The gun control debate in America is a battle between personal freedom and public safety. For nearly 160 years, there were no limits to the Second Amendment, which guarantees "the right of the people to keep and bear arms." In 1934, however, and especially in the last four decades, Americans have begun to proscribe and debate the extent of that right. The National Firearms Act of 1934 was the first restriction on gun rights in American history. As a result, fully automatic weapons are available only after an extensive background check on the owner.
In 1968, the term "gun control" gained new meaning with the passage of the federal Gun Control Act. Ratified in the wake of two important political assassinations -- Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. -- the Act requires that all guns carry serial numbers forever tied to the original purchaser. Additionally, it prohibited gun ownership by convicted felons and, as a result of a 1990s amendment, it requires a criminal background check for purchasers at the time of sale.
Certain states have their own gun control legislation, although all are governed by the federal Act of 1968. Individual states can deem their own levels of restriction on concealed weapons and "open carry," or the visible transporting of a weapon. And restrictions vary widely by state, with New York and Illinois seen as the most restrictive and Arizona and Texas, the most relaxed.
The latest incarnation of the gun control debate has been in the form of the Assault Weapons Ban of 1994, which Congress failed to uphold in its latest session. The law prohibited the sale of any semi-automatic assault weapons manufactured after 1994. Supporters of the ban said it helped keep violent weapons off the street, while opponents claimed it imposed a confusing classification system, was overly restrictive and had little effect on controlling violent crime.
Gun rights advocates argue that a well-armed public helps prevent crime and ensure personal safety. Gun control proponents, on the other hand, fear that widespread gun ownership actually increases crime rates and leads to other negative outcomes, both public and private. Is the Second Amendment out-of-date, or does it guarantee an integral right?
Opine Tree encourages gun control debate on today's most controversial political topics, including abortion, affirmative action, cloning, the death penalty, euthanasia, gay marriage, gun control, health care, social security, stem cells, as well as other debate topics.
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carWhy is it that every single thing government does; it... Read More
When this president's father was in the Oval Office, he... Read More
Revitalization Downtown projects are all the rage in fact the... Read More
There are many types of fuels besides that gasoline we... Read More
I heard on the news this week how America continues... Read More
I propose a special Projection Device code-named: "TIPED". This system... Read More
This is the beginning of the end for the man... Read More
There is a connection between economic growth and unemployment. There... Read More
When were the forms of media created? When did advertising... Read More
Where are all the high-speed trains we were promised? Where... Read More
The United States and other first world nations have been... Read More
As the populations expand in Colorado outside of Denver, Las... Read More
There's a new Michigan state register (at https://www.protectmichild.com/) in the... Read More
The blogosphere has been jumping around the story like crazy... Read More
Many non-profit groups are feeling upset that they are allowed... Read More
Do you find it interesting that people complain about the... Read More
The newest pebble reactors are easy to build and manage... Read More
The RSS is getting feedback from its 140 pracharaks or... Read More
We are slowing the transportation flows of our civilization by... Read More
The great people of the United States of America deserve... Read More
Is the only way to fight Fundamentalist Extremists becoming one... Read More
Are you happy with all this so-called security after 9-11?... Read More
Sarbaines Oxley was probably the easiest way to destroy free... Read More
Sodomy is against the law, yet goes on every day... Read More
The recent scathing remarks by High Court Judge Richard Mawrey... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..What depth of blind insanity has inflicted itself upon Israel's... Read More
I watch the TV news and I get angry. I... Read More
ACCREDITATION: - Scholastic regimentation from the post WWII period has... Read More
Last Summer the Federal Trade Commission came out with a... Read More
Businesses advertising alcohol either in TV or non-broadcast format need... Read More
Legislation is getting legs to further curtail your use of... Read More
Those of us hundreds of miles from ground zero sat... Read More
Federal Trade Commission Owes Industry and Entrepreneurs an Apology. The... Read More
It is important as populations expand to work on the... Read More
From the comfort of their plush offices and five to... Read More
Veterans Affairs Employees using government credit cards on personal items?... Read More
There are many mines around the world, which are owned... Read More
Excess capacity occurs in many industries, such as power, electricity,... Read More
The man on the tape raised his hand, pointing a... Read More
THE ROSICRUCIAN COUNCIL OF THREE:A Thelema/OTO leader who became a... Read More
Many environmentalists are against roads through the forest because it... Read More
There is debate about the methodology of forestry and also... Read More
The shouting is over and directions for the next four... Read More
In years past California Mutual Assistance Program and emergency response... Read More
It appears we are having a terrible situation with the... Read More
As global warming continues to escalate the concerns of today's... Read More
Question: Dr. Vaknin ? is it true that you are... Read More
I'm getting a little tired of being lectured by that... Read More
When North Americans discuss Cuba, they always focus the intense... Read More
Environmentalists say GM Seeds are bad for the environment, dangerous... Read More
Political |