All The Rage About Gun Control In America

Firearms have long been a source of extreme emotion for individuals. Some people love them. Some people hate them. Either way, they exist. It’s your job to figure out what they mean to you.

The way America measures gun control is quite different from other first-world countries around the globe, and it has been a point of much contention. However, gun control in America has also been a point of much freedom.

Take a moment now to check out a few tidbits about how the United States handles gun safety, and consider purchasing your own firearm to keep your household safe today.

The minimum age to own a gun

The minimum age to purchase a firearm in the United States is 18 for shotguns, rifles, and ammunition. You have to be 21 years old to purchase any other type of firearm.

However, there is a range of freedom for state and local governments to raise the age of purchase to whatever they deem appropriate. States are not allowed to lower the age below the federal limit.

Who is restricted from owning a firearm

Not everyone who meets the age requirement to purchase a firearm is actually legally permitted to purchase one. There are some exceptions to be noted.

People who are fugitives from the law, those who have been committed to a mental institution, and people who have been convicted of a felony charge are not allowed to legally purchase or be in possession of a firearm in the United States.

What the Federal Government has to say about guns

The Federal Government has plenty to say about firearms, so much so that it’s written into the constitution. The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution grants the people the right to bear arms.

The ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms) controls the issuing of licenses to vendors for the sale of firearms. The purchase of shotguns, rifles, machine guns, mufflers, and silencers is regulated by the National Firearms Act of 1934.

Who is allowed to sell guns

If you are trying to obtain the proper legal protections to sell firearms in the U.S., you have to be at least 21 years of age.

You have to have the proper business licenses, and you are required to inform local law enforcement of your intent to deal in firearms. Gun sellers also have to pass the required ownership background checks and have a clean mental health history.

Background checks and permits for firearms

Before anyone can purchase a gun in the United States, they are subjected to a quick background check. The process only takes a few minutes, and there’s a backdoor to the requirement.

If you purchase a gun at a gun show, the background check is overlooked. Sellers at gun shows are legally able to operate without federal backing, making it completely legal to sell a weapon without a background check.