The Enhanced Background Checks Act is a proposed
United States law that would strengthen background check procedures done before a federal firearms licensee may transfer a firearm to a person who does not have a federal firearms license.
Background
In the
United States, access to guns is controlled by
law under a number of
federal statutes. These laws regulate the manufacture, trade, possession, transfer, record keeping, transport, and destruction of
firearms
A firearm is any type of gun designed to be readily carried and used by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see Legal definitions).
The first firearms originated in 10th-century China, when bamboo tubes c ...
,
ammunition
Ammunition (informally ammo) is the material fired, scattered, dropped, or detonated from any weapon or weapon system. Ammunition is both expendable weapons (e.g., bombs, missiles, grenades, land mines) and the component parts of other weap ...
, and firearms accessories. They are enforced by state agencies and the federal
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), commonly referred to as the ATF, is a domestic law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice. Its responsibilities include the investigation and prevent ...
(ATF).
In addition to federal gun laws, all state governments and some local governments have their own
laws that regulate firearms.
The
right to keep and bear arms
The right to keep and bear arms (often referred to as the right to bear arms) is a right for people to possess weapons (arms) for the preservation of life, liberty, and property. The purpose of gun rights is for self-defense, including securi ...
is protected by the
Second Amendment to the
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the Supremacy Clause, supreme law of the United States, United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, in 1789. Originally comprising seven ar ...
.
Provisions
Legislative history
As of March 15, 2021:
See also
*
List of bills in the 116th United States Congress
The bills of the 116th United States Congress list includes proposed federal laws that were introduced in the 116th United States Congress. This Congress began on January 3, 2019.
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the fe ...
*
List of bills in the 117th United States Congress
The bills of the 117th United States Congress list includes Bill (law), proposed federal laws that were introduced in the 117th United States Congress.
The United States Congress is the Bicameralism, bicameral legislature of the Federal governme ...
References
Proposed legislation of the 116th United States Congress
Proposed legislation of the 117th United States Congress
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