ABSTRACT
Regulating the acquisition of lethal weapons is a topic that is never far from the headlines. One of the causes of this constant interest is media coverage of mass murders involving firearms. In addition to the constitutional implications, the public also believes that gun control may affect the control of crime and has implications for the protection of one's home and life. Supporters of gun control believe that banning certain weapons and using other regulatory procedures such as pre-purchase waiting periods will reduce the overall rate of violent crimes. The actual number of guns possessed by Americans is difficult to determine because many guns are not registered and there is no reliable method for counting these unregistered guns. The Gallup poll in 1993 also asked respondents whether they supported no restrictions on owning guns, some restrictions, or believed all guns should be illegal for everyone except for police and other authorized persons.
