The debate between prohibiting gun control and making the laws stricter has been very controversial. The debate been going ever since 1960. Gun control is a set of laws or policies that regulate the manufacture, sale transfer, possession, or use of firearms by civilians. Most countries have a restrictive firearm guiding policy, with only a few legislations being categorized. Right now in the United States there’s multiple gun control organizations, such as: National Rifle Association, Brady Campaign, Everytown for Gun Safety, and Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. General Social Survey, estimated how many people own a gun, stated, “ About a third of American households- and 22 percent of individual adults- reported having a firearm in 2014.” In 2013, 33,636 people died due to firearms. In the early days republic, black people – free and slaves- were barred from owning guns, as were Native Americans and people who did not pledge loyalty to the new country. In 1972, a law required all eligible white men to buy a gun and enroll in a citizen militaria, but those guns were also registered under state laws, according to UCLA Law professor Adam Winkler.
The Second Amendment says, “ A well regulated Militaria, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. The first modern gun-control laws targeted machine gunas and sawed-off shotgun, this was passed in the 1930s with Prohibition-era gangsters in mind. President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Junior, and Senator Robert Kennedy was assassinated, death by a firearm. Hillary Clinton said, “ We can not let a let a minority of people hold a viewpoint that terrorizes the majority of people.” A poll indicates 60 percent says gun laws should be stricter; 5 percent said they should be less strict; and 33 percent they should remain the same. A background check system was created in the 1990s, so was the so-called “ assault weapons ban,” which covered certain semi-automatic rifles and expired in 2004. Elliot Spitzer said, “ Yes, pull the trigger, but guns are the instrument of death. Gun control is necessary, and delay means more death and horror.”
On the other hand, many people disagree with gun control. There’s still murder in countries where handguns are banned. Limiting assault rifles limits your Second Amendment rights. Shooters will still access guns, even with strict gun laws. Prohibition didn’t stop alcohol, gun control won’t stop guns. If criminals want to break the law, they’ll find a way to. There’s about one gun for every citizen inside the U.S already, it’d be impossible to collect the massive trove of guns. Even in a country with strict gun laws, a shooter will still be able to find one and use it.
Helen Thomas said, “ You don’t spread democracy through a barrel of a gun.” In 2010, the U.S had the most firearm deaths. Americans own approximately two hundred-seventy million guns. About nine hundred-thirty million guns were manufactured in the U.S in 2015. More than thirty-six thousand Americans died from guns in 2105. Elizabeth Warren said, “We lose eight kids and teenagers to firearms everyday. If a mysterious virus suddenly started killing eight of our children everyday, America would mobilize teams of doctors and public health officials. One billion firearms arms in the world as of June 19, 2018. Wyoming has the most guns in the world, coming in at a close second the District of Columbia. Gun-related homicides slightly increased from ten thousand one hundred-seventeen in 1999 to eleven thousand five hundred-forty seven in 2006 to ten thousand eight hundred sixty-nine in 2008. DeShanne Strokes said,” If guns don’t kill people, why do mass killers arm themselves with guns?”
Since 1997, total firearm production has more than tripled, with significant increases in both pistols and shotguns. Suicide death rates from firearms in 2010 are the highest in the world. Giffords PAC– who was named after the former U.S representative, Gabby Giffords, was wounded by a shooter at a constituent gathering. In October of 2018, about 70 percent of public respondents said they wanted stricter firearm laws. Guns killed thirty eight thousand six hundred fifty-eight people in 2016, in which 59 percent was suicide. Mental illness is a minor part of the gun problem. Guns are basically the entire reason why the U.S has an unusually high homicide rate for a rich country. Everyday, 96 Americans are killed with guns and hundreds more are shot and injured. The effects of gun violence extend far beyond these casualties- gun violence shapes the lives of a million Americans who witness it, knows someone who has shot, or live in fear of the next shooting. There’s been four hundred seventy-nine intent shootings by law enforcement. There’s been one thousand two hundred eighty-four intent firearm injuries by law enforcement. Oliver Malloy said, “ Guns make losers feel like losers.” Also, Barack Obama said, “ I don’t believe people should be able to own guns.”
But, still many people are still pro-gun. Former President, Thomas Jefferson said, “No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.” People say guns don’t kill people, people kill people. Adequate self-defense means ownership of the means that might be used against you, and the U.S law confirms this. If a person intends on harm the person already has a gun or can easily get one. The right to private gun ownership is enshrined in the Second Amendment to the Constitution, and it has been since the ratification of the Bill of Rights in 1971. Guns make the job easier, but there’s still knives and blunt objects regularly used for assault. There are heroic police officers, but don’t count on meeting one that cares more about saving your family than getting back to their own. Mike Johanns U.S Senator from Nebraska said, “ Placing a heavier burden on responsible gun owners will do little to prevent troubled individuals from carrying out violent acts.” Also Pat Roberts, a U.S Senator from Kansas said, “ Don’t mess with people’s rights to bear arms with any restrictions.”
In conclusion, many people are still pro-gun and many people are still pro-gun control. The U.S having stricter or banning guns period would make homicide, suicide, firearm injuries, and intended murder rates go down significantly. Although, American public believes in the right to bear arms, they need to realize the need for gun control. The United States needs to assess the gun violence and increase the gun control while maintaining the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment makes Americans feel they have the right to own guns to protect themselves and their families, those that support gun ownership due so because they want to feel safe. Those the support gun control see gun crimes escalating in the United States and feel lack of gun control laws are the center of it. From mass shootings to high profile murders, the constant and easy to access to guns has made gun violence a main issues for Congress and the American public. People that find gun control remains ineffective and wants things to change. Stores like Wal-mart had assault rifles on the self, up until recently. Guns have a place in American Society, but it needs to change, for the safeness of children, adults, and teenagers. Countries like Japan and Australia have strict gun laws and have seen less gun violence ever since.