Federal firearm laws in the United States are complex. They can be described as a set of regulations that govern the manufacture, sale, possession, and use of firearms across the country. They regulate the possession and transfer of guns and suppressors, among other things. US Federal Gun laws include the prohibitions, background checks and licensing dealers.
The federal firearm laws have become the subject of intense debate and controversy in recent years, with anti-rights advocates of gun control calling for stricter regulations, while opponents argue that such laws would have little effect and waste resources and attention from effective strategies to end violence.
- The 2nd Amendment1791 “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of ...Read more...
- Militia Acts of 1792The first Act, passed May 2, 1792 authority of the president ...Read more...
- Militia Act of 1862enacted July 17, 1862 African-Americans to participate as war laborers ...Read more...
- Freedmen’s Bureau Act 1865prohibited the possession of firearms by anyone who had supported ...Read more...
- Militia Act of 1903 – the Dick ActJan 21, 1908 created an early National Guard and codified the circumstances ...Read more...
- National Defense Act of 1916enacted June 3, 1916 updated the Militia Act of 1903 expansion of the Army and the National ...Read more...
- Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax (FAET)February 25, 1919 Section 4181 of the Internal Revenue Code imposes an ...Read more...
- Mailing of Firearms Act of 19271927 Mailing of Firearms Act “National Firearms Control Act” 18 U.S.C.A. § 1715 prohibiting ...Read more...
- FBI – Uniform Crime Reportsince 1930 Each month, law enforcement agencies report the number of ...Read more...
- 1934 National Firearms ActWhat is the 1934 National Firearms Act ? June 26, 1934 strict ...Read more...
- Federal Firearms Act (FFA)June 30, 1938 required gun manufacturers, importers, and dealers to obtain ...Read more...
- 922r Restrictions on Firearms ManufacturingThe 922r restrictions on firearms manufacturing refer to a set ...Read more...
- Gun Control Act of 1968The Gun Control Act of 1968 is a federal law ...Read more...
- Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 enacted June 19, 1968 Pub.L. ...Read more...
- International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)1976 United States regulatory regime to restrict and control the export ...Read more...
- Arms Export Control ActArms Export Control Act of 1976 Title II of Pub.L. 94–329, 90 Stat. 729 codified at 22 ...Read more...
- Armed Career Criminal Actpassage in 1984 provides sentence enhancements for felons who commit crimes ...Read more...
- Firearm Owners Protection Act1986 The Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) is a federal law ...Read more...
- Undetectable Firearms ActEffective: December 9, 1988 expired on November 10, 1998 Congress renewed it again ...Read more...
- Semi Automatic Rifle Import Ban (1989)Wed March 15, 1989 – spring suspension July 7, 1989 – Signed ...Read more...
- Gun-Free School Zones ActGun-Free School Zones Act (GFSZA) November 29, 1990 introduced by Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin signed into ...Read more...
- Federal Assault Weapons Ban AWBpassed by the US Congress on September 13, 1994, signed into ...Read more...
- Brady Bill (1994)Brady Bill (1994) expired in 1998) went into effect on February 28, ...Read more...
- Dickey Amendment1996 the CDC was funding bias research, the CDC was caught, ...Read more...
- Lautenberg AmendmentThe Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban, September 30, 1996 1996 Enacted by the ...Read more...
- National Instant Criminal Background Check Systemlaunched by the FBI on November 30, 1998 United States system ...Read more...
- Tiahrt AmendmentFebruary 20, 2003 proposed by Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) prohibited the ATF from ...Read more...
- Law Enforcement Officers Protection ActJune 22, 2004 prohibits the manufacturing, importing and selling of ammunition ...Read more...
- Understanding the Second Amendment: Its Origins and Importance
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is one ...Read more...
Other “2A Adjacent” Federal Laws
- 1803 Marbury v. Madison
- 1887 Interstate Commerce Act