If you’re thinking about buying a gun, the first question you’ll probably have is: “Do you need a permit?” The answer will depend on your personal background and the state you live in. The FBI will run your name through their National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICBS) to check whether you have a past criminal record or a mental health condition. If you have neither, you can still apply for a permit. The process can take from three to six months.
Background checks are essential to closing deadly loopholes in our laws
Background checks prevent the purchase of guns by dangerous people and prevent the flow of guns into the wrong hands. They also prevent gun violence and homicide. Expanding background checks will ensure that every gun sale is screened and will help prevent needless deaths. Nine in 10 Democrats and three out of four Republicans support expanding background checks.
Background checks are the foundation of any comprehensive strategy to prevent gun violence. Federal law requires background checks when people purchase firearms from a licensed gun dealer. The purpose of these background checks is to ensure that the person purchasing the firearm has no criminal history or is otherwise prohibited from possessing the firearm. However, a loophole exists that allows people to circumvent the background check process. This loophole is sometimes referred to as the gun show or online sale loophole.
Closing this loophole is essential to prevent gun violence and save lives. The president’s executive actions are an important first step in closing this loophole, but lawmakers will have to pass additional legislation to implement the changes. Many gun safety advocates are praising the president’s executive action. They praised the president for putting the public’s safety first.
Background checks are the only systematic way to prevent dangerous people from buying guns. The National Instant Background Check System was implemented in 1998 and has worked well where it is required. It has blocked more than two million gun purchases by dangerous people. Moreover, it has a proven record of saving lives.
A bipartisan bill that would mandate background checks on gun sales passed the house on March 28, but the Republican-controlled Senate was not in favor of it. The bipartisan bill was passed with eight Republican votes and a single Democrat vote. It is currently under review in the Senate.
Another deadly loophole in our laws is the boyfriend loophole. The VAWA is an effort to close this loophole by keeping guns out of the hands of convicted stalkers and domestic abusers. This loophole increases the likelihood of homicide by 500 percent.
A federal universal background check law would avoid the pitfalls of state laws and would have a more substantial impact on gun violence prevention and diversion. While many solutions are needed, universal background checks are a key foundation. A federal universal background check law would require background checks for all gun sales. This would prevent “default proceed” sales and reduce gun violence.
They reduce gun violence and trafficking
The federal government is committed to fighting gun violence and trafficking through additional enforcement measures. These include targeting illegal firearms dealers and rogue traders, improving firearms laws, and investing in new technology and equipment. These policies will help law enforcement respond more quickly and efficiently to gun violence incidents.
The proposed law would prohibit state gun licenses from being issued to individuals who commit crimes of violence against the public or themselves. It would also bar individuals convicted of certain crimes, including domestic violence or family violence. The bill would also prohibit people who commit family violence from possessing firearms. These restrictions would be temporary and require a court order before they could purchase a gun.
The increased prevalence of illegal guns and the violence associated with them have led to an increase in violent crime in recent years. In large cities alone, homicides and gun assaults rose nearly 30% in 2020. In the first quarter of 2021, homicides were 24% higher than the first quarter of 2020, and 49 percent higher than the first quarter of 2018. Gun violence is disproportionately impacting black and brown Americans.
The President’s Administration has been addressing the problem by moving towards a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to reducing gun violence. The Administration’s aims to reduce gun violence and trafficking by implementing proven preventative measures, expanding mental health services and tackling the source of illegal firearms.
The federal government has enacted legislation requiring gun purchasers to pass background checks and fingerprints. This law also imposes a waiting period for the firearms to be sold to the public. This law helps prevent people with violent histories from acquiring guns and reduces gun homicide and gun suicides. Furthermore, it reduces the number of police shootings and the fatalities caused by these crimes.
In the late 1980s, the issue of armed youths began to gain a lot of attention. Multiple school shootings spurred the passage of the Gun Free School Zones Act in 1990. This law made possessing a gun near a school campus illegal. It also required school districts to expel any students who had a gun on school property. In addition, the law also required grant recipients to refer juveniles with guns to the appropriate authorities.
While many states have made progress in addressing the gap between gun sales and background checks, 28 states still do not require background checks for private sales. Private sales of firearms are a common conduit for prohibited individuals to obtain guns and funnel them into trafficking channels.