1. The John F. Kennedy assassination had a great impact on the country. The aftermath of
the incident led to changes in legislation. One major change that occurred was the Gun Control
Act of 1968. The reason for implementing this act was to “provide support to Federal, State, and
local law enforcement officials in their fight against crime and violence.” (Gun Control Act of
1968, sect. 101). When this act was enacted, it was the first major federal policy to take place
since 1938. Looking back in history, we find there was a law passed in 1927 prohibiting the
mailing of concealable firearms to private individuals. The problem with this law was that there
was not very much effect that took place for the reason that guns could still be ordered, mailed,
and delivered using private express companies (Zimring, 1975). This law lasted until the Gun
Control Act of 1968 was passed. This Gun Control Act passed after the assassination of John F.
Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. Legislation wanted to regulate interstate
and foreign commerce of firearms (atf.gov, Gun Control Act, 2015). This act allowed tighter
control on firearm sales to private citizens. There was basically a complete ban on any private
transactions that were happening. By enacting this law, the term “dealer” became more
attractive so it became regulation to define, license, and regulate any firearms dealers. The Gun
Control Act of 1968 was partially shaped by the National Firearms Act. One way it was
relevant, the government had to license manufacturers and dealers. Another aspect was using tax
of enforcement responsibility (Zimring, 1975). As explained, a significant change in legislation
that went into effect after the assassination of JFK was the Gun Control Act of 1968 by
regulating importation and licensing provisions to prohibited persons (atf.gov, Gun Control Act,
2015).
On the other side of the spectrum, before being assassinated himself, Robert F. Kennedy
gave a speech in Roseburg, Oregon May 1968 about stricter gun laws. RFK said

2. “All this legislation does is keep guns from criminals and the demented and those too
young. With all the violence murder and killings we’ve had in the United States, I think
you will agree that we must keep firearms from people who have no business with guns
or rifles. There’s nothing in it that infringes on any citizen’s right to bear arms,” (Robert
F. Kennedy, 1968).
Hecklers in the crowd would shout against RFK’s address expressing ideas such as “They’ll get
them anyway,” or “Nazi Germany started with the registration of guns,”. Even the Democratic
nominee for president following Kennedy’s death said that Kennedy did not support gun control
as a panic legislation (boston.com, RFK in Roseburg, 2016). This is when President Lyndon B.
Johnson signed the Gun Control Act. Even at this time of RFK’s assassination, fourteen states
required citizens to have permit to carry a handgun, six states prohibit open carry laws
completely, twelve states allow open carry without a permit, thirteen states need some permit
from the gun owner, and the last seventeen states have local laws of restrictions (abcnews.com,
Gun Debate Spurred by Kennedy Assassination Rages on Today, n.d.).
We have seen debates about more gun control, but one bill that supported gun control did
not pass. This was known as the Dodd Bill. Senator Thomas Dodd wanted to create a bill that
would be the most extensive law in wide-range investigation into accessibility of firearms and
gun control. The Dodd Bill would have required persons to have a notarized statement on mail
orders of concealed handguns that showed evidence they were of the age eighteen, not a
convicted felon, and would not violate any state or local law. The chairperson of the Senate
Commerce Committee delayed from enacting the bill allowing more time for gun rights
supporters to mobilize. “Members reported receiving mail in the ratio of eight to one in favor of
the bill. But the tide changed during and after the hearings with an onslaught of letters against

3. the bill” (Goss, 2006, p.36). Many thought this bill could have saved the life of JFK because it
was proposed almost four months before his assassination but was delayed. On the other hand,
the bill only covered the investigation of handguns and not rifles which is what Kennedy was
killed by. After the assassination is when spreading the bill to rifles and shotguns occurred.
Dodd failed to gain the support of the public for this bill and on August 11, 1964, the Commerce
Committed postponed the enacting of this law and it never proceeded to take effect (Goss, 2006).
Besides changes in legislation dealing with gun control, the assassination of President
John F. Kennedy also led to law changes for future presidents. The first being no more riding in
open cars. The president is no longer allowed to ride in a convertible top car leading to
bulletproof doors, windows, and tires. Second, no more presidential stroll. Before the
assassination, presidents were allowed to walk around capital with as little as only one body
guard. Nowadays, presidential strolls are very rare and must be very well protected. The next
law is lifetime protection. After JFK was shot, his family received limited protection for a few
years, but now protection will be offered for the rest of the president’s life. At Kennedy’s term,
he was allowed to request Secret Service to back off, but now access is denied for agents to back
down and must have protection for as little as shaking hands with the crowd. Lastly, the amount
of security has been increased. The strength in 1963 was 692 agents and police. In present day,
there are about 6,500 employed by the Secret Service between special agents, uniformed officers,
and technical and administrative support (abc.com, Five Ways Kennedy’s Assassination
Changed Presidential Security Forever, 2016). As demonstrated, John F. Kennedy’s
assassination impacted us as a country and many legislation changes took place after the
incident.

4. Works Cited:
Zimring, F. E.. (1975). Firearms and Federal Law: The Gun Control Act of 1968. The Journal of Legal Studies,4(1),
133–198. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/724104
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. (2015, August 11). Retrieved from
https://www.atf.gov/rules-and-regulations/gun-control-act
Rossoll, N. (2013, November 22). Five Ways Kennedy's Assassination Changed Presidential Security Forever.
Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ways-kennedys-assassination-changed-presidential-security-
forever/story?id=20776254#5
Dolak, K. (2013, November 21). Gun Debate Spurred by Kennedy Assassination Rages on Today. Retrieved from
http://abcnews.go.com/US/gun-debate-spurred-kennedy-assassination-rages-today/story?id=20677433
Levenson, E. (2015, October 6). Video: Robert F. Kennedy once spoke about gun control in Roseburg, Oregon.
Retrieved from http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/2015/10/06/video-robert-kennedy-once-spoke-about-gun-
control-roseburg-oregon/Fc4YYHtz8CbfhSyeHU65nI/story.html
Goss, K. A. (2006). Disarmed: The missing movement for gun control in America. Princeton: Princeton University
Press.
The Gun Control Act of 1968, Public Law 90-618. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.keepandbeararms.com/laws/gca68.htm