By: Michael Eiden

Gun Rights and Safety Timeline

  1. 1791: The 2nd amendment was adopted which granted United States Citizens the right to bear arms. This was the first major movement for gun rights and gun control in United States history.
  2. 1934: The National Firearms Act was passed which called for firearms to registered and taxed. A tax was also put on for the people who chose to import, manufacture or deal firearms.
  3. 1993: President Clinton called for The Brady Law. The Brady Law was for citizens who wanted to buy a handgun had to wait 5 days to receive the gun. This was known as the “cool off period.” Added onto this law in 1998 was the background check that became required when a citizen purchases a weapon from a federal dealer. (5)
  4. 1994: The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which banned assault rifles. This was a countrywide law that banned semi-automatic rifles and large magazine clips. This law was in effect for 10 years and has been tried to be renewed several times by the office. (6)
  5. 1997: The North Hollywood shootout was a very significant date in United States History. It was two armed men with fully automatic rifles that robbed a bank. They had full armor from head to toe. They had gotten into a shootout with police officers and several thousand shots were fired from both ends. Several people ended up being injured and the two bank robbers were killed.
  6. 1999: The Columbine High School Massacre was another significant gun-related event in history. Two young males went into a high school and killed several students and a teacher. They had planted a bomb to divert attention elsewhere in order to allow them to run through the school for shootings. They had used handguns and shotguns.
  7. 2007: The Virginia Tech Shooting was involved with one student who went on a shooting massacre that killed several people. He had used semi-automatic weapons in his attack on the school.
  8. 2012: The Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting. A man had murdered his mother and then had went to the elementary school and killed several children and teachers. After the attacks he had committed suicide. He had used and assault rifle and a couple of handguns.
  9. 2013: Christopher Dorner Manhunt. This manhunt had occurred for several days as Dorner went on a killing spree in Southern California. When he was caught in a firefight with the police, he committed suicide. He had used assault rifles, pistols and sniper rifles.
  10. 2013: Navy Yard Shootout. A man went on a killing spree it a Naval Headquarter where he took several lives. He was armed with shotguns and semi automatic weapons. The police later killed him on the same day.