Guns in America

It was the worst mass shooting in modern American history. On October 1, as thousands of country music fans enjoyed an outdoor concert in Las Vegas, Nevada, Stephen Paddock, 64, unleashed a hail of gunfire from his hotel room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay. 

The rapid-fire shooting went on for a full 10 minutes. By the time the gunfire ended, 58 people were dead and more than 500 were wounded. 

It was the worst mass shooting in modern American history. On October 1, thousands of country music fans were enjoying an outdoor concert in Las Vegas, Nevada. Suddenly, Stephen Paddock, 64, unleashed a hail of gunfire. He fired rapidly from his hotel room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay.

The shooting went on for a full 10 minutes. By the time the gunfire ended, 58 people were dead and more than 500 were wounded.

When police stormed Paddock’s hotel room, they discovered that he’d killed himself. They also found a stockpile of more than 20 guns, along with special devices that can make guns fire at a faster rate.

As police try to figure out what motivated Paddock to kill, the tragedy has reignited the national debate over gun control. The United States has more guns than any other developed country—and far more gun violence. Would stricter gun control laws help lower the number of gun-related deaths? Congress, like the nation, has long been divided over the issue.

Here’s what you need to know about the debate.

Police stormed Paddock’s hotel room. There, they discovered that he had killed himself. They also found more than 20 guns. In addition, they found special devices that can make guns fire at a faster rate.

As police try to figure out what led Paddock to kill, the tragedy has reignited the national debate over gun control. The United States has more guns than any other developed country. It also has far more gun violence. Would stricter gun control laws help lower the number of gun-related deaths? Congress, like the nation, has long been divided over the issue.

Here is what you need to know about the debate.

Gun control is a broad term. It can include regulations on what kinds of firearms can be bought and sold, who can possess or sell them, and where and how they can be carried.

The debate has a long history in the U.S. It dates back to the 18th century, when the Founders were crafting the Bill of Rights—the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. The Second Amendment gave Americans the right to “bear arms.” However, for more than 200 years, people have disagreed over how to interpret it. 

Recently, the gun control debate has focused on three issues: 

• background checks on buyers,

• laws regulating who can carry weapons in public, and

• the kinds of guns and gun accessories available for purchase. 

In the aftermath of the Las Vegas shooting, attention has centered on assault rifles, which are military-style weapons capable of firing multiple bullets quickly. There’s also a focus on devices called bump stocks, which can make semiautomatic guns fire even faster.

Gun control is a broad term. It can include rules on what kinds of firearms can be bought and sold, who can have or sell them, and where and how they can be carried.

The debate has a long history in the U.S. It dates back to the 18th century, when the Founders were writing the Bill of Rights. Those are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. The Second Amendment gave Americans the right to “bear arms.” However, for more than 200 years, people have disagreed over how to interpret it.

Recently, the gun control debate has focused on three issues:

• background checks on buyers,

• laws regulating who can carry weapons in public, and

• the kinds of guns and gun accessories available for purchase.

Since the Las Vegas shooting, attention has centered on assault rifles. Those are military-style weapons able to fire multiple bullets quickly. There is also a focus on devices called bump stocks. They can make semiautomatic guns fire even faster.

Federal law—which applies to the whole country—prohibits specific groups of people from owning firearms. The list includes convicted felons and people who have been diagnosed with certain types of mental illness.

Since 1993, licensed gun dealers have been required to conduct background checks on potential buyers through an FBI database. This is meant to prevent the sale of guns to someone who is prohibited from owning one.

But the system has loopholes. Perhaps the biggest is that many small-scale sellers claim to be “hobbyists,” so they aren’t required to conduct background checks. Another problem is that many people with mental illness are never diagnosed, so they can still buy guns.

Federal law on gun control applies to the whole country. It bans specific groups of people from owning firearms. The list includes convicted felons and people who have been diagnosed with certain types of mental illness.

Since 1993, licensed gun dealers have been required to conduct background checks on potential buyers. They do this through an FBI database. This is meant to prevent the sale of guns to someone who is banned from owning one.

But the system has loopholes. Perhaps the biggest loophole is that many small-scale sellers claim to be “hobbyists.” That way, they are not required to conduct background checks. Another problem is that many people with mental illness are never diagnosed, so they can still buy guns.

In general, Democrats and city dwellers tend to favor tighter restrictions on guns. Republicans and people in rural areas, where guns are more common, tend to favor protecting gun rights. 

But following the Las Vegas shooting, a Politico.com poll found that 64 percent of Americans want tighter gun laws, while 29 percent oppose more regulation. Another poll by the Pew Research Center found that 83 percent of Democrats and 81 percent of Republicans support background checks for all gun purchases.

In general, Democrats and people who live in cities tend to favor tighter restrictions on guns. Republicans tend to favor protecting gun rights. So do people who live in rural areas, where guns are more common.

