What was John F. Kennedy's approach to gun control and firearm regulation?

John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, was a strong advocate of gun control and firearm regulation. Kennedy believed that guns were a public health issue and that the government had a responsibility to protect citizens from gun violence.

During his presidency, Kennedy signed two major pieces of gun control legislation. The first was the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, which required gun dealers to be licensed and barred felons, drug users, and the mentally ill from owning guns. The second was the Gun Control Act of 1968, which prohibited interstate sales of firearms and ammunition, and made it illegal for minors, convicted felons, and the mentally ill to own guns.

Kennedy's approach to gun control was shaped in part by his personal experiences with gun violence. His brother, Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated in 1968, and his own life was threatened several times during his presidency.