Gun control in America – what are US gun laws, how do they differ from in the UK and who can buy a firearm?
THERE have now been more mass shootings than days so far this year in the United States.
The horrific attacks of El Paso and Dayton have fuelled the growing debate around gun laws in America - one of the country's most divisive subjects. We take a deeper look at this polarising issue.
What are gun laws in the US?
The vast majority of US citizens are allowed to buy and keep firearms without restriction. Non-citizens are allowed if they have a permit.
Campaign groups jealously guard the rights granted under the Second Amendment of the US Constitution, which states: “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
Federal law sets the minimum standards for firearm regulation in the United States. Licensed gun sellers must carry out background checks on every buyer against an FBI database.
Convicted felons, illegal immigrants and those with serious mental health problems are not meant to be allowed to purchase firearms.
Individual states also have their own laws, such as on what kinds of weapon are allowed to be owned or carried in public.
The USA has less than five per cent of the world's population, but up to half of the world's civilian-owned guns.
It also has the highest homicide-by-firearm rate among the world’s most developed nations.
What is 'open carry'?
Some states have either prohibited or strongly regulated laws surrounding "open carry" - the carrying around of guns in public - but most have weakened their laws in recent years.
California, Florida, and Illinois and the District of Columbia generally prohibit people from openly carrying firearms in public.
New York and South Carolina prohibit openly carrying handguns, but not long guns, while Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New Jersey prohibit openly carrying long guns, but not handguns.
Thirty-one states allow the open carrying of a handgun without any licence or permit, although in some cases the gun must be unloaded.
Fifteen states require some form of licence or permit in order to openly carry a handgun.
What is 'concealed carry'?
Concealed carry is carrying a weapon such as a handgun in a concealed manner, either on one's person or nearby.
Most states banned it in the 19th century as the practice of criminals, whereas open carrying was seen as legitimate for self-defence.
A special permit was required for concealed carry, with only certain qualified people granted a license.
The exception was Vermont, which never had any restriction.
Recently, other states such as Alaska, Arizona, Kansas, New Hampshire and Maine have changed the law to allow unrestricted concealed carry by eligible residents.
Others states have partial restrictions or require a permit.
Some areas can be declared "gun free zones", allowing businesses put up a sign that makes it is illegal to carry a concealed firearm on the premises.
As of 2017 there had been 16.3million concealed weapon permits issued in the United States.
What does Donald Trump say about gun laws?
Trump is a supporter of the Second Amendment and made it part of his election campaign to protect people's right to own and carry guns.
However, he has come under fresh pressure to address America's controversial gun laws following the August 2019 shootings in El Paso and Dayton.
Immediately after the attacks he suggested that Congress should link immigration laws to new legislation requiring stronger background checks for gun buyers.
Trump tweeted: "Republicans and Democrats must come together and get strong background checks, perhaps marrying his legislation with desperately needed immigration reform."
However, he didn't provide details on possible legislation regarding gun control, background checks, or immigration.
Speaking about mass shootings earlier, Trump said: "This has been going on for years, for years and years in our country and we have to get it stopped."
But he has failed to suggest a way to crack down on control law, or even go as far to say the two issues might be linked.
What are gun laws in the UK?
Firearms control in the UK is among the toughest in the world.
New laws were brought in after Thomas Hamilton murdered 16 children and their teacher at Dunblane primary school using his legally held arsenal of handguns.
Public petitions were set up calling for a ban on the private ownership and use of handguns in the UK.
John Major's government passed the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 - banning all cartridge ammunition handguns, except .22 calibre single-shot weapons used for Olympic-style shooting events.
The 22 handguns were banned later the same year when Tony Blair came to power.
But gun dealers have occasionally got around the ban by importing antique weapons and modifying them to fire.
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Since Dunblane there has been only one mass shooting in the UK – when Derrick Bird killed 12 people and injured 11 in 45-mile rampage in Cumbria in 2010.
The taxi driver owned three shotguns and a rifle legally, had been a licensed owner for 20 years and police had no ground to ban him despite a conviction for theft, an inquiry heard.
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