Gun Control Legislation in the United States

By Thomas Pressler

  • National Firearms Act (NFA) 1968

    the original Act imposed a tax on the making and transfer of firearms defined by the Act, as well as a special tax on persons and entities engaged in the business of importing, manufacturing, and dealing in NFA firearm

  • Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act 1968

    established the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA). Title III of the Act set rules for obtaining wiretap orders in the United States.

  • Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) 1986

    Amends the Gun Control Act of 1968 to redefine "gun dealer," excluding those making occasional sales or repairs

  • Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) 1986

    the Firearms Owners' Protection Act (FOPA) was signed into law. The first comprehensive redraft of the federal firearm laws since 1968, FOPA was predictably lauded as "necessary to restore fundamental fairness and clarity to our Nation's firearms laws

  • Undetectable Firearms Act 1988

    makes it illegal to manufacture, import, sell, ship, deliver, possess, transfer, or receive any firearm that is not as detectable by walk-through metal detection as a security exemplar containing 3.7 oz of steel, or any firearm with major components that do not generate an accurate image before standard airport imaging technology

  • Gun-Free School Zones Act 1990

    prohibits any unauthorized individual from knowingly possessing a firearm at a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is a school zone

  • Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act 1993

    The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 (Brady Act), Public Law 103-159, was signed into law requiring Federal Firearms Licensees (FFL) to request background checks on prospective firearm transferees.

  • Federal Assault Weapons Ban expires 1994

    The 1994 ban, signed by then President Clinton, outlawed 19 types of military-style assault weapons.

  • Federal Assault Weapons Ban 1994

    it outlawed future manufacture and importation of several specific firearms, and arbitrarily limited choice features of all future firearms eligible for sale in the United States.

  • Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act 2004

    prevent firearms manufacturers anddealers from being held liable for negligence when crimes have been committed with their products