The following table provides names and contact information for CRS experts on policy and legal issues related to gun control. In the wake of mass shootings and other firearms-related violence, several gun control issues are often raised. They include improving and expanding background checks, further regulating certain semiautomatic firearms (“assault weapons” or “military-style” firearms) that accept detachable ammunition feeding devices (“magazines”), combating illegal gun trafficking, interstate concealed carry of handguns, and enacting or repealing appropriations limitations related to gun control. For a complete list of CRS products on gun control, see the CRS Issues Before Congress webpage “Regulation of Firearms.”
The following table provides names and contact information for CRS experts on policy and legal issues related to gun control. In the wake of mass shootings and other firearms-related violence, several gun control issues are often raised. They include improving and expanding background checks, further regulating certain semiautomatic firearms ("assault weapons" or "military-style" firearms) that accept detachable ammunition feeding devices ("magazines"), combating illegal gun trafficking, interstate concealed carry of handguns, and enacting or repealing appropriations limitations related to gun control. For a complete list of CRS products on gun control, see the CRS Issues Before Congress webpage "Regulation of Firearms."
Legislative Issues |
Name/Title |
Phone |
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Regulation of Firearms: Constitutional Issues |
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2nd Amendment |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Sarah Herman |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Firearms and Ammunition Disposal, Receipt, and Possession Eligibility |
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Policy Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Legal Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Sarah Herman |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Procedures and Operations |
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Policy Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Legal Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Expanding Background Checks to Include Intrastate Transfers Between Unlicensed Persons |
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Policy Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Jared Nagel |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Legal Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Semiautomatic "Military-Style" Firearms and Magazines |
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Policy and Technical Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Policy Issues |
Jared Nagel |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Legal Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Gun Trafficking |
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Policy Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Legal Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Appropriations and Operations |
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Policy Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Jared Nagel |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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ATF and FBI Gun Control-Related Appropriations Limitations |
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Policy Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Legal Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
ATF Firearms Tracing |
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Policy Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Legal Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Armor Piercing Ammunition and Ballistics Imaging |
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Policy and Technical Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Legal Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Multiple Rifle Sales Reports in Southwest Border States |
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Policy Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Legal Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Firearms Rights and Privileges Restoration (Disabilities Relief) |
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Policy Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Legal Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
National Firearms Act Issues (Machine Guns, Short-Barreled Rifles and Shotguns, Mufflers/Silencers, and Other Destructive Devices) |
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Policy Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Policy and Technical Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Legal Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Concealed Carry and Interstate Reciprocity |
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Policy Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Legal Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
FBI NICS Checks and Terrorist Watch Lists Screening |
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Policy Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Legal Issues |
Jared Cole |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Nonimmigrant Firearms and Ammunition Receipt and Possession Eligibility |
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Policy Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Legal Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Sarah Herman |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Firearms-Related State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Law Enforcement Assistance |
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State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Law Enforcement Assistance |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
NICS Amendments Record Improvement Program (NARIP) and National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Firearm Safety Material and Gun Locks (Project ChildSafe) |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Gun Buyback Programs |
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Policy Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Jared Nagel |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Firearms-Related Crime and Injury Statistics |
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Murder and Nonnegligent Manslaughter, Mass Shootings, and Other Firearm Statistics |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Jared Nagel |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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International Comparisons by Country |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Mandatory Sentencing and Asset Forfeiture |
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[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Firearms and Career Criminals |
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[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Firearms Privately Held by Members of the Armed Forces |
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[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Executive Orders and Other |
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Policy Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Legal Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Sarah Herman |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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ATF Administrative Definition of "Adjudicated Mental Defective" and "Committed to Any Mental Institution" |
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Firearms and Ammunition Receipt and Possession Eligibility Policy Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Firearms and Ammunition Receipt and Possession Eligibility Legal Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Firearms, Mental Illness, and Substance Abuse |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) and Social Security Administration (SSA) Beneficiaries, Mental Incompetency, and Firearms and Ammunition Eligibility |
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Firearms and Ammunition Transfer, Receipt and Possession Eligibility Policy Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Firearms and Ammunition Transfer, Receipt, and Possession Eligibility Legal issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
VA Disability and Pension Benefits Policy |
Scott Szymendera |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
SSA Disability Benefits Policy |
Will Morton |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
VA Disability and Pension Benefits Policy |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Appropriations Limitation on Public Health Research, Firearms-Related Morbidity and Mortality, and Gun Control Advocacy (Dickey and Rehberg Amendments) |
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[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Affordable Care Act and Gun Provision |
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Policy Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Legal Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Mental Health: Privacy v. Public Safety in Federal Health Care and Public Education Statutes |
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HIPAA |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
FERPA |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
HIPPA Legal Issues |
Edward Liu |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
FERPA Legal Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Firearms on Federal Public Lands |
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Firearms at National Wildlife Refuges |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Firearms at Federal Water Projects |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Firearms on National Park Service Lands |
Laura Comay |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Firearms in National Forests |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Legal Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Sarah Herman |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Bankruptcy and Firearms Exemption Proposals |
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Carol A. Petitt |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Firearms and Ammunition Excise Taxes |
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Excise Tax Expenditures for State Wildlife Grants |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Tax Policy |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Legal Issues |
Erika Lunder |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Carol Pettit |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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School Safety and Gun Violence |
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Department of Education Policy |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Department of Education Policy |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Curios or Relics, and Antique Firearms |
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Policy Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Policy and Technical Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Legal Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Trigger Locks and Gun Safes |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Civilian Marksmanship Program |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Stun Guns |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Imitation Firearms (Paint Ball, Air Soft, Replica, and Toy) and BB and Pellet Guns |
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Policy Issues |
John F. Sargent, Jr. |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
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Legal Issues |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Gun Rights and Gun Control Lobby |
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Policy Issues (groups) |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Policy Issues (lobbying laws and regulations) |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |
Legal Issues (lobbying laws and regulations) |
[author name scrubbed] |
[phone number scrubbed] |
[email address scrubbed] |