Expert: Dan Haynes - 7/26/2011

Question
When the Gun Control Act of 1968 was implemented were it's effects felt retro actively?

For example a person convicted of felony burglary in 1967 that carried a 3 year sentence would they feel the effects of loosing their 2nd Amendment rights to own and posses firearms later after the CGA of 1968 became law?

I know that they would be automatically denied for 2 reasons after 1968 for sure. #1 Serving a sentence for longer than a year and #2 being that there is a felony involved curios though about the retro active nature a friend is in a situation like this

Was the intent to further punish those that have already been punished and paid their debt or to regulate and restrict future transactions?

Answer
Matt,

Thanks for asking. The GCA act of 1968 was not felt retro active. It only was applied on violations of the act from 1968 forward. The intent was to impose further restrictions on civilian gun ownership. As with all gun control laws, they really only affect the law abiding people because criminals will find guns by illegal means no matter what.

Yes you would be denied for serving a sentence longer than a year. I am unclear on what you mean on #2?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_Control_Act_of_1968

Best regards,

Dan