Gun laws in the United States have been a controversial matter for long time. Several legislative acts were passed on the gun laws. In fact, different statues were taken for and against gun laws in the United States. Again, gun laws differ and vary in the United States according to the state and its federal statute.
The certain cases such as D.C versus Heller, Samuel Alito’s nomination, and Law to protect the gun makers from lawsuits are known for their debating and controversial nature. The U.S. Congress won the law to protect the gun makers by 283-144 votes. Again, the gun makers are also given protection from lawsuits when their guns will be used for protection against crimes.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives or ATF has the responsibility to regulate the gun law in the United States. The different acts that define various gun laws in the United States are 1934 Act of National Firearms, 1968 Acts of Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets, Gun Control, and Firearm Owners Protection. The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 and Federal Assault Weapons Ban of 1994–2004 are also enacted by the ATF. However, the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 was ruled as unconstitutional.
Who are ineligible to own guns and firearms according to the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act?
The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act lists the persons who are not eligible to own any gun law or firearm. The list includes the fugitives from justice, the persons who are convicted of any serious crime, those who are found to take stimulant drugs or narcotics, or any depressant. The persons who are identified as mentally ill or were committed to any mental institution in the past are also prohibited to carry or own any firearm.
The illegal immigrants and the non-U.S. citizens are not allowed to own any firearms and if found to carry any gun they are subjected to legal punishments. Prohibition to carry firearms and guns are also applied to the persons who had renounced their U.S. citizenship.
Any person under eighteen years of age is also in the list of prohibition to own and use any firearm. However, there are exceptions for the Vermont who is eligible to carry gun at the age of sixteen. If a person had a history to be convicted of domestic violence or misdemeanor crime, he or she is also not allowed to carry any firearm.
Who can own firearm in the United States according to the federal law?
Any individual who is 21 years old is eligible to acquire any handgun. Of course, the person had to buy the handgun from that dealer who has a federal license for selling firearms in the respective residential state of the country.
A person who has attained 18 years of age is allowed to purchase a shotgun or a rifle. The conditions to purchase a shotgun or rifle from the dealer however, remain the same, as the handgun dealer. The individual must buy the firearm from any dealer who has legal license for selling firearms. But the person is not allowed to buy any pistol until he or she reached the age of 21.