DOCUMENTS IN THE NEWS - 2000
Laws and Proposed Legislation

Gun Control Legislation | Michigan Concealed Weapons Law |
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Last updated on October 15, 2003

Gun Control Legislation

Federal Government

Current Federal Laws

Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act
- Establishes five-day waiting period for background checks
- Public Law 103-159
Gun Free Schools Act of 1994
- Federal law requiring expulsion of students carrying weapons to school if the school receives federal financial aid
National Instant Criminal Background Check System (FBI)
- Laws and regulations regarding background checks for gun purchases (Brady Bill)
- Statistics on gun permits denied
- Link to state laws on background checks
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
- Full text of law includes violence against women and law enforcement initiatives
- Title XI bans certain types of assault weapons and requires a background check before gun purchase
- Links to legislative history

Proposed Legislation

Children's Gun Violence Prevention Act
- Introduced by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy of New York on March 25
- Summary of bill and link to the full text (H.R. 1342)
Consequences for Juvenile Offenders Act
- Introduced as H.R. 1501
- Controversial debate on the floor of the House in the Congressional Record for June 17, 1999, p. H4476+
Mandatory Gun Control Background Check
- Introduced by McCollum and Hyde on June 10, 1999
- Modified by Dingell amendment on June 17, 1999; Congressional Record, June 17, 1999, p. 4573+
Omnibus Gun Control Legislation
- President Clinton's Proposal
  - Press conference of April 27, 1999 announcing stricter enforcement
  - Raises legal purchase age to 21, holds family accountable, requires background checks at gun shows
- House Bill (H.R. 1501)
- Senate Bill (S. 254)
  - Bill Text
    - Text as introduced; legislative status and links to debates
  - Required background checks at gun shows (Lautenberg amendment) defeated on May 12 but being reconsidered due to negative reaction
    - Roll Call Votes
  - Lautenberg Amendment (S.Amndt. 364) passed on May 20, 1999 with Vice President Gore breaking the tie
    - Roll Call Vote on Lautenberg Amendment
    - Senator Lautenberg's Statement
  - See also Ten Commandments

State Legislation

Center for the Prevention of Handgun Violence

Advocacy group headed by Sarah Brady
State gun control laws, including child access laws and waiting periods

National Rifle Association

Federal and state laws and firearms
Proposed federal legislation on guns

Gun Manufacturers

Smith and Wesson Agreement (HUD)

Full text of agreement made between Smith and Wesson and President Clinton on March 17, 2000
SW will design gun safety measures and ensure background checks before sales
State and local governments will drop pending lawsuits

Smith-Wesson

Catalog of products and some safety information

Lobby Groups

Center for the Prevention of Handgun Violence

Advocacy group headed by Sarah Brady
State gun control laws, including child access laws and waiting periods
National gun law loopholes and proposed legislation
Firearm facts

Gun Control v. Gun Rights (Open Secrets)

This 1999 article analyzes the campaign contributions of the gun rights v. gun control groups
Table of gun rights votes arranged by name of Congressman with the campaign contributions received from gun rights groups and his/her vote with the guns rights position

National Rifle Association

Federal and state laws and firearms
Proposed federal legislation on guns
Statements on Smith and Wesson agreement

Public Opinion

National Gun Policy Survey 1998 (National Opinion Research Center)

Extensive public opinion survey on gun ownership, regulation, violence, and safety issues
Text in pdf and with statistical tables
Shows American public support for gun control

Homicide and Suicide Rates Associated with the Implementation of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act

Article appearing in the Journal of the American Medical Association (August 2, 2000)
Compares the 32 states which implemented a waiting period to purchase a gun versus those who had implemented a waiting period prior to 1994
Authors conclude that the Brady Law had no effect in curbing homicide or suicide, except for the suicide of people 55+

Michigan Concealed Weapons Law

Background

H.B. 4530 of 1999 unifies the concealed weapons application procedure in Michigan's 83 counties
Requires owner have training
Public institutions may post "No Concealed Weapons" signs
Conference version passed the Michigan House and Senate on December 13, 2000

Legislative History

Links to various versions of the bill
Text of House and Senate analyses
Links to debates and final version in the Michigan House and Senate Journals

Final Votes and Text

House Journal (Dec. 13, 2000, pp.2663-2883)
Senate Journal (Dec. 13, 2000, pp. 2106 ff.)

Grace York, Coordinator, Documents Center
University of Michigan Library
Graphics by Sherry Piontek and Barbara Perles
Send comments and suggestions to graceyor@umich.edu

http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/dn00/dn00laws..html