The Gun Control Act of 1968 is a federal law that regulates the firearms industry and firearm ownership in the United States.
The Gun Control Act of 1968 is a federal law that regulates the firearms industry and firearm ownership in the United States. It was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 22, 1968, and was enacted in response to several high-profile assassinations, including those of President John F. Kennedy, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. The law was intended to make it more difficult for criminals and mentally ill individuals to obtain firearms. The law replaced the Federal Firearms Act of 1938 and significantly expanded the federal government’s role in regulating firearms.
- Effective: October 22, 1968
- Repealed and replaced the 1938 FFA
- banned importation guns that have “no sporting purpose”
- gun owners had to be 21
- all manufactured or imported guns have a serial number
- control of interstate traffic of firearms
The Gun Control Act of 1968 established new licensing requirements for firearm dealers and manufacturers and required them to keep detailed records of firearm transactions. It also prohibited certain individuals, such as convicted felons and individuals with a history of mental illness, from owning firearms. The law prohibited the importation of certain firearms, including “assault weapons,” and established a minimum age of 21 for handgun purchases. The law has been amended several times since its enactment, including the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993, which established a national system for background checks on firearm purchasers, and the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007, which improved the accuracy and completeness of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
- The Gun Control Act of 1968 was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 22, 1968.
- The law was enacted in response to several high-profile assassinations, including those of President John F. Kennedy, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. The law was intended to make it more difficult for criminals and mentally ill individuals to obtain firearms.
- The law replaced the Federal Firearms Act of 1938 and significantly expanded the federal government’s role in regulating firearms.
- The law established new licensing requirements for firearm dealers and manufacturers and required them to keep detailed records of firearm transactions. It also prohibited certain individuals, such as convicted felons and individuals with a history of mental illness, from owning firearms.
- The Gun Control Act of 1968 also prohibited the importation of certain firearms, including “assault weapons,” and established a minimum age of 21 for handgun purchases.
- The law has been amended several times since its enactment, including the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993, which established a national system for background checks on firearm purchasers, and the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007, which improved the accuracy and completeness of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
- Key players in the enactment of the Gun Control Act of 1968 include President Lyndon B. Johnson, Senator Thomas Dodd of Connecticut, and Congressman Emanuel Celler of New York.
- The Gun Control Act of 1968 has been a subject of controversy and debate since its enactment. Supporters argue that it has helped to reduce gun violence and protect public safety, while opponents argue that it infringes on Second Amendment rights and that criminals can still obtain firearms through illegal means.