preview

Gun Control Now And The Federal Level

Decent Essays

Gun Control Now
Before we can set a plan for the future, or paint a picture of the past that led us to where we are now, we must first take a snapshot of gun control legislation as it exists now. As legislation varies greatly between states, we’ll start by looking at gun control at the federal level.
As a law-abiding private citizen, with no special exceptions, you must be 18 years of age to purchase a firearm from a licensed dealer, and 21 to purchase a handgun. However, to possess firearms and handguns, as well as purchase from a private seller and make for personal use, these ages are reduced to 0 and 18 respectively. Additionally, you are unable to own armor piercing ammunition and machine guns (weapons that fire multiple cartridges per pull of the trigger) manufactured after 1986 (18 U.S. Code § 922).
Additionally, the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) places additional restrictions on certain weapons which feature certain characteristics. However, NFA weapons are not explicitly illegal to possess as a normal citizen, but instead require a lengthy and expensive registration process, which includes a much more in depth background check, and adds additional regulation to the use of such weapons.
Many such NFA weapons fall into what people consider a “slippery slope” of gun ownership. Under the NFA, private citizens are still allowed to own and use Short Barreled Rifles and Shotguns (which includes such weapons under a total weapon length, not just those with short

Get Access