NCJ Number
2913
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 37 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1970) Pages: 30-32
Date Published
1970
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE SUCCESS OF THE GUN CONTROL ACT OF 1968 IS UNDERSCORED, AND PROVISIONS OF THE ACT ARE NOTED AND DISCUSSED. RANDOM CASES ILLUSTRATING THE ACT'S EFFECTIVENESS ARE CITED.
Abstract
THE ACT IS GETTING RESULTS IN FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL CRACKDOWNS ON CRIME. NEARLY FOUR TIMES AS MANY GUN VIOLATION CASES WERE INITIATED IN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF 1968 UNDER THE NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT AND THE FEDERAL FIREARMS ACT, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE BEEN LAW FOR OVER 30 YEARS. THE NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT WAS ENACTED IN 1934 AND LEVIES A SPECIAL OCCUPATIONAL TAX ON ALL PERSONS ENGAGED AS IMPORTERS, DEALERS, OR MANUFACTURERS OF SO-CALLED GANGSTER-TYPE WEAPONS. THE FEDERAL FIREARMS ACT WAS ENACTED IN 1938 TO REGULATE INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE. THE GUN CONTROL ACT OF 1968 WAS ENACTED TO ENHANCE PREVIOUS FIREARMS ACTS AND TO ASSIST STATES IN THE CONTROL OF FIREARMS WITHIN THEIR BORDERS. THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (IRS) WAS CHARGED WITH THE ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITY. DURING THE AMNESTY PERIOD PROVIDED BY THE ACT, THE IRS REGISTERED SOME 60,000 NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT WEAPONS. TITLE 1 OF THE GUN CONTROL ACT COMPLETELY AMENDED CHAPTER 44 OF TITLE 18 OF THE U.S. CODE. THE AMENDED PROVISIONS SET FORTH COMPREHENSIVE AND EXPANDED RESTRICTIONS ON COMMERCIAL AND PRIVATE TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION AND ON THE TRANSPORTAION, SHIPMENT, AND RECEIPT OF THESE ARTICLES IN INTERSTATE OR FOREIGN COMMERCE. TITLE 2 AMENDED THE NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT. ALTHOUGH RETAINING THE BASIC STATUTORY SCHEME OF THE ORIGINAL ACT, COVERAGE WAS EXTENDED TO DESTRUCTIVE DEVICES (I.E., BOMBS), WHILE ANY ELEMENT OF SELF-INCRIMINATION INHERENT IN THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT WAS ELIMINATED. TITLE 2 AMENDED TITLE 7 OF THE OMNIBUS CRIME CONTROL AND SAFE STREETS ACT OF 1968 AND MAKES IT UNLAWFUL FOR CERTAIN PERSONS TO RECEIVE, POSSESS, OR TRANSPORT IN COMMERCE ANY FIREARM. BRIEFS OF LOCAL AND FEDERAL CASES INVOLVING THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE GUN CONTROL ACT OF 1968 ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)