| un control debate in America is a battle between | | | | Individual states can deem their own levels of |
| personal freedom and public safety. For nearly 160 | | | | restriction on concealed weapons and “open |
| years, there were no limits to the Second | | | | carry,” or the visible transporting of a |
| Amendment, which guarantees "the right of the | | | | weapon. And restrictions vary widely by state, with |
| people to keep and bear arms." In 1934, however, | | | | New York and Illinois seen as the most restrictive |
| and especially in the last four decades, Americans | | | | and Arizona and Texas, the most relaxed. |
| have begun to proscribe and debate the extent of | | | | The latest incarnation of the gun control debate has |
| that right. The National Firearms Act of 1934 was the | | | | been in the form of the Assault Weapons Ban of |
| first restriction on gun rights in American history. As a | | | | 1994, which Congress failed to uphold in its latest |
| result, fully automatic weapons are available only | | | | session. The law prohibited the sale of any |
| after an extensive background check on the owner. | | | | semi-automatic assault weapons manufactured after |
| In 1968, the term "gun control" gained new meaning | | | | 1994. Supporters of the ban said it helped keep |
| with the passage of the federal Gun Control Act. | | | | violent weapons off the street, while opponents |
| Ratified in the wake of two important political | | | | claimed it imposed a confusing classification system, |
| assassinations -- Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther | | | | was overly restrictive and had little effect on |
| King, Jr. -- the Act requires that all guns carry serial | | | | controlling violent crime. |
| numbers forever tied to the original purchaser. | | | | Gun rights advocates argue that a well-armed public |
| Additionally, it prohibited gun ownership by convicted | | | | helps prevent crime and ensure personal safety. Gun |
| felons and, as a result of a 1990s amendment, it | | | | control proponents, on the other hand, fear that |
| requires a criminal background check for purchasers | | | | widespread gun ownership actually increases crime |
| at the time of sale. | | | | rates and leads to other negative outcomes, both |
| Certain states have their own gun control legislation, | | | | public and private. Is the Second Amendment |
| although all are governed by the federal Act of 1968. | | | | out-of-date, or does it guarantee an integral right? |