Noor: Reinforcing Gun Control in America
I: Introduction
Gun politics is a controversial area in politics that is primarily defined by the actions of two groups: gun control and gun rights activists. These groups often disagree on the interpretation of laws and court cases related to firearms as well as about the effects of gun control on crime and public safety. Citizens, lawmakers and gun lobbyists have been debating the issue of gun control for more than a century, and there has yet to be a definitive answer. Proponents of gun control don’t believe that state and federal gun control acts do enough, and gun rights advocates believe that the laws go too far.
II: Definition of Key Terms
- The biggest component of the Gun Control debate is whether existing gun laws are sufficient, or whether more gun laws are needed.
- Liberals and populists generally favor more gun laws. Look for buzzwords like more registration" or "more licensing" to describe seeking further restrictions legal ownership; or "close the loopholes" and "restrict access" for further restrictions on illegal ownership.
- Moderate liberals and populists will generally favor more restrictions on ownership while paying lip-service "sportsmen‘s rights" or respecting "the right of self-protection." A moderate compromise is to "extend waiting periods" before allowing ownership, to perform "background checks" of varying degrees of severity.
- George Zimmerman. Citing the “stand your ground” law, Zimrmrman was not initially charged, but was later arrested. Zimmerman was acquitted of both murder and manslaughter in July 2013. Since then, the mainstream media report regularly on Zimmerman’s new arrests & police encounters, including a “road rage” incident in Sept. 2014.
- The Newtown, Connecticut shootings in December 2012. reignited the debate on gun regulation. On December 14. 2012, Adam Lanza, 20, fatally shot twenty children and six adult staff members in a mass murder at Sandy Hook Elementary
School. Several bills were proposed in the 2013 Congressional session: banning the sale of semi-automatic firearms, and restricting large-capacity magazines.
lll: History and Timeline AMERICA :
1791: Second Amendment Ratified :
The government passes an amendment to allow anyone to own a gun, main'argument being that they mustn't. infringe what the constitution says.
“It states, "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. " See U.S. Constitution.”
1871: National Rifle Association Founded :
Union soldiers Col. William C. Church and Gen. George Wingate found the NRA to "promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis." Civil War Gen. Ambrose Burnside. who was also the former governor of Rhode Island and a US Senator, serves as the organization‘s first president.
1934: National Firearms Act :
Brought about by the lawlessness and rise of gangster culture during prohibition, President Franklin D. Roosevelt hOped this act would eliminate automatic-fire weapons like machine guns from America's streets. Other firearms such as short-barreled shotguns and rifles, parts of guns like silencers, as well as other "gadget-type" firearms hidden in caves and such were also
targeted. All gun sales and gun manufacturers were slapped with a $200 tax (no small amount for Americans mired in the Great Depression; that would be like a tax of $2,525 today) on each firearm. and all buyers were required to fill out paperwork subject to Treasury Dept. approval.”
1938: Federal Firearms Act :
Makes the guns salesmen required to record the names and addresses of everyone they sold guns to and were prohibited from selling to those people who were convicted of certain crimes or lacked a permit.
“The congress aimed this law at those involved in selling and shipping firearms through interstate or foreign commerce channels. Anyone involved in the selling of firearms was required to obtain a Federal Firearms License from the Secretary of Commerce ($1 annual fee)”.
1968: Gun Control Act :
The key element of this bill outlawed mail order sales of rifles and shotguns; Up until this law,
mail order consumers only had to sign a statement that. they were over ‘21 years of age for a handgun (18 for rifle or shotgun), it also detailed more persons who were banned from possessing certain guns, including drug users, and further restricted shotgun and rifles sales.
“The assassination of John F. Kennedy, who was killed by a mail-order gun that belonged to Lee Harvey Oswald, inspired this major revision to federal gun laws. The subsequent assasinations of Martin Luther King and presidential candidate Robert Kennedy fueled its quick passage. License requirements were expanded to include more dealers, and more detailed record keeping was expected of them; handgun sales over state lines were restricted; the list of persons dealers could
not sell to grew to include those convicted of felonies (with some exceptions), those found mentally incompetent, drug users and more. The act also defined persons who were banned from possessing fire-arm's.”
1986: Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act :
Made it illegal for anyone to manufacture or import armor piercing ammunition, or "cop-killer bullets," which are capable of penetrating bullet proof clothing.
1990: Crime Control Act :
Directed the attorney general to develop a strategy for establishing "drug-free school zones." including criminal penalties for possessing ordischarging a firearm in a school zone. Outla wed the assembly of illegal semi automatic rifles or shotguns from legally imported parts.
