Gun Control Pros And Cons
The Definition of an Issue:
United States Gun Control
MEMORANDUM
To: Senators and Congressmen
cc:
From:
Subject: Gun Control
Firearms restriction, commonly known as gun control, is a hotly debated subject in and out of the political arena. Advocacy groups propose more restrictions, tighter restraints and harsher punishments for offenses. These proponents claim that violence stems from guns and gun owners, gun manufacturers and gun supporters are to blame. Opposition groups to gun control suggest that lesser restrictions, greater availability of different types of firearms and more moderate punishments should be put in place.
History and Background
"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right …show more content…
With this single sentence, laws, debates, fights and controversies have begun, ended and are still being fought. Gun control can be defined as "government limitation of the purchase and ownership of firearms". In the early days of our country there was little gun control. Guns were used both as protection from Indian incursions as well as tools for hunting. It wasn 't until 1934 with the National Firearms Act, passed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, which "prohibited the sale and manufacture of automatic-fire weapons like machine guns, short-barreled shotguns and rifles, parts of guns like silencers, as well as other "gadget-type" firearms hidden in canes."(Spitzer 141) This act came about from the lawlessness and rise of gangster culture during prohibition. The most controversial piece of legislation was passed in 1968. called the Gun Control Act, this act expanded licensing requirements to include more dealers, and more detailed record keeping. "Handgun sales over state lines were restricted, as well as the list of persons that dealers couldn 't sell to grew to include those convicted of felonies (with some exceptions) mentally incompetent, or drug users."(Spitzer 142) The main purpose of the bill was to eliminate the sale of firearms through the mail, or mail-order guns. Up until this time, customers only had to sign a statement that they were over the age of 21 in order to purchase a handgun and 18 for rifle or shotgun. It wasn 't until 1994 that the next two major pieces of gun restriction legislation were passed. The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, simply the Brady Act, and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, commonly known as the "assault-weapons ban." The Brady Act imposed a five day waiting period and mandatory background
United States Gun Control
MEMORANDUM
To: Senators and Congressmen
cc:
From:
Subject: Gun Control
Firearms restriction, commonly known as gun control, is a hotly debated subject in and out of the political arena. Advocacy groups propose more restrictions, tighter restraints and harsher punishments for offenses. These proponents claim that violence stems from guns and gun owners, gun manufacturers and gun supporters are to blame. Opposition groups to gun control suggest that lesser restrictions, greater availability of different types of firearms and more moderate punishments should be put in place.
History and Background
"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right …show more content…
With this single sentence, laws, debates, fights and controversies have begun, ended and are still being fought. Gun control can be defined as "government limitation of the purchase and ownership of firearms". In the early days of our country there was little gun control. Guns were used both as protection from Indian incursions as well as tools for hunting. It wasn 't until 1934 with the National Firearms Act, passed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, which "prohibited the sale and manufacture of automatic-fire weapons like machine guns, short-barreled shotguns and rifles, parts of guns like silencers, as well as other "gadget-type" firearms hidden in canes."(Spitzer 141) This act came about from the lawlessness and rise of gangster culture during prohibition. The most controversial piece of legislation was passed in 1968. called the Gun Control Act, this act expanded licensing requirements to include more dealers, and more detailed record keeping. "Handgun sales over state lines were restricted, as well as the list of persons that dealers couldn 't sell to grew to include those convicted of felonies (with some exceptions) mentally incompetent, or drug users."(Spitzer 142) The main purpose of the bill was to eliminate the sale of firearms through the mail, or mail-order guns. Up until this time, customers only had to sign a statement that they were over the age of 21 in order to purchase a handgun and 18 for rifle or shotgun. It wasn 't until 1994 that the next two major pieces of gun restriction legislation were passed. The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, simply the Brady Act, and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, commonly known as the "assault-weapons ban." The Brady Act imposed a five day waiting period and mandatory background