POL 201
Gun Control Act
POL 201 – American National Government
Gun Control Act
Gun Control has been a discussed topic for many generations. In recent years, the
violence involving guns has increased tremendously causing these discussions to continue. The
Gun Control Act was passed on October 22, 1968 by President Lyndon B. Johnson (U.S. Gun,
2018). The intent around this law was change the National Firearm Act. Because of the visibility
and conversations regarding firearms, this policy is vital within our country today. This Act is
impacted by federalism because of the issues amongst federal and state government. Individuals
have their own views on the matter of firearm restrictions. This policy is important for our
history and is important in our current day due to the increase of violence. Because of this, the
Gun Control Act should continue to be debated, because of its influence Constitutional decisions
and process. In this paper I will discuss and analyze Constitutional background, public policy,
voting policies and medias and explain the why behind firearm permits for individuals who want
to own a gun or who own a gun.
Historical and Constitutional Background
The Gun Control Act of 1968 is an element of the Second Amendment. “A well-
controlled militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep
and bear arms, shall not be infringed,” (U.S. Const. amend. II). The Second Amendment was
established in 1791. Because of this amendment individuals had the right to bear arms. The
National Rifle Association was founded by Union veterans George Wood and William C.
Church in the year of 1871. The reason behind this association was to support and publicize rifle
shooting on a systematic base. The first federal fun control law was founded in 1934 and was
known as The National Firearms Act. This act implemented a two-hundred-dollar tax on all
weapon moves. The National Firearms Act forced required individuals to carry a gun license
, whenever they purchased weapons. This was passed in 1938 and forced all sales to
be documented and logged (Gray, 2018; “U.S. Gun,” 2008).
Following the shootings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Attorney General Robert, and
President John Kennedy, The Gun Control Act approved that the steps to obtaining a license
become strict and more controlled. This included banning sales of any type of firearm to
forbidden individuals (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, n.d.). The reason
behind The Gun Control Act is to be able to supervise who is carrying firearms. Because of this
act guns were prohibited from being retailed to just any individual. Today, individuals have
utilized firearms as weapons to murder or hurt others. Violence created by firearms has
outbreaks to large quantities. Because of this violence over thirty thousand Americans have been
killed (Cornell & Cornell, 2018).
Checks and Balances
When branches are influenced by other branches this is an example of checks and
balances (Fine & Levin-Waldman, 2016). The Gun Control Act has a substantial role regarding
checks and balances within governments. This is because its imperative that gun laws are
crated and kept in effect to help prevent and curb violence. Due to increase in violence officials
within government tried to create and pass more laws regarding firearms, however this was not
approved due to checks and balances within the government systems. For new laws to be
approved and published all branches must agree. A President may want to employ a new law,
but all must agree before it is passed. Through President Clinton’s second term in office,
Clinton
tried to force the gun control act to prohibit assaulted weapons, but this was vetoed by the
House of Representatives.
The U.S. Constitution comprises of three branches of government. These are known as
judicial, executive, and legislative. Each of these branches can check one another. When laws
Gun Control Act
POL 201 – American National Government
Gun Control Act
Gun Control has been a discussed topic for many generations. In recent years, the
violence involving guns has increased tremendously causing these discussions to continue. The
Gun Control Act was passed on October 22, 1968 by President Lyndon B. Johnson (U.S. Gun,
2018). The intent around this law was change the National Firearm Act. Because of the visibility
and conversations regarding firearms, this policy is vital within our country today. This Act is
impacted by federalism because of the issues amongst federal and state government. Individuals
have their own views on the matter of firearm restrictions. This policy is important for our
history and is important in our current day due to the increase of violence. Because of this, the
Gun Control Act should continue to be debated, because of its influence Constitutional decisions
and process. In this paper I will discuss and analyze Constitutional background, public policy,
voting policies and medias and explain the why behind firearm permits for individuals who want
to own a gun or who own a gun.
Historical and Constitutional Background
The Gun Control Act of 1968 is an element of the Second Amendment. “A well-
controlled militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep
and bear arms, shall not be infringed,” (U.S. Const. amend. II). The Second Amendment was
established in 1791. Because of this amendment individuals had the right to bear arms. The
National Rifle Association was founded by Union veterans George Wood and William C.
Church in the year of 1871. The reason behind this association was to support and publicize rifle
shooting on a systematic base. The first federal fun control law was founded in 1934 and was
known as The National Firearms Act. This act implemented a two-hundred-dollar tax on all
weapon moves. The National Firearms Act forced required individuals to carry a gun license
, whenever they purchased weapons. This was passed in 1938 and forced all sales to
be documented and logged (Gray, 2018; “U.S. Gun,” 2008).
Following the shootings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Attorney General Robert, and
President John Kennedy, The Gun Control Act approved that the steps to obtaining a license
become strict and more controlled. This included banning sales of any type of firearm to
forbidden individuals (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, n.d.). The reason
behind The Gun Control Act is to be able to supervise who is carrying firearms. Because of this
act guns were prohibited from being retailed to just any individual. Today, individuals have
utilized firearms as weapons to murder or hurt others. Violence created by firearms has
outbreaks to large quantities. Because of this violence over thirty thousand Americans have been
killed (Cornell & Cornell, 2018).
Checks and Balances
When branches are influenced by other branches this is an example of checks and
balances (Fine & Levin-Waldman, 2016). The Gun Control Act has a substantial role regarding
checks and balances within governments. This is because its imperative that gun laws are
crated and kept in effect to help prevent and curb violence. Due to increase in violence officials
within government tried to create and pass more laws regarding firearms, however this was not
approved due to checks and balances within the government systems. For new laws to be
approved and published all branches must agree. A President may want to employ a new law,
but all must agree before it is passed. Through President Clinton’s second term in office,
Clinton
tried to force the gun control act to prohibit assaulted weapons, but this was vetoed by the
House of Representatives.
The U.S. Constitution comprises of three branches of government. These are known as
judicial, executive, and legislative. Each of these branches can check one another. When laws
