大会继续辩论的有效性和符合宪法的联邦管制枪支和弹药。 Various federal laws have been enacted since 1934 to promote such regulation. 各种联邦法律已经颁布了自1934年以来，以促进这种调节。
Gun control advocates argue that they curb access by criminals, juveniles, and other "high-risk" individuals. 火炮控制拥护者主张，他们制止利用罪犯，未成年人，和其他“高风险”的个人。 They contend that only federal measures can successfully reduce the availability of guns. Some seek broad policy changes such as near-prohibition of non-police handgun ownership or the registration of all firearm owners or firearms. 他们说，只有联邦措施能够成功地减少获得枪支。一些寻求广泛的政策变化，如近禁止非警察手枪所有权或登记所有枪支所有者或枪支。 They assert that there is no constitutional barrier to such measures and no significant social costs. 他们断言，没有任何宪法的障碍等措施，并没有显着的社会代价。 Others advocate less comprehensive policies that they maintain would not impede ownership and legitimate firearm transfers. 其他宣传不够全面的政策，他们保持不会妨碍所有权和合法的枪支转移。
Opposition to federal controls is strong. 反对联邦政府的控制是坚定的。 Gun control opponents deny that federal policies keep firearms out of the hands of high-risk persons; rather, they argue, controls often create burdens for law-abiding citizens and infringe upon constitutional rights provided by the Second Amendment. 枪支管制的对手否认，联邦政策保持了枪支手中的高风险的人，而是他们认为，控制常常造成负担，守法的公民和侵犯宪法规定的权利提供了第二次修订。 Some argue further that widespread gun ownership is one of the best deterrents to crime as well as to potential tyranny, whether by gangs or by government. 有些人认为还普遍拥有枪支是最好的威慑犯罪，以及向潜在的暴政，不论是帮派或政府。 They may also criticize the notion of enhancing federal, as opposed to state, police powers. 他们也可以批评的概念，加强联邦，而不是国家，警察权力。
The two most significant federal statutes controlling firearms in the civilian population are the National Firearms Act of 1934 and the Gun Control Act of 1968. 这两个最重要的联邦法规控制枪支的平民百姓是全国枪支法和1934年的枪支管制法的1968年。 The 1934 Act established strict registration requirements and a transfer tax on machine guns and short-barreled long guns. The 1968 Act prohibits mail-order sales and the interstate sales of firearms, prohibits transfers to minors, limits access to "new" assault weapons, and sets forth penalties and licensing requirements for manufacturers, importers, and dealers. 1934年法建立严格的登记要求和转让税的机枪和短管长枪。 1968年的法案禁止邮购销售和州际销售枪支，禁止转让给未成年人，限制进入“新的”攻击性武器，并规定了处罚和许可的要求制造商，进口商和经销商。
Crime and mortality statistics are often used in the gun control debate. 犯罪和死亡率统计数字常常被用来在枪支管制的辩论。 The number of homicides committed annually with a firearm by persons in the 14- to 24-year-old age group increased by 173% from 1985 to 1993, and then decreased by 47% from 1993 to 1999. 的人数每年犯下杀人与枪支的人在14 -2 4岁年龄组增加了1 73％ ， 1 985至1 993年，然后下降了4 7％ ， 1 993至1 999年。 Firearm fatalities from all causes and for all age groups decreased by 22%. 枪械来自所有死亡原因和为所有年龄组下降了22 ％ 。 For juveniles, they de-creased by 40%, from 1993 to 1998. 对于青少年，他们去皱巴巴的40 ％ ，从1993年至1998年。
