There are those in favor of tightening up gun laws, and others against the idea.
One gun expert says there are about 20,000 state and federal gun control laws on the books. One law that's not strictly enforced would make signing on the dotted line a crime.
Right from the start, thousands of people seeking gun permits each year commit a crime. But few are ever charged.
Stephen Tabeling is a former police chief and homicide detective. "People laugh at some of the laws, because they know nothing is going to happen to them," Tabeling said.
Lying on an application for a gun permit is a felony. But in 2010, that did not stop roughly 80-thousand people from doing it.
According to the Justice Department, all were denied firearms, but fewer than 45 were prosecuted.
"It's a sad joke, and it's a lethal joke,” commented New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “Those are felony cases including criminals trying to buy guns and yet our federal government is prosecuting less than one-tenth of one percent of them."
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was speaking at a gun control summit in Maryland. Bloomberg has joined more than 800 mayors in demanding aggressive prosecution for those that lie on gun permit applications.
Tabeling leafed through all 25 pages, yes, 25 pages of gun related laws in his home state.
"Why do we need new laws, why can't we just enforce the law and prosecute them properly that we have on the books now," questioned Tabeling.
Do you think you know the facts about gun control and gun violence?
Test your knowledge by taking the quiz attached to this story.
One gun expert says there are about 20,000 state and federal gun control laws on the books. One law that's not strictly enforced would make signing on the dotted line a crime.
Right from the start, thousands of people seeking gun permits each year commit a crime. But few are ever charged.
Stephen Tabeling is a former police chief and homicide detective. "People laugh at some of the laws, because they know nothing is going to happen to them," Tabeling said.
Lying on an application for a gun permit is a felony. But in 2010, that did not stop roughly 80-thousand people from doing it.
According to the Justice Department, all were denied firearms, but fewer than 45 were prosecuted.
"It's a sad joke, and it's a lethal joke,” commented New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “Those are felony cases including criminals trying to buy guns and yet our federal government is prosecuting less than one-tenth of one percent of them."
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was speaking at a gun control summit in Maryland. Bloomberg has joined more than 800 mayors in demanding aggressive prosecution for those that lie on gun permit applications.
Tabeling leafed through all 25 pages, yes, 25 pages of gun related laws in his home state.
"Why do we need new laws, why can't we just enforce the law and prosecute them properly that we have on the books now," questioned Tabeling.
Do you think you know the facts about gun control and gun violence?
Test your knowledge by taking the quiz attached to this story.