Can I Own a Gun in America

While gun owners and dealers often cite the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution when arguing against restricting any American citizen from owning a gun, the fact is that all gun owners and dealers must follow federal and state laws in order to legally own or sell guns. Since as early as 1837, federal gun control laws have evolved to regulate the sale, ownership, and manufacture of firearms, various firearm accessories, and ammunition. Highly Restricted Types of Firearms First, there are some types of guns most civilian Americans simply cannot legally own. The National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) greatly restricts the ownership or sale of machine guns (fully automatic rifles or pistols), short-barreled (sawed-off) shotguns, and silencers. Owners of these types of devices must undergo deep FBI background checks and register the weapon with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives NFA registry. In addition, some states, like California and New York, have enacted laws completely banning private citizens from possessing these NFA-regulated firearms or devices. Persons Restricted From Owning Guns The Gun Control Act of 1968, as amended by the 1994 Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, prohibits certain people from possessing a firearm. The possession of any firearm by one of these prohibited persons is a felony offense. It is also a felony for any person, including a registered Federal Firearms Licensee to sell or otherwise transfer any firearm to a person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the person receiving the firearm is prohibited from firearm possession. There are nine  categories of people prohibited from possessing firearms under the Gun Control Act: Persons under indictment for, or convicted of, any felony crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one yearFugitives from justicePersons who are unlawful users of, or addicted to, any controlled substancePersons who have been declared by a court as mental defectives or have been committed to a mental institutionIllegal aliens or aliens who were admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visaPersons who have been dishonorably discharged from the Armed ForcesPersons who have renounced their United States citizenshipPersons subject to certain types of restraining ordersPersons who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence In addition, most persons under 18  years of age are prohibited from possessing handguns. These federal laws impose a life-long ban on gun possession by anyone convicted of a felony, as well as those merely under indictment for a felony. In addition, the federal courts have held that under the Gun Control Act, persons convicted of felonies are banned from owning guns even if they never serve jail time for the crime. Domestic Violence In cases involving an application of the Gun Control Act of 1968, the U.S. Supreme Court has rather broadly interpreted the term â€Å"domestic violence.† In a 2009 case, the Supreme Court ruled that the Gun Control Act applies to anyone convicted of any crime involving â€Å"physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon† against any person with whom the accused had a domestic relation, even if the crime would be prosecuted as simple â€Å"assault and battery† in the absence of a deadly weapon. State and Local ‘Right to Carry’ While the federal laws regarding the basic ownership of guns apply nationwide, many states have adopted their own laws regulating how legally-owned guns may be carried in public.   As in the case of fully automatic firearms and silencers, some states have enacted gun control laws that are either more or less restrictive than federal laws. Many of these state laws involve an individual’s â€Å"right to carry† handguns openly in public. In general, these so-called â€Å"open carry† laws, in the states that have them, fall into one of four categories: Permissive Open Carry States: People are allowed to carry their legally-owned guns openly and in public.Licensed Open Carry States: People are allowed to carry their legally-owned guns openly and in public only with a permit or license to do so.Anomalous Open Carry States: While openly carrying a gun may generally be legal under state law, local governments are allowed to enact more restrictive open-carry laws.Non-Permissive Open Carry States: State law allows persons to openly carry legally-owned guns only in limited circumstances, like while hunting, during target practice, or when legally carried for self-defense. According to the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence,  31 states currently allow the open carrying of handguns without the necessity of a license or permit. However, some of those states require that guns carried in public must be unloaded. In 15 states, some form or license or permit is required to openly carry a handgun.   It is important to note that open carry gun laws have many exceptions. Even among those states that allow open carrying, most still prohibit open carrying in some specific locations such as schools, state-owned businesses, places where alcohol is served, and on public transportation, among many other locations. In addition, individual property owners and businesses are allowed to ban openly carried guns on their premises. Finally, some—but not all—states grant visitors to their states â€Å"reciprocity,† allowing them to follow the â€Å"right to carry† in effect in their home states.

