What was Reagan's gun bill?

Asked by: Jayme O'Kon  |  Last update: February 18, 2026
Score: 5/5 (74 votes)

Ronald Reagan was associated with two major gun-related laws: the 1967 California Mulford Act, which he signed as governor, banning open carry of loaded guns to counter the Black Panthers, and the 1986 federal Firearms Owners' Protection Act (FOPA), which he signed as president, easing some gun restrictions while adding penalties for using guns in federal crimes. Later in his life, as a former president, Reagan supported the Brady Bill, which mandated federal background checks for gun purchases, influenced by his own assassination attempt.

What was Reagan's gun control bill?

Mulford Act. The Mulford Act is a 1967 California statute which prohibits public carrying of loaded firearms without a permit.

What did the gun control act of 1986 do?

Passed House amended (04/10/1986) Firearms Owners' Protection Act - Amends the Gun Control Act of 1968 to redefine "gun dealer," excluding those making occasional sales or repairs. Exempts certain activities involving ammunition from current prohibitions.

What is the 1983 firearms Act?

Firearms Ownership Rights Act of 1983 - Sets forth findings regarding the legislative history of the Gun Control Act of 1968 and Federal preemption of State and local firearms laws.

What is the Brady Act in simple terms?

On November 30, 1993, the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act was enacted, amending the Gun Control Act of 1968. The Brady Law imposed as an interim measure a waiting period of 5 days before a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer may sell, deliver, or transfer a handgun to an unlicensed individual.

President Ronald Reagan on Gun Control | The Heritage Foundation

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Did the Brady Bill reduce gun violence?

In 2020 alone, an average of over 1,000 prohibited purchasers were blocked from purchasing a firearm or obtaining a permit every single day because of Brady Background Checks. Between 1993 and 2018, the firearm homicide rate among those 12 years of age and older decreased by 41%.

When did felons lose the right to own guns?

It became federally illegal for a convicted felon to own a gun under the Gun Control Act of 1968, which prohibited individuals convicted of crimes punishable by over a year in prison from possessing firearms, building on earlier laws. While a 1934 law initially restricted violent felons, the 1968 Act expanded this ban to all felons under federal law, with subsequent laws like the Lautenberg Amendment (1996) adding domestic abusers. 

Who has the strictest gun laws in the USA?

California consistently ranks as the state with the strictest gun laws, leading in comprehensive safety regulations like assault weapon bans, universal background checks, and red flag laws, followed closely by states like Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey. These states generally implement strong universal background checks, waiting periods, permits to purchase, and restrictions on certain types of firearms, leading to lower gun death rates compared to less regulated states.
 

What guns were banned in 1986?

Firearm Owners' Protection Act

The Act also amended the GCA to prohibit the transfer or possession of machine guns. Exceptions were made for transfers of machine guns to, or possession of machine guns by, government agencies, and those lawfully possessed before the effective date of the prohibition, May 19, 1986.

What is the gun Free Act 1994?

In an attempt to foster school safety through punitive measures, the Act required each state to create and implement a law mandating at least a one-year expulsion of students who brought a weapon to school and referral to a local criminal legal or juvenile legal system.

How many guns can a US citizen legally own?

Is there a limit on the number of firearms that I can own or purchase? There is no limit on the number of firearms you may own if you are otherwise eligible to possess firearms under California and federal law.

Do I still have to pay $200 for a suppressor?

No, you no longer pay the $200 federal tax stamp for suppressors as of January 1, 2026, due to a legislative change in H.R. 1 2025, though you still must submit an ATF Form 4, undergo background checks, and await approval, with the process potentially moving faster but facing initial backlogs. 

What are the 5 gun rules?

The 5 fundamental gun safety rules emphasize treating every firearm as loaded, keeping the muzzle pointed safely, keeping your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot, knowing your target and what's beyond it, and using proper safety and storage, with variations focusing on handling, target identification, and maintenance, all aiming to prevent accidents. 

What was the Gun Control Act of 1986?

For context, back in 1986 a law was passed called the Firearm Owners' Protection Act (FOPA). Among other provisions, that bill “protects those who are transporting firearms for lawful purposes from local restrictions which would otherwise prohibit passage.”

What gun was used to shoot Ronald Reagan?

The Röhm RG-14 is a double-action, six-shot revolver chambered in . 22, formerly manufactured and sold by Röhm Gesellschaft of Sontheim/Brenz, Germany. It is notable for being the model of firearm used by John Hinckley Jr. to shoot Ronald Reagan on 30 March 1981.

What laws did Reagan pass?

Reagan signed the Tax Reform Act of 1986, simplifying the tax code by reducing rates and removing several tax breaks, and the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, which enacted sweeping changes to U.S. immigration law and granted amnesty to three million illegal immigrants.

What is the Trump National Firearms Act?

1, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025, has removed the $200 manufacturing and transfer tax for suppressors, short barreled rifles, short barreled shotguns, and AOW's, although the $200 tax remains for machine guns and destructive devices.

Are glocks banned in California now?

Yes, California is banning the sale of many Glock pistols and similar handguns in the state, but not possession, effective July 1, 2026, due to Assembly Bill 1127 (AB 1127), which prohibits sales of semi-automatic handguns easily convertible to machine guns using "cruciform trigger bars" and common tools. The law targets the illegal "Glock switch" modifications, but doesn't affect current owners or private transfers, and firearms dealers can still sell existing inventory before the deadline. 

Can civilians buy a 50 caliber rifle?

Yes, civilians can generally own .50 caliber rifles under U.S. federal law, but legality varies significantly by state, with some states like California, Illinois, and New Jersey having bans or strict registration requirements, while federal law classifies the .50 BMG round as a "destructive device" requiring extra steps like a tax stamp and ATF approval under the National Firearms Act (NFA) for some configurations, although many rifles fall outside these specific NFA classifications.
 

What is the most gun friendly state in the US?

There isn't one single "most" gun-friendly state, as rankings vary, but New Hampshire, West Virginia, Montana, Arkansas, and South Dakota consistently appear at the top for lenient laws, permitless carry (constitutional carry), and lack of sales tax on firearms, with strong protections like "stand-your-ground" laws. These states offer broad rights for lawful gun owners, with New Hampshire often cited as #1 due to its combination of permitless carry for ages 18+, no sales tax, and self-defense protections.
 

What is the hardest state to own a gun in?

Report Highlights:

  • Hawaii is the #1 worst state for gun owners due to strict purchasing and carry laws, as well as defying the Supreme Court on the individual's right to carry.
  • Massachusetts is the #2 worst state for gun owners due to its permit-to-purchase and reciprocity laws.

What states restore gun rights to felons?

Several states, including Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, and South Dakota, offer paths for felons to regain gun rights, often automatically or via petition after waiting periods (5-15 years post-sentence), though processes vary significantly, with some states like Texas restoring home possession rights automatically, while Wyoming restores rights for nonviolent felonies after five years, highlighting diverse state approaches to firearm rights restoration. 

Why can't felons protect themselves?

In general, if an individual has knowledge of and access to an object, that can be considered possession. If the state in which a self-defense incident occurs does not have a necessity defense, it would be illegal to use a gun for protection as a felon.

When did guns start to become a problem?

The gun control debate in the United States goes back to the nation's founding, when the framers of the Constitution first wrote the Second Amendment, allowing private citizens to "keep and bear arms." Gun control became a much bigger topic shortly after the November 22, 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy.