Gun-Free School Zones Act

Although the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act (which bans gun possession in and near schools) was overturned by the Supreme Court, there are plenty of laws and policies that forbid students or others from bringing guns onto school property. John Lott suggests that the characterization of gun violence in schools is rather misleading ... 

The Gun-Free Schools Zones Act (part of the Crime Control Act of 1990) made it illegal for anyone (other than a police officer or security guard) to have a firearm in a school zone, or to carry unloaded firearms (unless in a locked container) within 1,000 feet of school grounds. The Supreme Court overmrned this law in 1995 in U.S. v. Lopez (see Representative Court Cases). 

Gun Control Act of 1968 U.S. v. Warin Gun Free School Zones Act U.S. v. Lopez Omnibus Violent Crime Control and Prevention Act of 1994 U.S. V. Fmerson... 

In 1990 Congress passed the Gun-Free School Zones Act, which forbids any individual knowingly to possess a firearm at a place that [he] knows. .. is a school zone. The defendant, a 12th grade student, was convicted of violating this law by carrying a concealed handgun into his school. 

Gun-Free School Zones Act as not being a proper exercise of congressional power. 

Gun Decision Puts a Check on Federal Authority. Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report, vol. 53, April 29, 1995, pp. 119ff. Gives excerpts from the U.S. V. Lopez decision, in which the Supreme Court rules that the Gun Free School Zones Act was an impermissible use of the power of Congress to regulate interstate commerce. 

Safra, Seth J. The Amended Gun-Free School Zones Act Doubt as to Its Constitutionality Remains. Duke Law Journal, vol. 50, November 2000, p. 637. Following the Supreme Court s Lopez decision Congress amended the Gun-Free School Zones Act to make it refer only to guns that were connected to interstate commerce. The author suggests that this connection may still be too tenuous to pass constitutional muster. The alternate... 

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