Design by Jacob Brown and Dara Rosen
History of gun control laws
1791
On December 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights was ratified. The second amendment stated that it was the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, and it was not allowed to be infringed.
1934
On June 26, 1934, the first gun control legislation was passed: the National Firearms Act. This act imposed taxes on specific firearms. The tax was $200 and was put in place to curtail the weapons.
1938
The FFA of 1938 required gun sellers, manufacturers and importers to obtain a license. It also denied the purchases of firearms to convicted felons.
1939
In United Sates v. Miller, the Supreme Court ruled to uphold that the NFA was constitutional.
1968
The Gun Control Act repealed and replaced the FFA. Imposed age restrictions, prohibited felons and mentally ill from buying guns.
1986
The Firearm Owners Protection Act was passed by Congress. It enacted protections for gun owners and loosened regulations on the sale and transfer of ammunition.
1993
The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act which requires that background checks be completed before a gun is purchased from a licensed dealer.
1994
President Clinton signed the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act which temporarily banned semi-automatic rifles to be manufactered, transfered or possessed.
2003
The Tiahrt Amendment prohibited the ATF from publicly eleasing data showing where criminals purchased their weapons and only law enforcemnet could see the information.
2005
The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act was signed by George W. Bush and it prevented manufacturers from being named by victims of crimes.
2008
District of Columbia v. Heller changed the handgun ban in Washington, D.C., because it violated the Second Amendment. Source: PBS
38% 1.69 of firearm
deaths and injuries
Are children and
young adults
million
kids are living
in households
with firearms
39% 1.4 or
149 million cilvilians
owned firearms
are handguns
68% of murders
committed In the
United states
involve firearms
million
guns are stolen
annually during
property related crimes
13,286 people
were killed In the U.S.
with firearms
in 2015
50% 300 of guns
are owned by 3%
of the adult
population in the U.S.
million
guns exist In the U.S.
more than twice
as many that existed in 1968
Sources: The Wall Street Journal, National Institute of Justice, National Public Radio
Gun Control • Guns in America 23
