Should the United States Put More Restriction on Gun Ownership and Use?
Gun ownership in the United States has been a controversial issue over past years, especially in light of the recent events of the parkland school shootings in Florida. Gun control is the regulation of the selling, owning, and use of guns. Although many believe that gun control will violate their rights, the idea of stricter gun control laws can help communities.
We live in very violent times.
According to a 2011 Gallup poll, 47 percent of American adults keep at least one gun at home or on their property and many of these gun owners are absolutists opposed to any government regulation of firearms. ( Goldberg Jeffrey) There are daily accounts reported in the media about shootings. We do well to ask, Is there a solution to this growing crisis? Yes! It is called gun control. The lack of stricter gun control has damaged our communities. How so? Well, in order to answer that question, first we have to understand what makes up a community. Then we will explore the history of our gun control laws. So, what is a community? Many consider a community to only consist of people dwelling in a certain geographical location. However, a community can also be described as any group sharing soothing in common.
Opponents of strict gun control regulations claim that the Second Amendment gives Americans the right to have guns to protect themselves. As a result, this debate focuses on who should be allowed to own guns and which rights gun owners should have when they have a legal weapon in their possession. 11,000 Americans died from guns, 19,066 committed suicide in 2011. Without guns in our world, this would not have happened. Removing guns from our society could greatly reduce school shootings, deaths and overall crime rate. The First gun control law was implemented in 1934. The National Firearms Act of 1934 puts a $200 tax on machine guns and sawed-off shotguns. The next gun control law National Firearms Act of 1938 needed licensing of interstate firearm dealers. After that in 1968, 3 laws were made: The Omnibus Crime Control, Safe Street Act of 1968, and The Gun Control Act of 1968, these 3 laws made all criminals, drug users and mentally sick or ill from buying guns. In 1986 citizens with guns started to complain owing to the fact that the government had too much domination over the citizens. The next law was called the Firearm Owner Protection Act and this law made firearm inspectors monitor the gun shops no more than once in a year. But if any violations are found another gun checkup will happen again. Lastly in 1993 The Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act of 1993 made all the people under the 1986 legislation to have background checks. Even all these gun control laws don't stop felons from getting guns. Many people still get guns illegally. Many accidents or suicide still happen from guns.
On the positive side of the issue for stricter gun control laws in the United States, there are many reasons how we can keep a safer environment inside our country. Stricter gun control laws will decrease the overall number of accidental shootings. It will also make it more difficult for criminals to obtain guns. Semi-automatic weapons, which are the leading types of guns used in mass shootings could be eliminated from being able to be purchased and will ultimately lower the number of overall deaths if a shooting were to occur.
While it is good and bad to both sides of the debate on gun control, this debate is an Issue of Policy, and action is needed to enforce stricter gun control laws. Although the government may pass strict laws regarding gun ownership and usage, it is up to the states to enforce these laws. In addition, although the bill of rights gave Americans the right to bear arms, there is a debate on how this outdated Amendment should be interpreted today. Nonetheless, stricter gun control laws are needed since gun control makes weapons less accessible to criminals and the mentally ill, it can reduce the number of murders in our country, and the Second Amendment was targeted towards militias and does not give all Americans the constitutional right to own a weapon.
In addition, stricter gun control laws are needed since they can reduce the number of violent crimes in society. In 2010, 12,996 people were murdered in the United States, and 8,775 of these deaths were due to firearms (Economic Policy Journal). These shocking statistics not only prove that violence from the misuse and abuse of gun privileges are a leading cause of death in this country, but they also show that tougher laws are needed to prevent innocent children, women, and men from being murdered. Also, murders can happen accidentally with a firearm if the weapon is loaded with ammunition and not locked in a safe place. Nevertheless, since murders involving firearms are a leading cause of death in our country, an action is needed to enforce tougher gun control laws in the United States.
Most people understand that something is wrong and that turning a blind eye to the violence involving handguns is not the answer, but neither is banning them. Handgun bans are ineffective, they prevent a citizen from the most effective means of self- defense, and they do not solve the real problem, which is the person who owns the gun. It comes down to responsibility. Each person who chooses to own a handgun must be personally responsible for the ways the gun is used. The government is responsible to protect its citizens; no one has the perfect answer for the handgun violence problem, but the one certain thing is that banning handguns is not the answer.
To conclude, stricter gun control laws are needed since gun control makes weapons less accessible to criminals and the mentally ill, it can reduce the number of murders in our country, and the Second Amendment was targeted towards militias and does not give all Americans the constitutional right to own a weapon. While opponents argue that tougher gun control laws are not needed since people buy weapons through the black market, the number of homicides in our country has decreased, and the Second Amendment gives all citizens the right to possess a firearm, the fact remains that murders are still high in the United States. In all, if stricter gun control laws were implemented in all states, society would be a lot safer since the only people who would possess a firearm would be those are legally able or trained to use one.