User:Jsdorsey/Gun Control Act of 1968

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the introduction to the article was strong. it gave a brief summary of what the act was about and who signed into the bill.

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What are the most important things the law changed?

It banned interstate shipments of firearms and ammunition to private individuals [and] sales of guns to minors, drug addicts and “mental incompetents.” This is the first time you have in law that mentally unbalanced people ought not to be able to get guns — also convicted felons. It also strengthened the licensing and record-keeping requirements for gun dealers, and that was significant because gun dealers were subject to virtually no systematic scrutiny up until this time, although a 1938 federal law did establish a fee they paid to government to be a licensed dealer. It banned importation of foreign-made surplus firearms, except those appropriate for sporting purposes.

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provisions

Title l, Section 101.

The purpose of this was that the Congress to hereby declares that the purpose of this title is to provide support to Federal, State, and local law enforcement officials in their fight against crime and violence, and it is not the purpose of this title to place any undue or unnecessary Federal restrictions or burdens on law-abiding citizens with respect to the acquisition, possession, or use of firearms appropriate to the purpose of hunting, trapshooting, target shooting, personal protection, or any other lawful activity, and that this title is not intended to discourage or eliminate the private ownership or use of firearms by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes, or provide for the imposition by Federal regulations of any procedures or requirements other than those reasonably necessary to implement and effectuate the provisions of this title.

why the bill was created

The bill was first suggested because of the assassination of President John F Kennedy. Then it became more of an issue in getting more control on gun violence and who is able to buy and purchase guns and through what. One of the major changes was creating unlawful acts for any person, except a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer, to engage in the business of importing, manufacturing, or dealing in firearms or ammunition, or in the course of such business to ship, transport, or receive any firearm or ammunition in interstate or foreign commerce. A minor change was any person desiring to be licensed as a collector shall file an application for such license.

This bill was initially made because of the assassination of President John F Kennedy. The President was killed with a rifle purchased by mail-order from an ad in the magazine American Rifleman. The House of Representatives approved a bill making it easier to buy and sell and transport firearms across state lines for supporters of gun control who succeeded in preserving the federal ban on interstate sale of pistols. With this ad being in the magazines can definitely change the social demographic and technology when it comes to social media finding out about how to buy and sell weapons. I would say this would have a negative impact which is why the bill was created to put stricter laws on gun control.