How Should Guns Be Regulated?

By Julie Rawe

Published September 12, 2019 at 1:38 PM EDT

Last week, President Obama announced a series of executive actions intended to crack down on gun violence. The National Rifle Association and some lawmakers in Congress have condemned those proposals as an attack on Second Amendment rights, while other groups say the plan doesn't fix background check loopholes or address the number of firearms already available on the streets.

This week on Noon Edition, we'll talk with local law enforcement, gun sellers, and experts about the challenge of regulating firearms.

Join us Friday at 12 p.m. for our conversation, and send us your questions in advance to noon@indiana.edu. You can visit this site to be part of our live chat, follow us on Twitter @NoonEdition, or join us on the air by calling in at 812-855-0811 or 1-877-285-WFIU.

Guests

Ken Campbell- Sheriff, Boone County; Vice President, Indiana Sheriff's Association

Eddie Deckard- Owner, Four Seasons Gun Shop in Bloomington

Leslie Lenkowsky- Professor of Public Affairs & Philanthropic Studies, Indiana University

By Phone

Ashley Varner- State Liason, National Rifle Association

Andrea Spiegelberg- Co-Chapter Head, One Million Moms for Gun Control Indianapolis

After Friday's show, we rounded up some statistics and facts on gun regulations in Indiana and the U.S. Is there another question you would like to see answered? Email us at noon@indiana.edu

The Second Amendment reads “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

U.S. Supreme Court rulings in 2008 and 2010 are the most recent interpretations of the Second Amendment. While legal experts still debate how those rulings should be applied, many say the court's rulings both reaffirm the right of individuals to keep and bear arms for legal use (including self-defense), leaving the the definition of "legal use" to be determined by legislation.

Certain Indiana gun laws differ from federal ones. Under federal law, people convicted of any felony offense can not own a firearm. Under Indiana law, only people convicted of violent felony offenses are prohibited.

If a licensed firearm dealer accidentally sells a gun to someone who should not own one (through deception) but is following the law, the customer is at fault, not the dealer.

A gun dealer wouldn't be held liable for a shooting.

A firearms store owner may refuse to sell a gun to anyone because of suspicion or knowledge that the gun is being purchased for someone else.

Most tasers can shoot between 15 and 21 feet.