Federal Control of Guns and Firearms Developments and Considerations

Congress has debated the efficacy and constitutionality of federal regulation of firearms and ammunition, with strong advocates arguing for and against greater gun control. Since March 2011, much of the gun control debate in the 112th Congress has swirled around allegations that the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) mishandled a Phoenix, AZ-based gun trafficking investigation known as "Operation Fast and Furious." The tragic shootings in Tucson, AZ, on 8 January 2011, in which six people were killed and 13 wounded, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, have also generated attention. This book examines the developments and considerations in the federal control of guns and firearms, with a focus on gun control legislation; an overview of District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. City of Chicago; DC gun laws and proposed amendments; and firearms commerce in the US.