Protect Our Rights

A Closer Look at US Government Slowing Taking SHOOTING.ORG AMERICAN2 AMENDMENT HISTORY OF GUN LAWS to1791 The Second Amendment is Ratified THE INK HAD HARDLY DRIED ON THE RATIFICATION PAPERS OF THE CONSTITUTION BEFORE A POLITICAL MOVEMENT WAS UNDERTAKEN TO AMEND THE FRAMING DOCUMENT TO DECLARE GUN OWNERSHIP AS A RIGHT. A SELECT COMMITTEE ASSEMBLED TO REVIEW AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY JAMES MADISON AUTHORED THE LANGUAGE THAT WOULD BECOME THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE BILL OF RIGHTS: "H WELL REGULATED MILITIA, BEING NECESSARY TO THE SECU- RITY OF A FREE STATE, THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS, SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED." 99 d1871 National Rifle Association (NRA) Founded THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION WAS FOUNDED BY A PAIR OF UNION SOLDIERS IN 1871, NOT AS A POLITICAL LOBBY BUT AS AN EFFORT TO PROMOTE THE SHOOTING OF RIFLES. HOWEVER, THE ORGANIZATION RIFLE WOULD GROW TO BECOME THE FACE OF AMERICA'S PRO-GUN LOBBY IN THE 20TH CENTURY. INCORPORATED 1871 OF AMERICA dr1934 National Firearms Act Brings About First Major Gun Control THE FIRST MAJOR EFFORT TO ELIMINATE PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF FIREARMS CAME WITH THE NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT OF 1934. A DIRECT RESPONSE OF THE RISE OF GANGSTER VIOLENCE IN GENERAL, AND THE SAINT VALENTINE'S DAY MASSACRE IN PARTICULAR, THE NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT SOUGHT TO CIRCUM- VENT THE SECOND AMENDMENT BY CONTROLLING FIREARMS THROUGH A TAX EXCISE ($200 FOR EACH GUN SALE). THE NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT TARGETED FULLY-AUTOMATIC WEAPONS, SHORT-BARRELED SHOTGUNS AND RIFLES, PEN AND CANE GUNS, AND OTHER FIRE- ARMS DEFINED AS "GANGSTER WEAPONS." d1938 Federal Firearms Act Requires License for Dealers THE FEDERAL FIREARMS ACT OF 1938 REQUIRED ANYONE SELLING OR SHIPPING FIREARMS TO BE LICENSED THROUGH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. THE FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSE (FFL) STIPULATED THAT GUNS COULD NOT BE SOLD TO PERSONS CONVICTED OF CERTAIN CRIMES AND REQUIRED SELLERS TO LOG THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF ANYONE THEY SOLD GUNS TO. d1968 Gun Control Act Ushers In New Regulations THIRTY YEARS AFTER AMERICA'S FIRST SWEEPING REFORM OF GUN LAWS, THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESI- DENT JOHN F. KENNEDY HELPED TO USHER IN NEW FEDERAL LEGISLATION WITH WIDE-RANGING IMPLICATIONS. THE GUN FROBAAL CONTROL ACT OF 1968 PROHIBITED MAIL ORDER SALES OF RIFLES AND SHOTGUNS, INCREASED LICENSE REQUIRE- MENTS FOR SELLERS AND BROADENED THE LIST OF PERSONS PROHIB- ITED FROM OWNING A FIREARM TO INCLUDE CONVICTED FELONS, DRUG USERS AND THE MENTALLY INCOMPETENT. 1994 Brady Act and Assault Weapons Ban TWO NEW FEDERAL LAWS PASSED BY A DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED CONGRESS AND SIGNED BY PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON IN 1994 BECAME THE HALLMARK OF GUN CONTROL EFFORTS OF THE LATTER 20TH CENTURY. THE FIRST, THE BRADY HANDGUN VIDLENCE PROTECTION ACT, REQUIRED H FIVE-DHY WAITING PERIOD AND BACKGROUND CHECK FOR THE SALE OF HANDGONS, WHILE ALSO REDQUIRING A NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKSYSTEM TO BE CREATED. THE SECOND, THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN (OFFICIALLY ENTITLED THE VIOLENT CRIME CONTROL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT) BANNED A NUMBER OF RIFLES DEFINED AS “ASSAULT WEAPONS," INCLUDING MANY SEMI-AUTOMATIC, MILITARY-STYLE RIFLES SUCH AS THE AK-47 AND SKS. d 2004 Assault Weapons Ban Sunsets A REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CONGRESS REFUSED TO PASS A REAUTHORIZATION OF THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN IN 2004, ALLOWING THE BAN TO EXPIRE. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH WAS CRITICIZED BY GUN CONTROL SUPPORTERS FOR NOT ACTIVELY PRESSURING CONGRESS TO RENEW THE BAN, WHILE GUN RIGHTS SUPPORTERS CRITICIZED HIM FOR INDICATING THAT HE WOULD SIGN A REAUTHORIZATION IF CONGRESS PASSED IT. 2008 Heller is a Major Setback for Gun Control [STOP GUN RIGHTS PROPONENTS WERE THRILLED IN 2008 WHEN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT RULED IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA V. HELLER THAT THE SECOND AMENDMENT EXTENDS GUN OWNERSHIP RIGHTS TO INDIVIDUALS. THE DECISION AFFIRMED AN EARLIER DECISION BY A LOWER APPEALS COURT AND STRUCK DOWN HANDGUN BANS IN WASHINGTON D.C. AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. THE CASE WAS LAUDED AS THE FIRST SUPREME COURT CASE TO AFFIRM THE RIGHT OF AN INDIVIDUAL TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SECOND AMENDMENT. HOWEVER, THE RULING APPLIED ONLY TO FEDERAL ENCLAVES, SUCH AS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. JUSTICES DID NOT OPINE ON THE SECOND AMENDMENT'S APPLICATION TO THE STATES. d2010 Gun Owners Score Another Victory in McDonald v. Chicago GUN RIGHTS SUPPORTERS SCORED THEIR SECOND MAJOR SUPREME COURT VICTORY IN 2010, WHEN THE HIGH COURT AFFIRMED THE INDIVIDUAL RIGHT TO OWN GUNS IN MCDONALD V. CHICAGO, THE RULING, WHICH WAS AN INEVITABLE FOLLOW-UP TO D.C. V. HELLER, MARKED THE FIRST TIME THAT THE SUPREME COURT RULED THE PROVISIONS OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT EXTEND TO THE STATES. THE RULING OVERTURNED AN EARLIER DECISION BY A LOWER COURT IN A LEGAL CHALLENGE TO CHICAGO'S ORDINANCE BANNING THE POSSESSION OF HANDGUNS BY ITS CITIZENS. d2013 President Obama Proposes Sweeping Changes to Gun Control IN RESPONSE TO RECENT MASSACRES, INCLUDING THE KILLING OF 20 FIRST GRADERS IN NEWTOWN, CONN., AND 12 MOVIEGOERS IN AURORA, COLO., PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA INTRODUCES PROPOSALS TO TIGHTEN GUN-CONTROL LAWS. HIS PLAN INCLUDES UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR GUN SALES, THE REINSTATEMENT AND STRENGTHENING OF THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN, LIMITING AMMUNITION MAGAZINES TO A 10-ROUND CAPACITY, AND OTHER MEASURES. 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