Publication

This report provides basic firearms-related statistics, an overview of US federal firearms law, and a summary of related legislative action in the 111th and 112th Congress. It includes discussion of other salient and recurring gun control issues that have generated past or current congressional interest. These include (1) screening firearms background check applicants against terrorist watch lists, (2) combating gun trafficking and straw purchases, (3) reforming the regulation of federally licensed gun dealers, (4) requiring background checks for private firearms transfers at gun shows, (5) more-strictly regulating “semiautomatic assault weapons,” and (6) banning or requiring the registration of certain long-range .50 caliber rifles, which are commonly referred to as “sniper” rifles.