Violence has been and always will be a problem in our society. Not only are humans killing other humans, some are taking their own lives. Should America enact more gun laws, insist on safety features and gun training, or ban guns altogether? What precautions must be taken in order to keep our nation safe from firearms?.
Today, over forty-four million Americans own some type of gun (GunControl). Guns are purchased for a variety of reasons: hobby collections, personal safety, and for sport. Guns serve many purposes, but they all have the potential to kill. As free Americans, people have the right to bear firearms, as stated in the Second Amendment. This was established for Americans acting in self-defense to protect their families, homes, and established rights. It was not intended for brutality.
In 1933 an attempt was made to assassinate President Franklin D. Roosevelt in Miami. This incident persuaded Congress to get their act together. The National Firearms Act was passed in 1934. Support for the first national gun law ignited during the Roaring 20's and Prohibition as a way to stop widespread mobster shootings. The law aimed to cut down on ownership of machine guns and sawed-off shotguns by putting a $200 tax upon purchase. During the Depression, unlike today's economy, this was considered to be a large amount of money.
The next law passed was the Gun-Control Act in 1968. This law was a result of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and presidential candidate Robert Kennedy. Congress rushed to ban the sale of mail order guns and place minimum safety standards on imported guns to raise the purchase price. Still, there were no standards adopted for guns manufactured in the United States.
The most recent gun control law passed was the Brady Handgun Act in 1993 by President Bill Clinton. This law mandates a five-day waiting period and background check for buying handguns.
