns. But what is really interesting is

In 1938, Roosevelt furthers gun control laws by, requiring interstate gun dealers to be licensed, as well as to strictly keep sales records of all transactions. Roosevelt’s National Firearms Act of 1938 also prohibited sales to those convicted of violent crimes. (History of Gun Control Legislation)

Currently in the United states there are over 18,000 firearm laws in place. The first federally mandated firearm law was the National Firearm Act of 1934. This firearm act, which is still in place today, required a Federal Firearms License to be obtained by anyone in the business of buying, selling, and manufacturing firearms. The National Firearms Act also required all NFA firearms to be registered with the Secretary of the Treasury. NFA firearms at the creation of the NFA included rifles and shotguns with a barrel length under 18 inches, machine guns, and firearm silencers. To purchase any of these firearms a $200.00 tax was imposed on every transaction with one of these firearms in an effort to prevent criminals from purchasing such firearms as they were said to have been popular with the gangsters of that era. The Bureau of Alcohol tobacco and Firearms defines a machine gun as a firearm with select fire capabilities. Select fire means that the firearm has both full and semi automatic fire capabilities. Semi automatic means that for every one pull of the trigger, one bullet will be fired. Fully automatic means that for as long as the trigger is pulled, the firearms will continue to fire. On May 19th 1986, the Firearm Owners Protection Act prevented the sale and transfer of machine guns produced after May 1986. This provision excluded machine guns registered before May 1986 and machine guns sold to government agencies. With only

The National Rifle Association (NRA) treats gun control as an individual issue and avoids considering the problem as a collective safety measure. In 1986 N.R.A passed a legislation that restricts the ATF (BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO & FIREARMS) from inspecting the gun dealers only once a year.  It has consistently tried to hinder the funding of ATF and continues to oppose all gun registration systems that might aid in the tracing of guns used in crime (www.handguncontrol.org/facts).  The sad fact is that the major usage of guns is for criminal purposes.  The NRA and manufacturers of guns suffer if laws complicate the purchase and availability of guns.

According the Cato Institute the Second Amendment to the Constitution reads: A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear

The Gun Control Act of 1968 is a federal law that basically regulates the gun industry. The purpose of this federal firearms regulation is to assist Federal, State, and local law enforcement in the ongoing effort to reduce crime and violence ("Gun Control Overview"). The Gun Control Act of 1968 was amended by the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. In this

The term “gun control” deals with the regulation of the selling, purchasing, and using of firearms in America. The availability of firearms to the public has been causing serious debates around the country because of the diversity in the people’s cultures, judgment, and religions. Many people thought the provision set by the Second Amendment when it was ratified can perfectly be applied in the society today. However, the understanding of people about the Second Amendment and how they interpret it change over time. They cannot agree with each other about the meaning of the historical evidence (Karlan, 2013). Research and polls found that people in the rural areas tend to support the right of gun owners while those in urban areas encourage gun control. Due

Gun control has a history dating back to 1791, when the Second Amendment of the Constitution was ratified. However, more recently, the debate over gun control has escalated into a much more public issue to which many citizens can relate. After all, stories about incidents involving guns appear frequently today in newspapers and on television or the radio. One could say that the debate started with the passage of the Gun Control Act of 1968, which banned ownership of guns by certain groups of people and regulated the sale of guns. Since then, two main groups have gradually appeared: people who oppose strict federal