User:Sofi rromero/sandbox

What is a fire arm?
A fire arm can be any of the following: a handgun, a rifle, or a shotgun. Both a rifle or a shotgun are considered long guns.

Semi-Automatic Firearm vs. Automatic Firearm
The National Rifle Association provides the following definitions. "Automatic: A firearm designed to feed cartridges, fire them, eject their empty cases and repeat this cycle as long as the trigger is depressed and cartridges remain in the feed system. Semi-Automatic: A firearm designed to fire a single cartridge, eject the empty case and reload the chamber each time the trigger is pulled."

== Regulations to Attain a Firearm in Different Countries == All countries have different regulations to promote gun control. With recent incidents, more and more countries are enforcing laws and restricting purchases. In Australia, all citizens were required to sell their firearms to the government. Other countries such as Japan have created a more rigorous process.

New Zealand:

 * Background check covering criminal, medical, mental, and domestic violence records.
 * Character references along with interview of person.
 * Home inspection.
 * Gun Safety Course.
 * Approval for license.

United States of America:

 * Instant Background Check covering criminal, domestic violence, and immigration status.

Japan:

 * Firearm class with written exam portion.
 * Doctor approval covering mental and drug history.
 * Apply for training permit.
 * Interview with authorities.
 * Pass a review on criminal history.
 * Apply for a gunpowder permit.
 * Take class and firing test.
 * Obtain a certificate from a gun dealer.
 * Apply for hunting license, if applicable.
 * Buy a gun safe.
 * Allow police to inspect gun storage.
 * Pass another background check.

Mexico:

 * Letter from authority that you have a clean record.
 * Submit a letter showing your employment status and how you will pay for the gun.
 * Pass a background check.
 * Travel to Mexico City, where the only gun store is located.
 * Get fingerprinted.

USA Legislation
Each region per country may contain laws stating otherwise

The United States allow for states to have different laws. The Alabama Gun Laws state the following: "STATE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION -- Article 1, Section 26

(a) Every citizen has a fundamental right to bear arms in defense of himself or herself and the state. Any restriction on this right shall be subject to strict scrutiny.

(b) No citizen shall be compelled by any international treaty or international law to take an action that prohibits, limits, or otherwise interferes with his or her fundamental right to keep and bear arms in defense of himself or herself and the state, if such treaty or law, or its adoption, violates the United States Constitution." A Colorado Gun law states the following: "STATE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION - Article II, Section 13.

“The right of no person to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person and property, or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall be called in question; but nothing herein contained shall be construed to justify the practice of carrying concealed weapons.”

"Black Market"
As per the current federal and most state laws, it is fairly easy for any individual to willingly purchase large quantities of handguns and later resell them without the identities of the transfer regulated by the government-in which most states do not regulate or monitor.

Statistical Facts on Americans that own Guns
As of March 2019, the United States of America has approximately 328,651,467 people populating North America. It is hard to know what percentage of Americans own fire arms due to the laws that restrict it. Therefore, Americans rely on surveys such as one taken by the Pew Research Center in 2017. Surveys like this one give one more insight. The survey states that out of the individuals who took the survey, 30% currently own a gun and 69% do not currently own a gun. The remaining one percent are the unknown individuals who did not participate. Out of the 60% of those who do not currently own a gun, 36% of them are considering the purchase and 33% never would. According to this same study, the majority of individuals seek firearms for protection and then for hunting, shooting as a sport, their collection, and then for their jobs that require it.

=== Mental Illness and Gun Regulations === In the USA, laws are in place to regulate the purchases of guns by any individual with a mental health condition. Federal law is not able to require states to identify people who are performing security checks as well as they fail to report records to the FBI's Background Check Program or NICS. When cases like these do occur, individuals who are known to be dangerous can often time "pass" background checks and obtain firearms. After the fact that shootings have been more prevalent, gun stores have been more vigilant. Mental health records in the NICS have been increased by over 700% since shootings that date back to 2014. Mental Health Records have been added to the System throughout the years, with over 3 million recent additions since 2014.

Gun Facts & Misconceptions
A recent misconception states that 90% of gun deaths have to potential to be eliminated and controlled via background checks for guns and accessories needed. This is not relevant since over 60% of gun deaths are due to suicides with legally owned guns.