{"id":25478,"date":"2022-10-08T09:10:07","date_gmt":"2022-10-08T09:10:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zaratechs.com\/?p=25478"},"modified":"2022-10-08T09:10:07","modified_gmt":"2022-10-08T09:10:07","slug":"gun-control-and-the-basics-of-the-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zaratechs.com\/gun-control-and-the-basics-of-the-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Gun control and the basics of the law"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The United States Constitution, in the second amendment, establishes that American citizens have the right to keep and bear arms. This review protects the citizen’s right to self-defense, and to defend their state and the United States of America. For the founders of the nation this perspective was vital to preserve freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But today, public opinion is divided due to the increase in mass murders in public places with firearms. Until August 2019, 289 incidents of this type had occurred in the country so far this year. Between August 3 and 4 alone, 29 people were killed and 52 injured in two such events in less than 24 hours, in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One sector aspires to stricter control over the sale, possession and use of weapons, and another antagonizes this point of view. Organizations like the National Rifle Association (NRA) defend the explicit right <\/a><\/strong>of the Constitution’s charter of fundamental rights, because strict control would leave citizens limited in self-defense. Even if the government turns against them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And every time a mass shooting occurs in a public area, discussions of gun control come to the fore again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who sets the rules on firearms?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although the US Constitution says that an American citizen can keep and bear arms, this is not an unlimited right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is the government office that regulates who can ship, transport, receive and possess a firearm and ammunition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To do so, it is governed by the National Firearms Act, which was revised in 1968 and established the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the minimum age to buy a gun?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Federal law specifies, according to the GCA of 1968, that the minimum age for the purchase of long weapons such as a shotgun or a rifle is 18 years; and to acquire hand firearms it is 21 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, state law also imposes its requirements and differences regarding the minimum age. For example, in Alaska, Maine, Minnesota, and Vermont, the minimum age to own and purchase a shotgun or rifle is 16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who can sell weapons?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If someone wants to be a gun dealer, they must obtain a federal firearms license, issued by the ATF. In addition, you must be over 21 years of age, undergo criminal history and mental status scrutiny, and own a place of business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online gun sales must also follow the same regulations, sometimes shipping them to a licensed seller for final delivery to the buyer. However, the law is not very clear when a private sale is made, since it is not considered a business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who cannot have or buy firearms?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is prohibited to have and buy firearms in the following cases:<\/p>\n\n\n\n