Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act

E85757

The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act is a U.S. federal law that established background checks and waiting periods for firearm purchases from licensed dealers to help prevent gun violence.


Statements (49)
Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal law
gun control law
aimsTo prevent firearm sales to prohibited persons
prevent gun violence
appliesTo federally licensed firearms dealers
constitutionalChallenge Printz v. United States
country United States
created framework for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System
defines categories of prohibited firearm purchasers
doesNotApplyTo private firearm sales between unlicensed individuals under federal law
established federal background check requirement for firearm purchases from licensed dealers
interim waiting period for handgun purchases
hasEffect allows denial of firearm transfers to prohibited persons
requires licensed dealers to contact NICS before transferring a firearm
implementedBy Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Federal Bureau of Investigation
introducedIn United States Congress
legalArea firearms regulation
public safety
namedAfter James Brady
opposedBy National Rifle Association
presidentAtSigning Bill Clinton
prohibitedPurchaserCategory convicted felons
fugitives from justice
persons adjudicated as mentally defective
persons committed to mental institutions
persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence
persons dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces
persons subject to certain domestic violence restraining orders
persons who have renounced United States citizenship
unlawful or undocumented immigrants
unlawful users of controlled substances
prohibits sale of firearms by licensed dealers to certain prohibited purchasers
regulates firearm transfers by licensed dealers
handgun purchases
relatedTo Gun Control Act of 1968
National Instant Criminal Background Check System
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
requires background checks for firearm purchases from licensed dealers
use of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System
scope interstate commerce in firearms through licensed dealers
shortName Brady Act
Brady Bill
signedBy Bill Clinton
sponsor Charles E. Schumer
Howard Metzenbaum
subject firearm background checks
gun violence prevention
supportedBy gun control advocacy groups


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