Gun Violence and Libraries: What's the Law?
Federal Laws
- Second AmendmentFrom the Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute: text of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and relevant case law.
- United States Code Title 18, Chapter 44Text of Chapter 44--Firearms of the United States Code, Title 18 - Crimes and Criminal Procedure.
- Sources on the Second AmendmentLinks gathered by a UCLA law professor, current through 1998. Includes state information, with reference to the sections of the state codes.
- Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1995Link to text and summary.
- Gun Free School Zone NoticeBrochure with information about the laws and public responsibility regarding firearms near to or in school zones. (PDF, 2 pages)
- Brady Handgun Violence Prevention ActH.R.1025 — 103rd Congress (1993-1994), an act to "To provide for a waiting period before the purchase of a handgun, and for the establishment of a national instant criminal background check system to be contacted by firearms dealers before the transfer of any firearm."
- Dickey Amendment to P.L. 104-208Omnibus appropriations bill for the 1997 fiscal year. (PDF, 750 pages). Page 245 includes the text, "That none of the funds made available for injury prevention and control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may be used to advocate or promote gun control."
State Gun Laws
- State Gun Control LawsFrom FindLaw, links to individual state laws, with links to the statement of the law and the state codes.
- Gun Laws in the U.S., State by StateInteractive display of state laws in several categories of regulation, licensing and carry rules.
- State Gun LawsFrom the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, a state-by-state listing with reference to state constitution, overview, map for reciprocity, and overview of typical provisions.
Definitions
Right to Carry - Laws which allow individuals to carry concealed handguns if they meet other state-legislated criteria.
Concealed Carry - The practice of carrying weapon, typically a handgun, in public in a concealed manner
Open Carry - The practice of allowing the permitted gun owner to carry a firearm on one's person in public
Stand Your Ground - Also called "no duty to retreat". Such laws remove the duty to retreat before using force in self-defense or to protect others from threats.
Castle Doctrine - A person attacked in his home can use reasonable force--including deadly force--to protect himself or another. Each state has different legal provisions. Appears to have come from the English common law allowing protection of one's home -- or castle.
Strawman Purchase - A loophole in licensing. A felon, or someone unable to purchase legally, arranges with someone who can to acquire a weapon.