Gun Control Fact Check
- FactCheckGOLB@gmail.com
From Fort Hood to Long Beach, all of the recent violent incidents involving shootings pushed me to do some research on how accessible it is for someone to purchase a gun.
But, as always, let’s start with a brief history lesson.
On March 4, 1789, the conventions of a number of the States expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers to extend some more rights not accounted for in the Constitution. These amendments were ratified on December 15, 1971, and form what is known as the “Bill of Rights.” The Second Amendment calls for the following: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”[1]
Now to the facts…
This right has been challenged many times in our court system. It has been challenged in almost every state and brought up many times to the Supreme Court; the first times the Second Amendment was challenged multiple times since the mid-1800’s, being some of the most notable cases, are cited on guncite.com.[2]
Another important piece of legislation that marked a greater regulation on gun control was “The Brady Bill.” The Brady Bill was implemented on February 28, 1994. This law established a national 5-business day waiting period on handgun purchases through licensed dealers. It also required local authorities to conduct background checks on handgun purchasers. The majority of Democrats voted for this bill and the majority of Republicans voted against it. Bill Clinton signed it into law.[3],[4]
Although there are many federal laws that ban anyone under 18 from possessing a handgun, school shootings from Columbine to local events have drawn attention to the subject over and over again. According to the polls I have researched, there are generally spikes during the most violent times where people ask for more regulation. According to the most recent polling done by Gallup and CNN[5], the percentage of Americans asking for more regulation has decreased in the last couple of months, all the focus has shifted to other subjects.
Sale of guns have increased at a rapid rate during the last couple years, making it hard for many local governments to keep track of who is acquiring firearms and/or ammunition. The Internet has made tracking and keeping records even harder for those who have access to purchase arms and whether or not they will present a danger to society. Back in February, Long Beach Assembly member Bonnie Lowenthal co-sponsored a bill that would help regulate the sale of ammunition and firearms in California. This law will go into effect on July 1, 2010. Other items noted in this bill are limiting the amount of rounds a person can purchase a month, as well as obtaining thumbprints from those who are exercising their right to own a gun.[6]
More has to be done to regulate the sale. I am all for everyone exercising this right, but we have to do it responsibly, for everyone’s sake!
In the meantime, I invite you to write to your Representative or Congress member and ask them what they are doing in regards to this.
Contact us at FactCheckGOLB@gmail.com with any topics you think are worth discussing in this section. Let’s untwist the facts, LB, and let’s get this conversation started!
[1] http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
[2] http://www.guncite.com/gc2ndsup.html
[3] "Summary of the Brady Law." Viewed in January of 1999 on the Handgun Control, Inc. web site, http://www.handguncontrol.org/
[4] Project Vote Smart. Viewed in January of 1999 on the Project Vote-Smart web site, http://www.vote-smart.org/
[5] http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/08/gun.control.poll/
[6] http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0951-1000/ab_962_bill_20090226_introduced.html
But, as always, let’s start with a brief history lesson.
On March 4, 1789, the conventions of a number of the States expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers to extend some more rights not accounted for in the Constitution. These amendments were ratified on December 15, 1971, and form what is known as the “Bill of Rights.” The Second Amendment calls for the following: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”[1]
Now to the facts…
This right has been challenged many times in our court system. It has been challenged in almost every state and brought up many times to the Supreme Court; the first times the Second Amendment was challenged multiple times since the mid-1800’s, being some of the most notable cases, are cited on guncite.com.[2]
Another important piece of legislation that marked a greater regulation on gun control was “The Brady Bill.” The Brady Bill was implemented on February 28, 1994. This law established a national 5-business day waiting period on handgun purchases through licensed dealers. It also required local authorities to conduct background checks on handgun purchasers. The majority of Democrats voted for this bill and the majority of Republicans voted against it. Bill Clinton signed it into law.[3],[4]
Although there are many federal laws that ban anyone under 18 from possessing a handgun, school shootings from Columbine to local events have drawn attention to the subject over and over again. According to the polls I have researched, there are generally spikes during the most violent times where people ask for more regulation. According to the most recent polling done by Gallup and CNN[5], the percentage of Americans asking for more regulation has decreased in the last couple of months, all the focus has shifted to other subjects.
Sale of guns have increased at a rapid rate during the last couple years, making it hard for many local governments to keep track of who is acquiring firearms and/or ammunition. The Internet has made tracking and keeping records even harder for those who have access to purchase arms and whether or not they will present a danger to society. Back in February, Long Beach Assembly member Bonnie Lowenthal co-sponsored a bill that would help regulate the sale of ammunition and firearms in California. This law will go into effect on July 1, 2010. Other items noted in this bill are limiting the amount of rounds a person can purchase a month, as well as obtaining thumbprints from those who are exercising their right to own a gun.[6]
More has to be done to regulate the sale. I am all for everyone exercising this right, but we have to do it responsibly, for everyone’s sake!
In the meantime, I invite you to write to your Representative or Congress member and ask them what they are doing in regards to this.
Contact us at FactCheckGOLB@gmail.com with any topics you think are worth discussing in this section. Let’s untwist the facts, LB, and let’s get this conversation started!
[1] http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
[2] http://www.guncite.com/gc2ndsup.html
[3] "Summary of the Brady Law." Viewed in January of 1999 on the Handgun Control, Inc. web site, http://www.handguncontrol.org/
[4] Project Vote Smart. Viewed in January of 1999 on the Project Vote-Smart web site, http://www.vote-smart.org/
[5] http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/08/gun.control.poll/
[6] http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0951-1000/ab_962_bill_20090226_introduced.html
