本文对枪支管制这一在当今美国社会中极具争议的问题的缘起、现状及前景等进行了分析与探讨。文章认为，枪支问题是美国早期特殊的历史、政治及社会状况所造成的，是美国传统的民主思想及宪法精神的一种具体体现。当代枪支管制运动从20世纪五六十年代兴起，曲折发展，经历了不同的历史阶段。当前美国社会朝野各界关于枪支管制问题的争论广泛涉及公民权利、政府权力及公共安全与秩序之间的关系，与此同时，宪法权利、文化传统、价值观念、利益集团政治、党派之争等多种因素也交织其中，使枪支管制问题异常复杂、矛盾重重。因此，美国的枪支管制将是一个长期、曲折和漫长的过程。
The paper analyzes and discusses the origin,present situation and prospect of the gun control problem,which is a highly controversial issue in current American society. According to the paper,the gun issue is the necessary outcome of early special historical,political and social status of America,and a kind of concrete embodiment of American traditional democratic thoughts and the spirit of the constitutions. The contemporary gun control movement in the U.S. rose in the fifties and sixties of the 20th century, experienced twists and turns,and went through the different historical stages. The dispute over the gun control at present American society widely involved the issues of civil rights,the power of the government and the relationship between public safety and order. At the same time,constitutional rights,cultural traditions,values,interest group politics and partisanship are intertwined,which make the gun control extremely complex and contradictory. Therefore,the gun control will be a winding and perennial course in the U.S.