1994: Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act :
Imposed, on an interim basis, a five-day waiting period and background check before a licensed gun importer, manufacturer or dealer can sell or deliver a handgun to an unlicensed individual.
“Required a new National Instant Criminal Background Check System, run by the FBI, be ready to replace the waiting period by Nov. 30, 1998. The new background check system will apply to all firearms and will allow checks to be done over the phone or electronically with results returned immediately in most cases.”
2013: President Obama Proposes Sweeping Changes to Gun Control :
This is one of the'failed attempts of gun control that Obama initialized to ensure the safety of the
citizens in the US.
“In reSponise to recent massacres, including the killing of 20 first graders in Newtown, Conn, and 12 moviegoers in Aurora, Colo, President Barack Obama introduces proposals to tighten gun-control laws. His plan includes universal background checks for gun sales, the reinstatement and strengthening of the assault weapons ban, limiting ammunition magazines to a lO-round
capacity, and other measures.”
The government passes an amendment to allow anyone to own a gun, main'argument being that they mustn't. infringe what the constitution says.
“It states, "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. " See U.S. Constitution.”
1871: National Rifle Association Founded :
Union soldiers Col. William C. Church and Gen. George Wingate found the NRA to "promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis." Civil War Gen. Ambrose Burnside. who was also the former governor of Rhode Island and a US Senator, serves as the organization‘s first president.
1934: National Firearms Act :
Brought about by the lawlessness and rise of gangster culture during prohibition, President Franklin D. Roosevelt hOped this act would eliminate automatic-fire weapons like machine guns from America's streets. Other firearms such as short-barreled shotguns and rifles, parts of guns like silencers, as well as other "gadget-type" firearms hidden in caves and such were also
targeted. All gun sales and gun manufacturers were slapped with a $200 tax (no small amount for Americans mired in the Great Depression; that would be like a tax of $2,525 today) on each firearm. and all buyers were required to fill out paperwork subject to Treasury Dept. approval.”
1938: Federal Firearms Act :
Makes the guns salesmen required to record the names and addresses of everyone they sold guns to and were prohibited from selling to those people who were convicted of certain crimes or lacked a permit.
“The congress aimed this law at those involved in selling and shipping firearms through interstate or foreign commerce channels. Anyone involved in the selling of firearms was required to obtain a Federal Firearms License from the Secretary of Commerce ($1 annual fee)”.
1968: Gun Control Act :
The key element of this bill outlawed mail order sales of rifles and shotguns; Up until this law,
mail order consumers only had to sign a statement that. they were over ‘21 years of age for a handgun (18 for rifle or shotgun), it also detailed more persons who were banned from possessing certain guns, including drug users, and further restricted shotgun and rifles sales.
“The assassination of John F. Kennedy, who was killed by a mail-order gun that belonged to Lee Harvey Oswald, inspired this major revision to federal gun laws. The subsequent assasinations of Martin Luther King and presidential candidate Robert Kennedy fueled its quick passage. License requirements were expanded to include more dealers, and more detailed record keeping was expected of them; handgun sales over state lines were restricted; the list of persons dealers could
not sell to grew to include those convicted of felonies (with some exceptions), those found mentally incompetent, drug users and more. The act also defined persons who were banned from possessing fire-arm's.”
1986: Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act :
Made it illegal for anyone to manufacture or import armor piercing ammunition, or "cop-killer bullets," which are capable of penetrating bullet proof clothing.
1990: Crime Control Act :
Directed the attorney general to develop a strategy for establishing "drug-free school zones." including criminal penalties for possessing ordischarging a firearm in a school zone. Outla wed the assembly of illegal semi automatic rifles or shotguns from legally imported parts.
1994: Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act :
Imposed, on an interim basis, a five-day waiting period and background check before a licensed gun importer, manufacturer or dealer can sell or deliver a handgun to an unlicensed individual.
“Required a new National Instant Criminal Background Check System, run by the FBI, be ready to replace the waiting period by Nov. 30, 1998. The new background check system will apply to all firearms and will allow checks to be done over the phone or electronically with results returned immediately in most cases.”
2013: President Obama Proposes Sweeping Changes to Gun Control :
This is one of the'failed attempts of gun control that Obama initialized to ensure the safety of the
citizens in the US.
“In reSponise to recent massacres, including the killing of 20 first graders in Newtown, Conn, and 12 moviegoers in Aurora, Colo, President Barack Obama introduces proposals to tighten gun-control laws. His plan includes universal background checks for gun sales, the reinstatement and strengthening of the assault weapons ban, limiting ammunition magazines to a lO-round
capacity, and other measures.”