Behind the Barrel: Exploring 10 Essentials Facts of Federal Gun Legislation in America

 Behind the Barrel: Exploring the Essentials of Federal Gun Legislation in America 1. The Gun Control Act of 1968 is one of the primary fede...

 Behind the Barrel: Exploring the Essentials of Federal Gun Legislation in America

1. The Gun Control Act of 1968 is one of the primary federal laws regulating firearms in the United States, establishing licensing requirements for firearms dealers and prohibiting certain categories of individuals from purchasing firearms.

2. The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, enacted in 1993, mandates federal background checks on individuals purchasing firearms from licensed dealers.

3. The National Firearms Act of 1934 regulates the sale and transfer of certain types of firearms, including machine guns, short-barreled rifles, and silencers, through a registration and taxation process.

4. Federal law prohibits the possession of firearms by certain categories of individuals, including convicted felons, individuals with domestic violence convictions, fugitives from justice, and individuals adjudicated as mentally defective or committed to mental institutions.

5. The Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986 amended various provisions of the Gun Control Act, including restrictions on the sale of firearms and interstate transportation of firearms by private individuals.

6. The federal "gun-free school zones" law, enacted as part of the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990, prohibits individuals from knowingly possessing firearms in school zones, with certain exceptions.

7. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is the federal agency responsible for enforcing federal firearms laws, regulating the firearms industry, and overseeing the licensing of firearms dealers.

8. Federal law requires licensed firearms dealers to maintain records of firearm transactions and conduct background checks on prospective purchasers through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

9. The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), passed in 2005, provides immunity to firearms manufacturers and dealers from liability for crimes committed with their products, with certain exceptions.

10. Federal law imposes restrictions on the importation of firearms and ammunition into the United States, including a ban on the importation of firearms that are not deemed to have "sporting purposes" by the ATF.