Gun Control: CRS Experts

January 4, 2016 (R44328)

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	Email
Regulation of Firearms: Constitutional Issues
2^nd Amendment	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Sarah Herman Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Firearms and Ammunition Disposal, Receipt, and Possession Eligibility
Policy Issues	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal Issues	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Sarah Herman Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Procedures and Operations
Policy Issues	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal Issues	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Expanding Background Checks to Include Intrastate Transfers Between Unlicensed Persons
Policy Issues	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Jared Nagel Information Research Specialist	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Information Research Specialist	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal Issues	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Semiautomatic "Military-Style" Firearms and Magazines
Policy and Technical Issues	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Policy Issues	Jared Nagel Information Research Specialist	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Information Research Specialist	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal Issues	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney,	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Gun Trafficking
Policy Issues	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal Issues	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Appropriations and Operations
Policy Issues	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Jared Nagel Information Research Specialist	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Information Research Specialist	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
ATF and FBI Gun Control-Related Appropriations Limitations
Policy Issues	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal Issues	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
ATF Firearms Tracing
Policy Issues	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal Issues	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Armor Piercing Ammunition and Ballistics Imaging
Policy and Technical Issues	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal Issues	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Multiple Rifle Sales Reports in Southwest Border States
Policy Issues	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal Issues	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Firearms Rights and Privileges Restoration (Disabilities Relief)
Policy Issues	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal Issues	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
National Firearms Act Issues (Machine Guns, Short-Barreled Rifles and Shotguns, Mufflers/Silencers, and Other Destructive Devices)
Policy Issues	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Policy and Technical Issues	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal Issues	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Concealed Carry and Interstate Reciprocity
Policy Issues	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal Issues	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
FBI NICS Checks and Terrorist Watch Lists Screening
Policy Issues	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal Issues	Jared Cole Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Nonimmigrant Firearms and Ammunition Receipt and Possession Eligibility
Policy Issues	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal Issues	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Sarah Herman Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Firearms-Related State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Law Enforcement Assistance
State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Law Enforcement Assistance	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
NICS Amendments Record Improvement Program (NARIP) and National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP)	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Firearm Safety Material and Gun Locks (Project ChildSafe)	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Gun Buyback Programs
Policy Issues	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Jared Nagel Information Research Specialist	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Firearms-Related Crime and Injury Statistics
Murder and Nonnegligent Manslaughter, Mass Shootings, and Other Firearm Statistics	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Jared Nagel Information Research Specialist	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Information Research Specialist	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
International Comparisons by Country	[author name scrubbed] Information Research Specialist	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Mandatory Sentencing and Asset Forfeiture
	[author name scrubbed] Senior Specialist, American Public Law	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Firearms and Career Criminals
	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Firearms Privately Held by Members of the Armed Forces
	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Executive Orders and Other
Policy Issues	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in American National Government	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal Issues	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Sarah Herman Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
ATF Administrative Definition of "Adjudicated Mental Defective" and "Committed to Any Mental Institution"
Firearms and Ammunition Receipt and Possession Eligibility Policy Issues	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Firearms and Ammunition Receipt and Possession Eligibility Legal Issues	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Firearms, Mental Illness, and Substance Abuse	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Health Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) and Social Security Administration (SSA) Beneficiaries, Mental Incompetency, and Firearms and Ammunition Eligibility
Firearms and Ammunition Transfer, Receipt and Possession Eligibility Policy Issues	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Firearms and Ammunition Transfer, Receipt, and Possession Eligibility Legal issues	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
VA Disability and Pension Benefits Policy	Scott Szymendera Analyst in Disability Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
SSA Disability Benefits Policy	Will Morton Analyst in Income Security	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
VA Disability and Pension Benefits Policy	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[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)
	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Public Health and Epidemiology	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Affordable Care Act and Gun Provision
Policy Issues	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Public Health and Epidemiology	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal Issues	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Mental Health: Privacy v. Public Safety in Federal Health Care and Public Education Statutes
HIPAA	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Health Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
FERPA	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Education Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
HIPPA Legal Issues	Edward Liu Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
FERPA Legal Issues	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Firearms on Federal Public Lands
Firearms at National Wildlife Refuges	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Natural Resources Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Firearms at Federal Water Projects	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Natural Resources Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Firearms on National Park Service Lands	Laura Comay Analyst in Natural Resources Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Firearms in National Forests	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Natural Resources Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal Issues	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Sarah Herman Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Bankruptcy and Firearms Exemption Proposals
	Carol A. Petitt Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Firearms and Ammunition Excise Taxes
Excise Tax Expenditures for State Wildlife Grants	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Natural Resources Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Tax Policy	[author name scrubbed] Senior Specialist in Economic Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Public Finance	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal Issues	Erika Lunder Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Carol Pettit Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
School Safety and Gun Violence
Department of Education Policy	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Education Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Department of Education Policy	[author name scrubbed] Information Research Specialist	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Curios or Relics, and Antique Firearms
Policy Issues	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Policy and Technical Issues	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal Issues	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Trigger Locks and Gun Safes	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Civilian Marksmanship Program	[author name scrubbed] Information Research Specialist	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Stun Guns	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Imitation Firearms (Paint Ball, Air Soft, Replica, and Toy) and BB and Pellet Guns
Policy Issues	John F. Sargent, Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal Issues	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Gun Rights and Gun Control Lobby
Policy Issues (groups)	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Policy Issues (lobbying laws and regulations)	[author name scrubbed] Analyst on the Congress	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal Issues (lobbying laws and regulations)	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]

Author Contact Information

[author name scrubbed], Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy ([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])