The Issue Of Gun Control - 1418 Words

Jon Reichfield Mr. Thidemann U.S. Government 12R 6 October 2014 Gun control has been a controversial issue in America for over a half-century. This issue has two sides. On one side, there are people who oppose gun control and believe that it is their right under the second amendment to own one or more assault weapons. Republicans such as Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, Governor Rick Perry of Texas and Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina are against gun control. On the other side of the issue, there are people who favor gun control and believe that background checks should be given in order to keep these weapons out of the hands of people who are mentally ill. Democratic politicians such as House Majority Leader and Senator Harry Reid of†¦show more content†¦This law also required a person to register for a gun (Kim). Over the next thirty four years though, this issue worsened and more deaths occurred as a result of guns. These deaths included President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. As a result of these assass inations, The Gun Control Act of 1968 was passed and later signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This act did not allow the sale of guns to drug users and the mentally ill, and it also required firearm dealers to get licenses and initiated interstate sale restrictions. The law also increased the age required in order to purchase a handgun to 21 (Kim). Not everybody was happy with this legislation though. The National Rifle Association, known as the NRA, founded in 1871, is a pro-gun organization that was unhappy with this act and with others. Once the Gun Control Act of 1968 was passed, the NRA opposed it. This caused the gun lobby to establish a new lobbying branch known as the NRA Institute for Legislative Action. The goal of this branch was to invalidate the 1968 law. In 1986, congress passed the Firearm Owner’s Protection Act which was later signed by President Ronald Reagan. This law limited the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms from inspecting gun dealers more th an once a year, with other inspections allowed only if multiple violations are found. An amendment also passed banning ownership of machine guns manufactured after May 19, 1986. Weapons made and