Gun Control
National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS):
Mandated by the Brady Handgun Law (1993) and launched by the FBI, this database
provides instant information to determine if a prospective buyer is eligible to
purchase a gun.
Gun Control
Second Amendment of the Constitution:
"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."
Gun Control
Background Checks:
The process of investigating someone who wants to purchase a gun to make sure
that they don't have a criminal record. Gun control advocates argue that
background checks need to be expanded (to include mental illness and terrorist
activity) while Gun rights advocates argue that these won't solve the problem of
guns falling into the wrong hands.
Gun Control
National Rifle Association (NRA):
American organization which defends second amendment rights and promotes
education, training, and marksmanship.
Gun Control
Gun Control Debate:
Pro Gun Rights vs. Pro Gun Control: citizens disagree about the role of gun
ownership in gun violence. Gun rights advocate for protecting American's rights to
bear arms and to protect themselves from violent people. Gun control advocates
argue that America would be safer if guns were regulated through stricter
background checks and a ban on military style assault weapons.
Gun Control
Semi-automatic weapon:
A gun that, after firing ONE round, automatically loads the next round from the
magazine into the chamber.
Gun Control
Fully-automatic firearms
An automatic firearm continuously fires rounds as long as the trigger is pressed or
held and there is ammunition in the magazine/chamber.
Gun Control
Bump-stocks:
A system effectively turning legal semi-automatic guns into a machine gun
Gun Control
High-capacity magazine:
Magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds of ammunition are generally
considered "large capacity" magazines.
Gun Control
Gun reform:
Regulation of the selling, owning, and use of guns.
Gun Control
Assault weapons ban:
In 2013 after a mass shooting a ban was made on all military grade weapons that
allow gunmen to fire rapidly without having to re-charge illegal.
Gun Control
Why US gun control won't happen?
On the federal level, at least, the interest and attention in new legislation has led to almost no action
in decades, despite / because of numerous polls showing widespread public support for measures
like strengthened background checks and banning certain types of high-capacity gun magazines,
bump-stocks which effectively turning legal semi-automatic guns into a machine gun, and military-
style assault rifles.
With such a high death toll this time, perhaps the pressure for change will be greater but there are
some opportunities / obstacles that stand in the way.
Gun Control
The NRA
The National Rifle Association is one of the most influential / passified interest groups in US politics -
not just because of the money it spends on lobbying politicians, but also because of the engagement
of its 5 million members.
It opposes / supports most proposals to strengthen firearm regulations and is behind efforts at both
the federal and state levels to roll back many existing restrictions on gun ownership.
More than just the numbers, however, the NRA has
developed a reputation / establishment in Washington as a
political force that can make or break even the strongest
politicians.
Gun-control groups, backed by wealthy benefactors like
former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, have become more organised in recent years,
attempting to match the NRA's political might. As long as / Unless pro-gun groups keep championing
electoral wins, they'll still be king of the hill.
Gun Control
The courts
With Congress more interested in rolling back existing
firearm regulations than implementing new ones, left-leaning
US states have taken a greater role in implementing gun-
control measures.
After the 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, 21
states passed / banned new gun laws, including imposing
assault weapons bans in Connecticut, Maryland and New
York.
Some of the laws have run up against another barrier, however - the US judicial system. In recent
years the Supreme Court has twice ruled that the right to own personal weapons such as handguns
is enshrined in the constitution / republic.
Gun Control
Could it change?
On Monday, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters "there's a time
and place for a political debate, but now is the time to unite / seperate as a country".