Cause And Effect On Mothers During Pregnancy - 1383 Words

Cause and Effects on Mothers’ During Pregnancy Stress during pregnancy can cause developmental and emotional problems for offspring; it has been observed by behavioral and biological researchers, but the objective measuring and timing of that stress and its results are difficult to prove. It is important for women who plan on becoming pregnant in the future to know how to prevent unhealthy pregnancy. A healthy lifestyle during the prenatal period of pregnancy is a start to a healthy outcome for infants. It is important to promote healthier behaviors during pregnancy so the outcome is positive. Engaging in nutrition and achieving a healthy weight gain are essential. Physical activity during pregnancy is associated with reduced risks of pregnancy complications, better mental health, and fetal benefits including lower fat mass, improved stress tolerance, and advanced neurobehavioural maturation. Evidence supports associations between excessive gestational weight gain and increased birth weight include an increased risk of birthing large infants, cesarean surgery, excess postpartum weight retention, and overweight children (McGill University, 2015). The bidirectional relationship between psychological and behavioral factors must be considered. Although physical activity is proven to reduce depression symptoms, the presence of depression has also been shown to be associated with physical activity. Pregnancy is a joyful event: however, it is also an adjustment for first timeShow MoreRelatedHow Physical Activity Affects The Mother During Pregnancy Essay1607 Words   |  7 Pagesa smooth pregnancy and an easy, natural childbirth. Despite this, undesirable weight gain in mothers (Kowal, Kuk, Tamim, 2012) and the instances of caesarean birth (Domenjoz, Kayser, Boulvain, 2014) have been very prevalent in recent years. 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Long term and short term deformities and conditions are present in the child. Other factors play a part into whyRead MoreSubstance Abuse During Pregnancy?889 Words   |  4 PagesAbuse During Pregnancy The use of controlled substances throughout pregnancy is a very prevalent issue among society today. Controlled substances have devastating effects on not only the mothers using the substances, but also infants while they are in utero and after they are born. Many infants born to mothers, who are abusing drugs, suffer from life threatening illnesses and are forever affected through adulthood. Specifically, heroin is a common drug form that is often used during pregnancy andRead MoreThe Effects Of Pregnancy On Mothers During Pregnancy1376 Words   |  6 PagesCause/Effects on Mothers’ During Pregnancy Stress during pregnancy can cause developmental and emotional problems for offspring; it has been observed by behavioral and biological researchers, but the objective measuring and timing of that stress and its results are difficult to prove. It is important for women who plan on becoming pregnant in the future to know how to prevent unhealthy pregnancy. A healthy lifestyle during the prenatal period of pregnancy is a start to a healthy outcome for infantsRead MoreHow Physical Activity Affects The Mother During Pregnancy Essay1710 Words   |  7 Pagessmooth pregnancy and an easy, natural childbirth. Despite this, undesirable weight gain in mothers (Kowal, Kuk, Tamim, 2012) and the instances of caesarean birth (Domenjoz, Kayser, Boulvain, 2014) have been very prevalent in recent years. However, there are many lifestyle choices which women can make during pregnancy that can decrease the risk of complications, as well as other lifestyle choices which can increase the risk of complications during pregnancy. I am interested in the effects that a

Blink-182 - Blink-182 free essay sample

As my senior year comes to a close, I routinely find myself drowning in spells of nostalgia and reminiscing on experiences of years past. I remember playing in the snow, procrastinating over homework, hanging out with friends. But I mostly remember the music that helped form my impressionable mind. When I was young, my dad sang me the songs of James Taylor, while my mom and I belted out the ballads of Tina Turner on the way home from school. As an elementary school student, I became obsessed with the pop craze, and melted when I heard my favorite Backstreet Boy. This all changed in middle school when I found my â€Å"edge,† or at least what I thought to be edgy – the music of Blink-182. This band exuded the teen angst I thought I ought to be experiencing. They were the epitome of cool. They were not afraid to be humorous as they led the forefront of a teenage rebellion. We will write a custom essay sample on Blink-182 Blink-182 or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Blink-182 released their self-titled album in 2003, and I was fortunate to buy it, thanks to a gift card. â€Å"Blink-182† became the soundtrack of my final year of middle school. I was an eighth grader growing up to the sophisticated sounds of what bassist Mark Hoppus called a â€Å"self-meditation on romantic decay,† and I felt smarter for being able to recite that description on cue. No longer did Blink-182 sing of hot dogs and first dates, but instead serenaded the masses with a refined pop-punk sound that was a refreshing surprise to dedicated fans. The first single released, and the first song on the album, â€Å"Feeling This,† sets the tone with its head-banging drums and heart-gripping lyrics. The next two, â€Å"Obvious† and â€Å"I Miss You,† have a mysterious quality that further reflects the band’s new attitude about love, life, and music. There is a solid meaning and purpose behind every chord, every note, and every word. Between the fourth and fifth tracks on the album, a letter is read that Mark Hoppus’ grandfather wrote to his wife during World War II. It brings a tear to the listener’s eye as it describes his unconditional love during the most terrible of circumstances. The remaining tracks encourage listeners to take a new outlook and to see life from a new perspective. Blink-182’s final album (before their â€Å"indefinite hiatus†) was released in 2005, and is something that the band can be proud of as an end note to over a decade of success. Its new-age, sophisticated feel is something that will remain revolutionary and proves that a band can stay true to themselves and their music while growing up and growing apart. This band reinvented themselves for this album, and their efforts are deemed immortal as â€Å"Blink-182† will forever play as the background music to many souls who were touched by this legendary band.