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Battle of Lexington and Concord
Britain's General Gage set out to capture colonial leaders Sam Adams and John Hancock, but they also set out to seize a store of gunpowder from colonials. This was unsuccessful but sparked America's Revolutionary War. -
The Bill of Rights
just after gaining their independence from Britain, the states were worried about an oppressive central government that would grow too powerful. The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution to allay those fears of which the "right to keep and bear arms" was included. -
Reconstruction and Jim Crow Laws
After the Civil War, gun laws were enacted in many Southern states that basically prevented newly freed slaves from having firearms. This includes prohibiting cheaper firearms to allowing only certain firearms possession in order to indirectly keep firearms out of the hands of blacks. -
National Firearms Act
A response to Prohibition era violence, this legislation served to tax and regulate automatic firearms as well as certain firearms components that were commonly used by organized crime at the time. -
When it became an issue
Back in the 1900's, The Federal government started its gun control policies in response to the waging wars of the gangs in 1934 with the National Firearms Act of 1934. -
Federal Firearms Act
This legislation established Federal Firearms Licensing for dealers as well as introduced record keeping for firearms transactions. -
United States vs. Miller
The Supreme Court upheld the National Firearms Act of 1934, but clarified that the Second Amendment applies to the right to bear military arms as well as arms that the military may use. The Court ruled against Miller in this case though citing that a short barreled shotgun could be regulated. It was deemed not useful for military purposes and would fall under the National Firearms Act. -
Gun Control Act
This was a response to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The legislation expanded licensing dealers, making it illegal to to mail order long guns, and it also established that convicted felons, drug users, and the mentally ill can be prohibited from having firearms. -
Hughes Amendment to the National Firearms Act
This amendment made it illegal to sell automatic firearms made after May 19, 1986 to civilians. Any automatic firearms already in civilian hands could still be transferred, but would continue to fall under the regulation of the National Firearms Act of 1934. -
Crime Control Act
This act established gun-free school zones and penalties for those carrying or discharging firearms in these zones. -
Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act
This established a five day waiting period and mandatory background check for handgun purchases as well as setting up the National Instant Background Check System (NICS) that is used today for every purchase performed through an FFL dealer. -
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Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act
This act made it illegal to have a gun if, you were convicted of a crime punishable by being in prison for more than one year, a fugitive, an addict, have been ruled mentally defective by a court, or are committed to a mental institution, an illegal alien, received a dishonorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces, renounced your U.S. citizenship, are subject to a court restraining order that involves your closest family, or having convicted of domestic violence. -
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
This act was to ban specific semiautomatic firearms and other firearms based on outward appearance rather than functional characteristics. This legislation expired in 2004 and studies have concluded that it was ineffective. -
NICS Imporvement Act
This act was passed in response to the Virginia Tech shooting. The purpose was to expand funding for NICS and to encourage states to submit mental health records to the NICS index. -
District of Columbia v. Heller
Striking down on D.C.'s handgun ban, The Supreme Court upheld the the individual right to bear arms, and clarified that it extends to arms that are in "common use at the time" but did not cover "dangerous and unusual weapons." -
McDonald v. Chicago
Also struck down Chicago's handgun ban as unconstitutional, further building off of the Heller decision and extended the Second Amendment to individual states. -
Missouri Future gun laws
Lawful owners of firearms will be able to conceal and carry them anywhere in Missouri, subject to the limitations that already exist not in the likes of courthouses, jails, polling places or businesses, such as grocery stores, that post "no guns" at their doors.
Only holders of Missouri concealed-carry permits can carry concealed weapons outside of the state,
Local governments, still can prohibit people from carrying weapons openly unless they have concealed-carry permits. -
upcoming laws of California #2
Redefines assault weapon to include semi-automatic centerfire, rifles and semi-automatic pistols that do not have fixed magazines and one or more prohibited feature.
Makes it a crime to possess “large capacity magazines” holding more than ten bullets. -
Upcoming Laws for California
Criminal penalties for people failing to report their gun as stolen or missing.
Required background checks and a permit for people buying ammunition.
All gun pieces sold must have own unique serial number by July 2018. Handmade guns made before 1968 will be required to get a serial number inscribed upon penalty of jail and fines.
If you loan a gun temporarily, new law requires that it be only to a relative and all handguns loaned must be permitted.
