Gun Control Law and Legal Definition
Gun control laws aim to restrict or regulate the sale, purchase, or possession of firearms through licensing, registration, or identification requirements. There is a tension between gun control laws and the right to bear arms guaranteed under the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Second Amendment provides:
"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 rights groups, led by the National Rifle Association, argue that laws and other proposals infringe on the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. They contend that bans on the sale of certain types of weapons have not proved effective in reducing violent crime, and that proposals for stricter background checks at gun shows are intended to eliminate gun shows themselves. Some gun manufacturers have volunteered support for safety locks, but the NRA has criticized safety locks for placing an undue burden on gun manufacturers without a proven benefit to the public.
