One handgun a month law
Encyclopedia
A one-handgun a month law is a law which limit handgun
purchases to one per 30-days, for an individual. Proponents support such laws in the effort to keep criminals, or would be criminals from amassing large numbers of handguns in a short period of time. Supporters argue that gun traffickers frequently purchase large numbers of cheap handguns from states
which lack such laws, particularly those in the south
, in order to transport and sell them within states with such laws.
The first law of such nature was passed in 1975 in the state of South Carolina
(which has since repealed the law). The policy gained some further recognition, after the state of Virginia
enacted similar legislation in 1993 (which has since greatly amended the law to allow for individual multiple purchase instances), in effort to reduce gun trafficking into the Northeast. At the time, 40% of the guns used in crime in New York City
were reported to have been traced back to the state of Virginia.
Handgun
A handgun is a firearm designed to be held and operated by one hand. This characteristic differentiates handguns as a general class of firearms from long guns such as rifles and shotguns ....
purchases to one per 30-days, for an individual. Proponents support such laws in the effort to keep criminals, or would be criminals from amassing large numbers of handguns in a short period of time. Supporters argue that gun traffickers frequently purchase large numbers of cheap handguns from states
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
which lack such laws, particularly those in the south
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
, in order to transport and sell them within states with such laws.
The first law of such nature was passed in 1975 in the state of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
(which has since repealed the law). The policy gained some further recognition, after the state of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
enacted similar legislation in 1993 (which has since greatly amended the law to allow for individual multiple purchase instances), in effort to reduce gun trafficking into the Northeast. At the time, 40% of the guns used in crime in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
were reported to have been traced back to the state of Virginia.