The Five Worst Presidents for Firearms Rights
The following presidents are considered the most antagonistic toward firearms rights due to their legislative actions, judicial appointments, executive measures, or public advocacy for gun control. Their policies often aimed to address crime or public safety but were seen by gun rights advocates as infringing on Second Amendment freedoms.
1. Bill Clinton (1993–2001)
Bill Clinton’s presidency marked a high point for federal gun control, with two landmark laws that significantly restricted firearms access.
- Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (1993): This act mandated federal background checks for firearm purchases from licensed dealers and initially imposed a five-day waiting period for handguns. Named after James Brady, injured in the 1981 assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan, it aimed to prevent prohibited individuals from acquiring guns (Brady Law).
- Federal Assault Weapons Ban (1994): Part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, this banned the manufacture, transfer, and possession of certain semi-automatic firearms classified as “assault weapons” and magazines holding more than ten rounds. Effective from 1994 to 2004, it was a major restriction on gun ownership (Assault Weapons Ban).
Clinton was a vocal proponent of these measures. In a 1993 speech, he argued, “We can’t be so fixated on our desire to preserve the rights of ordinary Americans to legitimately own handguns and rifles… that we are unable to think about reality,” reflecting his prioritization of public safety over unrestricted gun rights. His administration’s push for these laws made him a target of criticism from gun rights groups, who saw these measures as direct assaults on the Second Amendment.
2. Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969)
Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Gun Control Act of 1968, a foundational piece of federal firearms regulation prompted by the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr.
- Gun Control Act of 1968: This act prohibited mail-order sales of rifles and shotguns, required serial numbers on firearms, and established licensing for gun dealers. It also expanded categories of prohibited purchasers, including felons, drug users, and the mentally ill, significantly tightening federal oversight (Gun Control Act).
Johnson advocated for even stricter measures, such as national gun registration, which Congress did not adopt. In his signing statement, he expressed frustration, noting, “The voices that blocked these safeguards were not the voices of an aroused nation. They were the voices of a powerful lobby, a gun lobby, that has prevailed for the moment in an election year.” His push for comprehensive gun control, driven by the era’s violence, cemented his legacy as a president who sought to limit firearms access, much to the dismay of Second Amendment advocates.
3. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1945)
Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the National Firearms Act of 1934, the first major federal gun control law, in response to gang violence during the Prohibition era.
- National Firearms Act of 1934: This act imposed a $200 tax (a significant sum at the time) on the manufacture and transfer of certain firearms, including machine guns, short-barreled shotguns, and silencers, and required their registration. It aimed to curb the use of such weapons by criminals (National Firearms Act).
While the NFA targeted specific firearms rather than broad gun ownership, it set a precedent for federal regulation, which gun rights advocates view as an early encroachment on Second Amendment rights. Roosevelt’s administration, focused on combating organized crime, saw the act as a necessary public safety measure, but its legacy is debated for establishing federal authority over firearms.
4. Barack Obama (2009–2017)
Barack Obama faced congressional resistance to major gun control legislation but used executive actions to tighten regulations, particularly after mass shootings like those in Newtown and San Bernardino.
- Executive Actions: In 2013 and 2016, Obama issued orders to clarify that individuals “in the business of selling firearms” must register as licensed dealers, thus requiring background checks for more sales, including at gun shows. He also directed the ATF to enhance background checks for purchases through trusts and increased funding for enforcement (Obama’s Gun Control Actions).
- Advocacy: Obama repeatedly called for universal background checks and a renewed assault weapons ban. In a 2015 speech, he stated, “We are the only advanced country on Earth that sees this kind of mass violence erupt with this kind of frequency. It doesn’t happen in other advanced countries. It’s not even close,” highlighting his belief in stricter gun laws (PolitiFact on Obama’s Gun Control).
Despite his limited legislative success, Obama’s executive actions and vocal advocacy made him a polarizing figure for gun rights supporters, who viewed his efforts as attempts to undermine the Second Amendment.
5. Richard Nixon (1969–1974)
Richard Nixon did not sign major gun control laws, but his private statements and policy proposals indicate a willingness to restrict firearms access.
- Private Views: In a 1972 taped conversation, Nixon remarked, “I don’t know why any individual should have a right to have a revolver in his house,” suggesting a restrictive view on gun ownership.
- Public Proposals: In 1972, he proposed banning “Saturday night specials” (cheap handguns), though Congress did not pass this legislation.
While Nixon’s presidency saw no significant federal gun control, his expressed support for restrictions aligns him with presidents who favored limiting Second Amendment rights, particularly in urban crime contexts.