In the wake of another mass shooting, this one at a high school in Parkland, FL that claimed 17 lives, many Americans are demanding lawmakers address the nation’s firearm policies. The Onion presents a timeline of significant events in America’s gun law history.


1791

Bill of Rights’ Second Amendment explicitly states need for all future Americans to own as many types of weapons as possible regardless of any changes in technology or circumstances.




1865

Second Amendment right exercised to kill the president.



1865

Southern states push for strong gun control measures in an honest effort to reduce crime that had nothing to do with the emancipation of slaves, why would you think that?




1871

National Rifle Association organized around its primary goal of protecting pro-gun legislators’ campaigns from going bankrupt.




1881

Second Amendment right exercised to kill the president.



1901

Second Amendment right exercised to kill the president.



1915

Earliest known “Why don’t we ban automobiles as well?” argument made at a Philadelphia saloon.




1934

First national gun control legislation passed, immediately putting U.S. on par with Nazi Germany and fascist Italy.




1939

Supreme Court upholds controversial ban on right to shoot at someone’s feet in order to make them dance.




1963

Second Amendment right exercised to kill the president.



1993

Congress begins requiring all gun owners to register their number of kills.



1998

Caving to public pressure, Nerf eliminates bump stocks across its product line.



2016

President Obama calls on Congress to reenact assault weapons ban after Orlando Pulse Nightclub massacre, but Congress declines since a mass shooting on that scale is unlikely to happen ever again.

