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Gun Control in America
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Second Amendment
1791
The Bill of Rights, including the Second Amendment -- "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" is ratified -
The Uniform Militia Act
1792
The Uniform Militia Act of 1792 defines militia members as “all free able-bodied white male citizens” ages 18 to 45. -
Georgia's Law
1837
Georgia passes a law banning handguns. The law is ruled unconstitutional and thrown out. -
Black Codes
After the Civil War, when the slaves were freed, several southern states adopt "black codes" which did not allow black people to possses firearms. -
The NRA's Primary Goal
1871
The National Rifle Association (NRA) is organized around its primary goal of improving American civilians' marksmanship in preparation for war. -
Congress Passes Law
1927
Congress passes a law banning the mailing of concealable weapons. -
The National Firearms Act
1934
Congress approved the National Firearms Act of 1934 regulating only fully automatic firearms like sub-machine guns. This was done in response to the rise of gangsters and violent crimes. -
The Federal Firearms Act
1938
The Federal Firearms Act of 1938 places the first limitations on selling ordinary firearms. Persons selling guns are required to obtain a Federal Firearms License, at an annual cost of $1, and to maintain records of the name and address of people who firearms are sold to. Gun sales to persons convicted of violent crimes were prohibited. -
The Gun Control Act of 1968
1968
The Gun Control Act of 1968 - "...was enacted for the purpose of keeping firearms out of the hands of those not legally entitled to possess them because of age, criminal background, or incompetence." -- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. People that aren't aloud to buy guns are guilty of any non-business related crime, are mentally incompetent, or illegal drug users. This gun control law was enacted after the assasinations of John F Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Robert F Kennedy. -
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
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. ATF issues firearms licenses and conducts firearms license qualification and compliance inspections. -
D.C's New Law
1977
The District of Columbia enacts an anti-handgun law which also requires registration of all rifles and shotguns within the District of Columbia. -
Assasination Attempt on Ronald Reagan
1981
President Ronald Reagan is shot on March 30. James Brady is wounded during the assassination attempt. -
The Three New Acts
1986
The Armed Career Criminal Act increases penalties for possession of firearms by persons not qualified to own them under the Gun Control Act of 1986.
The Firearms Owners Protection Act eases some restrictions on gun and ammunition sales and makes penalties for use of firearms during the commission of a crime.
The Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act makes it illegal to have"cop killer" bullets. -
The Undetectable Firearms Act
1988
The Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988 is enacted on November 10. -
California Assault Weapons Ban
1989
California bans the possession of semiautomatic assault weapons following the massacre of five children on a Stockton, CA school playground. -
The Crime Control Act
1990
Bans manufacturing and importing semiautomatic assault weapons in the U.S. "Gun-free school zones" are established. -
Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act
1993
Law to make a five-day waiting period on the purchase of a handgun. Requires that local law enforcement agencies conduct background checks on purchasers of handguns. -
The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
1994
The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-322) bans all sale, manufacture, importation, or possession of a number of specific types of assault weapons. -
The Supreme Court
1997
The Supreme Court, in the case of Printz vs. United States, declares the background check requirement of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act unconstitutional. The waiting period and other provision of the Brady act are still in place. -
Trigger Locks
1998
An amendment requiring a trigger lock mechanism to be included with every handgun sold in the U.S. is defeated in the Senate.
But, the Senate approves an amendment requiring gun dealers to have trigger locks available for sale and creating federal grants for gun safety and education programs. -
The Brady Act
1998
The Brady waiting period expires and the NICS goes into effect as a permanent provisions of the Brady Act. Gun dealers are now required to initiate a pre-sale criminal background check of all gun buyers through the newly created National Instant Criminal Background Check (NICS) computer system. -
The NRA Files Suit
1998
The NRA files suit in federal court to block the FBI's collection of information on gun buyers. -
The Columbine High School Massacre
1999
At Columbine High School in Columbine,Colorado two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, killed 12 students and one teacher. They also injured 21 other students and three people were injured while attempting to escape. -
Senate bill
1999
By a 51-50 vote, with the tie-breaker vote cast by Vice President Gore, the Senate passes a bill requiring trigger locks on all newly manufactured handguns and extending waiting period and background check requirements to sales of firearms at gun shows. The bill was defeated in the House. -
Federal Assault Weapons
2004
The federal assault weapons ban expires on Sept. 13 -
The Senate Passes another Bill
2005
The Senate passes a bill in July that makes it illegal for crime victims to sue gun manufacturers. -
Virginia Tech Massacre
2007
The Virginia Tech shooting occurs on April 16th and 30 students are killed.
