Gun Policy

Gun policy in the United States is shaped by the Second Amendment to the Constitution, which the Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) ruled protects an individual right to keep firearms in the home for self-defense. Congress and states continue to debate the scope and limits of that right. The U.S. has far more civilian-owned firearms per capita than any other country — approximately 120 guns per 100 people, compared to about 15 per 100 in Germany and Canada. It also has a dramatically higher firearm death rate than peer nations. Roughly 45,000 Americans die from gunshot wounds annually: about half by suicide, about 43 percent by homicide, and a small fraction by accidents or police action. Mass shootings — defined as incidents with four or more victims — have increased significantly in frequency over the past two decades, generating enormous public pressure for policy responses. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022 was the first significant federal gun legislation in nearly 30 years; it expanded background checks for buyers under 21, funded mental health programs, and closed the 'boyfriend loophole' in domestic violence firearms restrictions. Debates continue over universal background checks (closing the private-sale loophole), red flag laws that allow courts to temporarily remove firearms from people deemed dangerous, magazine capacity limits, and renewed bans on assault-style weapons. The National Rifle Association and other gun-rights groups maintain significant political influence, particularly in Republican primaries.