The major federal firearms laws and rulings, in order.
Each entry shows what it does and links to the official source.
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Second Amendment Ratified
The Bill of Rights takes effect, protecting the right of the people to keep and bear arms.
National Firearms Act
Places a $200 tax and federal registration on machine guns, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and silencers.
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act
Title IV restricts interstate handgun sales and sets early federal limits on who may buy firearms.
Gun Control Act
Creates the modern federal firearms license system, lists prohibited persons and adds a “sporting purposes” test for imports.
Arms Export Control Act
Regulates the export and import of defense articles, including many firearms and parts.
Firearm Owners Protection Act
Adds safe-passage protection for travelers and limits repeat dealer inspections. The Hughes Amendment closes the civilian machine gun registry to guns made after May 19, 1986.
Semiautomatic Rifle Import Ban
Using the Gun Control Act sporting purposes test, imports of many semiautomatic rifles are halted.
Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act
Requires background checks on dealer sales. An interim five-day handgun waiting period ends when the national instant check system starts in November 1998.
Federal Assault Weapons Ban
Part of the 1994 crime bill. Bans many semiautomatic firearms and magazines over 10 rounds. It expires in September 2004 and is not renewed.
Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act
Shields lawful firearm makers and dealers from lawsuits over criminal misuse of their products.
District of Columbia v. Heller
The Supreme Court holds that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms.
McDonald v. City of Chicago
The Supreme Court applies the Second Amendment to state and local governments.
NYSRPA v. Bruen
The Supreme Court strikes down “proper cause” carry permit rules and sets a text, history and tradition test.
Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
Expands checks for buyers under 21 and funds state crisis intervention programs.
NFA Tax Cut to $0
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act sets the $200 NFA tax to $0 for suppressors, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and AOWs, starting January 1, 2026. Registration still applies.