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The US Supreme Court's decision
striking down a 32-year ban on handguns in Washington, D.C., has sparked a
string of lawsuits across the country challenging the constitutionality of
various gun regulations. Two suits in Chicago seek to have that city's handgun
ban declared unconstitutional. A ban on handgun possession by public housing
residents in San Francisco is under attack. To avoid legal action, three Chicago
suburbs have voted to repeal their gun bans, while a fourth, Oak Park, is
fighting to preserve its ban. See story from
Christian Science Monitor
In a historic ruling, the US
Supreme Court on Thursday declared 5 to 4 that the Second Amendment's guarantee
of a right to "keep and bear arms" means that the government cannot
enact an outright ban on certain commonly held weapons or otherwise prevent
citizens from having a gun at home for personal protection or other lawful
uses. See
story from Christian Science Monitor
In a voice vote, the US Congress
has approved the first major gun control legislation in more than a decade,
broadening background checks for gun buyers in the wake of a deadly campus
shooting earlier this year by a mentally ill student. See
story from AFP
Large-scale
and uncontrolled urbanization is often accompanied by decreasing levels of
public safety and appears to be associated with increased rates of armed
violence, fi nds the 2007 edition of the Small Arms Survey. The drug trade,
the availability of weapons, opportunities for criminal gain, and the social
dislocation and anonymity of large cities all contribute to armed violence.
Civilians own approximately 650 million of the total 875 million combined
civilian, law enforcement, and military firearms in the world today. US citizens
alone own some 270 million of these, which translates into roughly 90 firearms
for every 100 people. See
Press Release from Small Arms survey
Gun debate muzzles the middle ground as the NRA and the underfunded
Brady Campaign are locked in an antagonistic embrace that creates gridlock on
solving the nation's gun problems. See story from
Christian Science Monitor
Congress is likely to revisit background checks for gun
buyers. Supporters of reform legislation hope it has a better likelihood of
passing this year, with the change in congressional leadership and the tragedy
at Virginia Tech. See
story from Christian Science Monitor
The ritual following each new killing frenzy at an American
high school or university is always the same: U.S. proponents of stricter gun
control - and as if by reflex commentators in Europe - demand stricter
regulations, so that confused young people could be rendered unable to so
easily pull the trigger and advocates of the right to possess arms, at their
forefront the National Rifle Association (NRA), insist on the constitutionally
guaranteed right to carry a weapon - in order to be able to defend themselves
against those confused young people. See
story from Financial Times Germany
Due primarily to more stringent licensing provisions, the number of gun dealers has dwindled substantially. But gun control opponents do not believe that the reduction has been responsible for the decrease in the crime rate. See story from Christian Science Monitor
Instead of embracing a citizen's "duty to retreat" in the face of a physical attack, states are enacting "Stand Your Ground" legislation. The new laws would allow people to defend themselves with deadly force even in public places when they perceive a life-threatening situation for themselves or others, and they would not be held accountable in criminal or civil court even if bystanders are injured. Proponents say it helps shift the debate from gun control to crime control, and their effect will improve public safety and respect for the law. Opponents say the laws are vigilantism, and commonplace confrontations and more likely turn to violence. See story from Christian Science Monitor
Voters in Brazil, a country with one of the world's highest rates of gun-related homicide, overwhelmingly rejected a measure yesterday that would have banned the domestic sale of small arms and ammunition. See story from Newsday
The gun industry scored a major victory when Congress approved legislation protecting firearms dealers and manufacturers from a broad swath of civil liability lawsuits. See story from San Francisco Chronicle See vote
Brazilian voters will vote on a measure prohibiting ownership and sale of guns to anyone other than the military and police. It will be the first time any country has taken a proposed gun ban to the national ballot. Brazil has the highest number of firearms fatalities in the world, with more than 36,000 people shot dead last year, according to government figures. See story from Washington Post
The relaxation of gun control laws in Southern states is frustrating gun control efforts in Northeastern states as guns easily cross state lines. See story from Boston Globe
Now that many states allow citizens to carry concealed weapons, the NRA is pushing to eliminate remaining restrictions on where those guns can be taken. Gun- control groups - and some employers - are fighting back. The outcome could decide whether more states expand the rights of licensed owners to carry their guns where they want, despite recent evidence that workplace gun bans do lower risk. See story from Christian Science Monitor
After four days of emotionally charged debate, the Senate easily approved a broad liability exemption for the firearms industry that would protect gun manufacturers and sellers from lawsuits by shooting victims. See story from Washington Post See vote
A new report by the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) says that firearms are the second-leading cause of death among 10- to 19-year-olds. See Press Release from Children's Defense Fund
Gun control measures are being debated in state legislatures from California to Florida, but the topic has largely vanished from the national political agenda. Relatively few lawmakers are willing to risk alienating the influential National Rifle Association and its supporters. With Republicans controlling the White House and Congress, Democrats remain at a disadvantage in advancing gun-control legislation. Two of the Democratic Party's leading figures -- Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean -- support some gun rights. See story from Newhouse News Service
The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill repealing most of the District of Columbia gun laws, in a vote that handed an election-season victory to gun rights groups and was denounced by the city's leaders as a historic violation of home rule. See story from Washington Post See vote
Although there is general support for an extension of the ban on assault weapons, the Democrats are unwilling to raise the visibility of this issue in the campaign as they believe Al Gore's support of gun control may have hurt him in key states. President Bush has indicated a willingness to extend the band, but likewise does not wish to raise the visibility of this issue. Studies regarding the effectiveness of the ban are inconclusive. See story from Christian Science Monitor
The Senate voted overwhelmingly to require child safety devices for all handguns sold in the United States and to add the proposal to legislation shielding gun manufacturers and dealers from lawsuits involving firearms violence. The 70 to 27 vote gave gun-control advocates a rare legislative victory, although it was far from clear that the proposal -- similar to one passed by the Senate and rejected by the House in 1999 -- would clear all hurdles needed for final passage by Congress this year. See story from Washington Post See vote
In a major reversal, Senate sponsors of legislation to shield the firearms industry from lawsuits abruptly killed their own bill after it was amended to renew an expiring ban on assault weapons (see vote) and to require background checks for gun show purchases (see vote). See story from Washington Post
A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found there was not enough evidence to conclude that gun-control laws have reduced violence in the nation. See story from Victorville Valley Daily Press
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