Gun Policy Timeline

Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA)

2022

District of Columbia .vs. Heller

2008

Public Safety & Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act (Assault Weapons Ban)

1994

Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (Brady Act)

1993

Firearm Owner's Protection Act (FOPA)

1986

Gun Control Act (GCA)

1968

Federal Firearms Act (FFA)

1938

National Firearms Act (NFA)

1934

Federal Gun Policy

Timeline:

Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (2022)

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), is a landmark piece of legislation aimed at addressing gun violence in the United States.Key Points:Stronger Gun Safety Measures: Enhanced background checks for gun buyers under 21, addressing juvenile and mental health records. It also closed the "boyfriend loophole" to include dating partners in domestic violence-related firearm restrictions.Support for Mental Health and Crisis Intervention: Significant funding for mental health programs and financial support for states to implement or strengthen red flag laws and crisis intervention programs.Improved School Safety: Federal funding for school security upgrades, staff training in violence prevention, and mental health resources for students and educators.

Firearm Owner's Protection Act (1986)

The Firearm Owners' Protection Act (FOPA) of 1986 is a federal law that aimed to reduce unnecessary restrictions on law-abiding gun owners. It amended the Gun Control Act of 1968 to exclude occasional sellers and repairers from the definition of "gun dealer."Ammunition sales: Repealed some recordkeeping requirements for ammunition sales.Interstate sales: Allowed for the limited interstate sale of rifles and shotguns.Machine guns: Made it illegal for most individuals to possess or transfer machine guns, with some exceptions.Transportation: Guaranteed the right of law-abiding people to transport unloaded firearms between locations where they are legally permitted to carry them. It also legalized the shipment of ammunition through the U.S. Postal Service and provided federal protection for transporting firearms through states where they would otherwise be illegal.

Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act (1994)

The "Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act," commonly known as the "Assault Weapons Ban," was a federal law enacted in 1994 that prohibited the manufacture, transfer, and possession of certain semi-automatic firearms defined as "assault weapons," along with large capacity magazines holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition; essentially banning firearms considered dangerous for civilian use.Key Points:What it banned: The law specifically listed certain semi-automatic rifles and pistols with features like folding stocks, pistol grips, and detachable magazines, as well as high-capacity magazines exceeding 10 rounds.Impact: It aimed to reduce gun violence by limiting the availability of these types of firearms, BUT, it expired in 2004.

Brady Act (1993)

The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, commonly known as the "Brady Bill," is a US federal law that mandates background checks for all firearm purchases, requiring gun dealers to contact the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to verify if a potential buyer is legally allowed to own a firearm.Key Points:Background checks: The primary function of the Brady Act is to require federal firearms licensees (FFLs) to conduct background checks on individuals attempting to purchase a firearm by contacting the NICS.Interim waiting period: Before the NICS was fully operational, the Brady Act mandated a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases, where dealers would contact local law enforcement to verify eligibility.

• Required gun manufacturers, importers, and sellers to obtain a federal license from the Internal Revenue Service.
• Required licensees to maintain records of their customers and purchases.
• Made it illegal for certain people, such as those convicted of felonies, to purchase or receive firearms. These people are known as "prohibited purchasers".
• Imposed heavy taxes on the transfer of firearms.
• Required the registration of firearms and the people who possessed them.

The Federal Firearms Act of 1938 (FFA) was a law that regulated the sale, transfer, and possession of firearms in the United States. Purpose: The FFA was designed to reduce crime by controlling the flow of firearms and ammunition.Controls:

Federal Firearms Act (1938)

Gun Control Act (1968)

The Gun Control Act (GCA) of 1968 is a federal law that regulates firearms in the United States. It was passed in response to the assassinations of President J.F. Kennedy, Senator R. Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Changes:

• Prohibited persons: Makes it illegal for certain people to possess, transport, receive, or ship firearms or ammunition.
• Licensing and regulation: Requires individuals who deal in firearms to obtain a federal license.
• Age restrictions: Creates minimum age for buying guns.
• Serial numbers: Requires all guns to have a serial number.
• Interstate transportation: Restricts the interstate transportation of firearms.
• Importation: Regulates the importation of certain firearms not suitable for sporting purposes.
• Mail-order sales: Bans mail-order sales of rifles and shotguns.
• Definition: Redefines the definitions of firearms within the United States.

Purpose: The NFA was passed to limit the availability of firearms that were often used in crime, particularly by gangs, during the Prohibition Era (1920s when alcohol was illegal).Firearms Covered: The NFA applies to machine guns, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and firearm suppressors.Requirements: The NFA imposes taxes on the manufacture, import, and distribution of these firearms, and requires them to be registered with the federal government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is responsible for collecting the taxes and maintaining the registry.Penalties: Violators of the NFA face harsh penalties, including lengthy prison sentences and large fines.

National Firearms Act (1934)

District of Columbia .vs. Heller (2008)

In "District of Columbia v. Heller," the Supreme Court ruled that the 2nd Amendment guarantees an individual's right to possess a firearm for traditionally lawful purposes, like self-defense within the home. This effectively established that the right to bear arms is for everyone, not just people in state-sponsored militias.Key Points:Individual right: The Court held that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to own a firearm, not just the right of a state militia.Self-defense: The decision specifically recognized the right to possess a firearm for self-defense within the home.Limitations on the right: While affirming an individual right to bear arms, the Court also stated that this right is not unlimited and that certain gun control measures could still be considered constitutional.