As a law enforcement officer and former Marine, I have been around guns for the past twenty years. I have witnessed numerous deaths and serious bodily injuries as a result of both the legal and illegal use of firearms. Although a society free of any weapons would be ideal, an ideal society is far from the one we live in. Many proponents of our right to bear arms lean on the 2nd amendment, while some have no idea what an amendment is and simply like guns (for more information on the 2nd amendment and what it really means for gun owners and gun control laws, please read Marc Rubin’s post at Newsvine). Regardless of the legal or personal reasons one might choose to justify his or her right to possess a firearm, the bottom line is “if the bad guys have guns, the good guys must have them too”.
Current gun control laws are primarily based on the Gun Control Act of 1968. Although individual states may have a wide variety of laws and regulations that govern an individual’s right to carry a firearm, we all have the right to own a firearm. The Gun Control Act of 1968 was primarily drafted to provide for better control of the interstate traffic in firearms. The act also provides for us a list of those who are prohibited from owning or possessing firearms. According to the National Rifle Association (NRA), “The following classes of people are ineligible to possess, receive, ship, or transport firearms or ammunition:
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