People Gun Types Waiting Period Weapons Buy Act

The second "amendment" (addition or change) to the U.S. "Constitution" (the most important legal document in the United States) gives people the right to "bear arms" (carry guns). But there are many "federal" (national) and state laws that "restrict" (put limitations on) what kind of "firearms" (guns) people can own, how they can buy them, and how they can use them.

The Gun Control Act of 1968 "bans" (does not allow) certain types of people from owning guns. These include "convicted felons" (people who have been found guilty of a serious crime), people who have a dangerous "mental illness" (a health problem that affects how one thinks and acts), and "minors" (people who are less than 18 years old).

The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 "mandated" (legally required) a five-day "waiting period" before someone could purchase a gun. This waiting period was supposed to be a "cooling-off period" (a period of time when one can calm down) so that people wouldn't be able to buy a gun while they were still very angry about something. It was also supposed to give "dealers" (businesses that sell guns) enough time to "run" (do; perform) a "background check" (research into a person's past activities) to make sure that the gun buyer isn't a convicted felon.

However, the waiting period "expired" (was no longer required) in 1998, when background checks became computerized. Today some states still have "mandatory" (required) waiting periods, but in other states a buyer can purchase a gun as soon as he or she receives "authorization" (permission) from the computerized system.