As stated by the second amendment which was written down by the founding fathers of the United States, each citizen is given the right to keep and bear arms. There is a huge controversy on its interpretation and whether or not we should take the statement literally.
One thing is for sure, all of us have a right to bear arms, but like all our other rights, there should be boundaries and limits. This is where Sensible Gun laws come in.
Several laws and regulations have been enacted to protect our rights, ensure safety throughout our community, and to prevent guns and firearms from falling into the wrong hands.
There are different laws in different states; some will have laws which others don’t. Gun laws in each state also have varying degrees of control, implementation, tolerance, and strictness. Punishment and consequences for violation of these laws will also vary depending on the state.
Here are common gun laws and regulations implemented throughout the different states in our country
Gun Laws in the United States:
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National Firearms Act (1934)
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Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968
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Gun Control Act (1968)
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Firearms Owner's Protection Act (1986)
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Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (1993)
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Federal Assault Weapons Ban (1994 – 2004) (now defunct)
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Arms Export Control Act (1976)
- Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (2006)
Common State and Local Firearms / Gun Regulations:
- FBI NICs Background Check requirement
- Age requirement – Must be 21
- State license requirement
- Fingerprinting requirement
- Safety training/testing requirement
- Extend three-day limit for background checks
- Mandatory theft reporting of all firearms
- Bulk Purchase Limit
- Ballistic Fingerprinting
- Require micro stamping on semi-auto handguns
- Mandatory reporting of lost firearms
- Permit Required to purchase Ammo
- Assault Weapons Banned
- Large Capacity Magazine Ban
- Workplace – no firearms on premises
- Colleges – no firearms on premises
- Law enforcement discretion when issuing CCW permits
*Regulations listed above do not apply to all states – most will have a variation of the listed laws in effect.
Visit our Background Check and Gun Laws by State Directory for a detailed listing of gun laws for each state
As a responsible gun owner, you should be aware of the different gun laws in your state. Aside from our firearms, information can be a great weapon to wield to protect our rights as citizens and as Americans.