Florida Shooting Spree Rekindles Debate on US Gun Control Laws: The Arguments For & Against

Florida, Feb 15: At least 17 were left dead - including minors and adults - as a 19-year-old school dropout ran amok at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School at Boca Raton. The former student unleashed an unprecedented gunfire, which recorded the highest number of shooting casualties since shootout in Las Vegas on October 3 last year, which had claimed 58 lives.

Reacting to the shooting incident today, US President Donald Trump said, "No child, teacher or anyone else should ever feel unsafe in an American school." Trump's statement raised speculations whether his regime would finally amend the gun regulation laws in the US to make them more stringent.

Gun Usage Laws in the US:

- The Second Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees the right to get armed as a fundamental right for the American citizens.

It says: "A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

However, several legislations have been passed by the US Congress over the years to add restriction to the right guaranteed under the Second Amendment. Here are the regulatory laws:

- The National Firearms Act of 1934 sanctioned heavy taxes on the manufacture, transfer and licensing of automatic fire guns, rifles and shotguns.

- The Federal Firearms Act of 1938 made it mandatory for the arms seller to maintain a record of purchase.

- The Gun Control Act of 1968 was the first major legislation which imposed restrictions on the sale and licensing of guns. The law was passed in the aftermath of President John F Kennedy's assassination.

- The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) was formed in 1972 to ensure the sale of illegal arms is curbed. The ATF agents were mandated to enforce all federal gun control laws as mentioned above.

- The Armed Career Criminal Act of 1986 banned those convicted in "severe criminal cases" from purchasing guns, even after serving their sentence.

- The Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act was also passed in 1986 to prevent the sale, manufacture and licensing of handguns which could penetrate through bullet-proof jackets.

- The Brady Handgun Violence Act was introduced in 1993 which imposed a ban on the civilian usage of handguns.

- However, the turn of 20th century turned favourable for pro-gun advocates, with the Supreme Court in District of Columbia passing an order in 2008, which overturned the ban on sale of handguns.

- In 2012, the then President Barack Obama signed two federal laws which approved the usage of guns in national parks for hunting purposes. The amtrak passengers were also allowed to carry guns with their baggages.

- In 2016, Obama had signed a landmark federal legislation which banned the sale of guns to those who are "mentally unfit". The order, however, was overturned after Trump came to power.

Gun Control Laws: The Arguments For and Against

The pro-gun advocates have relied upon the Second Amendment to defend their right.

They have also cited the incumbent ban on gun sale in Washington and Chicago - which have failed to curb the shooting incidents.

Arms owner claim that guns give the lawful citizens an edge over the criminals, as it allows them to defend themselves from incidents of burglary, kidnap and loot. The gun ownership also dissuades criminals from victimising people.

According to Pew Research Survey, 74 percent of Americans believe the "right to own a gun is essential to their freedom."

The anti-gun activists cite the successes registered by nations like Japan and Indonesia, where the usage of guns by civilians is severely restricted. Thereby, the casualties due to shooting incidents is almost non-existent in those nations.

Further using statistics to prove their point, the anti-gun ownership advocates cite the data maintained by the National Crime Bureau, which says over 12,000 Americans were killed by guns in 273 mass shootings in 2017.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 15, 2018 12:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).