10-07-2020, 10:38 PM
Some interesting history surrounding the 1934 GCA. For the sake of brevity, I have omitted alot of detail. You can research more details on your own.
Two things of significance many don't know.
When the hungry WW1 veterans and their families, called the Bonus Army marched on DC to protest for early redemption of their promised service certificates in 1932, they setup encampment across the Potomac. The service certs were scheduled to be redeemed in 1945. The families were in the early throes of the depression. Eventually, federal troops led by McArther, complete with cav and tanks, disbanded the camp and protestors. Hoover ordered the assault equating it to an insurrection and National Security threat. The Bonus Marchers had broad popular support and the events cost Hoovers election defeat by FDR. This "insurrection" scared Hoover to the point strategies began to be discussed to limit firearm ownership. Discussions indeed occurred over the mobsters of the previous decade as well. Dillinger too was a populist figure. Civilians often helped him and his gang evade capture. The same is true of Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker who met their demise in 1934.
After FDR won the election, there was an assassination attempt on his life by Giuseppe Zangara. An Italian immigrant and Italian Army veteran of WWI.
These two events, the Bonus March and the assassination attempt on FDR by Zangara, combined with the access to automatic firearms and other NFA devices of the day, played as much a role in the 1934 GCA as the mobsters of the day. Politicians of the period were hesitant to vilify WW1 Veterans, so the mobsters became the public impetus for the 1934 legislation.
There are many parallels between then and now. Politicians today are also hesitant to vilify veterans as an excuse for more GC. Behind the curtain, government documents have shown that elements of our veteran population are considered potential national security and or potential domestic terrorist threats. The criminals committing gun crimes are the excuse used to call for more gun control.
Two things of significance many don't know.
When the hungry WW1 veterans and their families, called the Bonus Army marched on DC to protest for early redemption of their promised service certificates in 1932, they setup encampment across the Potomac. The service certs were scheduled to be redeemed in 1945. The families were in the early throes of the depression. Eventually, federal troops led by McArther, complete with cav and tanks, disbanded the camp and protestors. Hoover ordered the assault equating it to an insurrection and National Security threat. The Bonus Marchers had broad popular support and the events cost Hoovers election defeat by FDR. This "insurrection" scared Hoover to the point strategies began to be discussed to limit firearm ownership. Discussions indeed occurred over the mobsters of the previous decade as well. Dillinger too was a populist figure. Civilians often helped him and his gang evade capture. The same is true of Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker who met their demise in 1934.
After FDR won the election, there was an assassination attempt on his life by Giuseppe Zangara. An Italian immigrant and Italian Army veteran of WWI.
These two events, the Bonus March and the assassination attempt on FDR by Zangara, combined with the access to automatic firearms and other NFA devices of the day, played as much a role in the 1934 GCA as the mobsters of the day. Politicians of the period were hesitant to vilify WW1 Veterans, so the mobsters became the public impetus for the 1934 legislation.
There are many parallels between then and now. Politicians today are also hesitant to vilify veterans as an excuse for more GC. Behind the curtain, government documents have shown that elements of our veteran population are considered potential national security and or potential domestic terrorist threats. The criminals committing gun crimes are the excuse used to call for more gun control.