But following the Las Vegas shooting, a Politico.com poll found that 64 percent of Americans want tighter gun laws. It found that only 29 percent oppose more rules. Another poll by the Pew Research Center found that 83 percent of Democrats and 81 percent of Republicans support background checks for all gun purchases.

Gun rights advocates see firearms possession as a matter of individual rights. They say that people have the right to arm themselves for hunting, self-defense, and sport—or just because they want to.

Gun owners say weapons can make society safer by giving people the power of self-defense.

“The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association (NRA),  the country’s most powerful gun-rights group, famously said in 2012.

The debates often come down to the Second Amendment. Americans have long argued over its wording: “A well regulated Militia*, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” 

For generations, the U.S. Supreme Court avoided answering the question of whether the Second Amendment refers to an individual’s right to bear arms or to a militia member’s right. But in 2008 and 2010, the Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to keep a firearm. The rulings have only fueled the debate over what limits society can place on gun ownership.

*A militia is a citizen army. Before the creation of a national army, local militias provided protection for many Americans.

Gun rights supporters see firearms possession as a matter of individual rights. They say that people have the right to arm themselves for hunting, self-defense, and sport. They also say people have the right to arm themselves just because they want to.

Gun owners say that weapons can make society safer by giving people the power of self-defense.

“The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association (NRA) famously said in 2012. The NRA is the country’s most powerful gun-rights group.

The debates often come down to the Second Amendment. Americans have long argued over its wording: “A well regulated Militia*, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

For generations, the U.S. Supreme Court avoided answering the question of whether the Second Amendment refers to an individual’s right to bear arms or to a militia member’s right. But in 2008 and 2010, the Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to keep a firearm. The rulings have only fueled the debate over what limits society can place on gun ownership.

*A militia is a citizen army. Before the creation of a national army, local militias provided protection for many Americans.

People who favor gun control say that the more people who carry weapons, the more likely it is that someone will use one to kill. They cite figures that equate high rates of gun ownership with more gun violence. 

According to a 2007 report, there were 89 guns per 100 people in the U.S., more than in any other country. (Yemen, second on the list, had 55 guns per 100 people.) Yet gun-related homicide rates are more than 25 times higher in the U.S. than in any other high-income country. 

Supporters say tougher laws in other countries keep gun deaths down. Australia, for example, had 13 mass shootings from 1979 to 1996. After a gunman killed 35 people in 1996, the country passed strict laws banning many weapons. It hasn’t had a mass shooting since.

Gun control advocates say closing gun control loopholes would still allow law-abiding people to have firearms, while resulting in far fewer deaths.

People who favor gun control say that the more people who carry weapons, the more likely it is that someone will use one to kill. They cite figures that equate high rates of gun ownership with more gun violence.

According to a 2007 report, there were 89 guns per 100 people in the U.S. That is more than in any other country. (Yemen, second on the list, had 55 guns per 100 people.) Yet gun-related homicide rates are more than 25 times as high in the U.S. as in any other high-income country.

Supporters of gun control say that tougher laws in other countries keep gun deaths down. For example, Australia had 13 mass shootings from 1979 to 1996. After a gunman killed 35 people in 1996, the country passed strict laws banning many weapons. It has not had a mass shooting since.

Gun control supporters say that closing gun control loopholes would help. They say doing so would let law-abiding people have firearms, while resulting in far fewer deaths.

For many politicians, supporting gun rights is critical to getting reelected. That’s partly because the NRA and other gun rights groups are powerful and well funded, and many politicians don’t want to anger them. Those groups, known as the gun lobby, fear that additional restrictions will lead to outright bans on weapons. In recent years, they have opposed measures like tougher background checks, which they once supported. 

In addition, American politics have become more partisan over the past generation. Republicans have become more uniformly opposed to gun laws at a time when they control Congress and most statehouses.

For many politicians, supporting gun rights is critical to getting reelected. That is partly because the NRA and other gun rights groups are powerful and well funded. Therefore, many politicians don’t want to anger them. The groups, known as the gun lobby, fear that additional limits will lead to outright bans on weapons. In recent years, they have opposed measures like tougher background checks. In the past, they supported such measures.

In addition, American politics have become more partisan over the past generation. Republicans have become more uniformly opposed to gun laws at a time when they control Congress and most statehouses.

Most gun control laws are at the state level. California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island have the most-restrictive laws. 

But in other parts of the country, many states have recently passed laws making it easier to buy or carry guns. Wisconsin, for example, eliminated its 48-hour waiting period to buy a handgun. 

The wide variety of regulations in different states allows guns to flow freely across state lines. For example, New York has very strict gun laws, but more than two-thirds of guns used in crimes in New York City come from states with weaker gun laws.

Most gun control laws are at the state level. California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island have the most-restrictive laws.

But many other states are making it easier to buy or carry guns. For example, Wisconsin eliminated its 48-hour waiting period to buy a handgun.

The wide variety of rules in different states allows guns to flow freely across state lines. For example, New York is a state with very strict gun laws. However, more than two-thirds of guns used in crimes in New York City come from states with weaker gun laws.