Dealers in firearms

In 1938 Congress extended the national firearm regulation system by passing the Federal Firearms Act. This law required that all manufacturers, importers, and dealers in firearms be licensed. It forbade delivery of a gun to a person who had been convicted of (or was under indictment for) a crime or who did not meet local licensing laws. 

Congress passes the Federal Firearms Act of 1938. It requires that manufacturers, importers, and dealers in firearms (and ammunition for pistols and revolvers) obtain licenses. The law also prohibits delivery of a gun to a known criminal, to someone under indictment, or in violation of local licensing laws. 

Another possibility is to sue the gun dealer who sells a firearm to a person who is obviously intoxicated or otherwise incompetent. In 1997, for example, Deborah Kitchen was shot by her ex-boyfriend, leaving her paralyzed. The boyfriend had obtained a. 22 caliber rifle from a local Kmart store, despite his having, according to his testimony, consumed a flfth of whiskey and a whole case of beer during the day. The appeals court ruled that under such circumstances the store could be guilty of negligent entrustment of the gun. 

The Firearms Owners Protection Act of 1986 liberalized some of these requirements. Long guns (rifles and shotguns), but not handguns, could be sold across state lines. Guns and ammunition could be purchased through the mail subject to various restrictions. Gun dealers could sell firearms in a place other than a store (such as a flea market or a gun show). Record-keeping requirements were reduced. 

There have been a wider variety of cases at all levels dealing with the regulation of firearms and, more recently, with civil liability of firearm manufacturers or dealers. However, because there are so many constitutional and civil issues involved in gun control litigation, the following list breaks down the decisions by topic. (Note that some cases involve more than one topic.) Cases under each topic are listed in chronological order. 

Douglass, Linda. Where Criminals Get Their Guns So Few Dealers Supply So Many Weapons Used in Crimes. ABC News.com. Available online. URL http //abcnews.go.eom/sections/wnt/CloserLook/gun sales040112.html. Downloaded on July 7, 2004. A surprising fact is that more than half of the firearms traced in crimes come from about 1 percent of the nation s gun stores. A new study by Americans for Gun Safety found that federal agents seldom audit, let alone prosecute, these gun stores. 

A trade group for firearms dealers. The association has been engaged in trying to counteract liability suits being filed against gun makers by cities. 

Every person arriving in Hawaii is required to register any firearm(s) brought into the state within three days of arrival of the person or firearm(s), whichever occurs later. Handguns purchased from licensed dealers must be registered within five days. 

OTHER TERMS.— The terms firearm , handgun , licensed importer , licensed manufacturer , and licensed dealer have the meanings stated in section 921(a) of tide 18, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a)(2). 

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