Columbine's Affects on Gun Control
Background Checks
In eighteen months after the instant check system was put in place there were 180,000 gun sales, and because of background checks there were at least 6,082 buyers that were found out to be prohibited. This shows that when background checks are put in place they are found to be effective.
Gun Control Loophole
The gun show loophole is a current gap in the Brady Bill that does not require background checks for people buying guns at gun shows. This allows people to buy a gun on the secondhand market without the restrictions that are required to buy a gun in the retail market.
After Columbine people all around the country were outraged that the gun control loophole allowed them to get guns, to shoot the school. Following Florida, states including Colorado and Oregon are trying to close the gun show loophole which would make it a requirement to do background checks on the people who are buying guns, including people who are buying them at gun shows. Opinion polls taken after Columbine show that about 70 percent of the public supports extending the Brady Bill to include gun shows.
Concealed Guns
In states like Colorado especially, people not only want to have stricter gun laws, they also want to allow concealed guns in schools. This would make it legal for faculty members such as teachers, to carry a firearm in the classroom. The idea of this is that if guns are allowed, then a teacher will be able to stop an intruder who enters the building with a weapon. A Quinnipiac University poll shows that over 50% of Coloradans agree with this. This is because many of the horrific shootings have been in gun-free areas, meaning that nothing could be done immediately to stop it; however if a teacher had a gun they would be able to protect themselves and their students.
Gun Laws following Columbine between 1999 and early 2000
- Idaho made it illegal to posses a firearm on school grounds
- South Carolina made it illegal to possess a firearm on Capitol grounds
- Virginia made background checks required at gun shows
- Virginia clarified that possession of weapons on school buses and at bus stops is grounds for expulsion from school and is illegal
- Washington required that schools be notified of firearm violations by students
- West Virginia increased the age for obtaining a concealed weapon permit from 18 to 21
- Arkansas prohibits firearms on school property, school buses or school bus stops
- Arkansas made parents responsible for minors possessing firearms on school property
- Arkansas requires parents to acknowledge responsibility for allowing student access to firearms
- California made it illegal to carry firearms in state or local public buildings
- Illinois increased penalties for discharging a firearm in or near schools or school buses
- Louisiana enhanced penalties for crimes committed on school property, at a school related activity, or within a gun free zone
- North Carolina requires one year suspension for students bringing firearms or explosives on school property or to school related activities
- North Carolina made it a felony for a student or a school employee to possess a firearm on school property or at school events
- Oregon expanded crimes for which youths 15 or older may be tried as an adult
- Rhode Island increased the age of minors may possess ammunition and firearms from 15 to 18
- Rhode Island prohibits giving firearms and ammunition to minors without parental consent
- South Carolina made it illegal to possess firearms on Capitol grounds
- Virginia adds mandatory five year sentence for anyone convicted of possessing a firearm on school ground with the intent to use it or displaying it in a threatening manner