Makena Engelker
Ms. Herstead
Persuasive Essay #1
13 June 2018
Gun Control Laws in the United States
The United States has about 270,000,000 guns, or around 88.8 guns per 100 people, which makes the United States the highest per capita number in the world. Guns have been used in many violent crimes: robberies, murders, mass shooting. Throughout, the year of 2018 there has been 162 mass shootings, with the numbers still climbing. The definition of a mass shooting is when four or more people, excluding the perpetrator, are killed with a firearm, echoing the FBI definition of the term “mass murder”. Although, the Second Amendment states “a well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed” guns have still caused a number of deaths and injuries. The Second Amendment was written in 1791, in a time of war and chaos; throughout, the years the use of firearms have changed. Firearms most of the time are related to violence. Studies have shown that people tend to react in a negative way when a gun is present. Throughout, the world there are certain common sense gun control laws that help regulate the use of guns, lowering death toll rates. In order to reduce gun deaths, create safer environments at home, and to be positive that guns are not in the hands of dangerous people, stricter gun control laws need to be enacted.
Although people throughout the country claim that firearms are not the issue, it doesn’t change the fact that gun control laws would reduce the number of gun deaths in the United States. Guns have been linked to the increased number of homicides in the United States throughout the years. The estimated 15,549 people who lost their lives by firearm homicides, in 2017, show how guns can be used to cause harm. The first five months of 2018 there have been 5,897 deaths by guns,with the deaths continuing to rise. Guns have also been the most used weapon to commit homicide. Harvard Injury Control Research Center are studying gun availability with relation to the number of homicides. According to, case-control studies, ecological time-series and cross-sectional studies they indicate “that in homes, cities, states, and regions in the U.S., where there are more guns, both men and women are at a higher risk for homicide, particularly firearm homicide.” The study also examined the homicide rates of Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs). The study found out that “differences in rates of homicides of LEOs across states are best explained not by differences in crime, but by differences in household gun ownership”. Law Enforcement Officers in high gun states are three times more likely to be murdered than LEOs in states with fewer guns. The number of suicides have been increasing, guns have been proven to be linked to the increase of numbers. On average, over 21,000 Americans die from gun suicide each year, making Americans eight times more likely to die by firearm suicide than other people in high-income countries. Approximately 90% of attempted suicide with a gun will die; however, over 90% of those who attempt suicide by other methods will live. Child firearm suicides have increased by 70% since 2007, now killing approximately 500 children every year. Firearms can be used to purposely cause harm; however, gun related deaths can also be unintentional. Between 2006-2016, almost 6,885 people died from unintentional shootings. A 2014 study showed “that those people that died from accidental shootings were more than three times as likely to have a firearm in their home.” Also according to a 2001 study “people are nine times more likely to die from unintentional firearm injuries when they live in states with more guns, relative to states with fewer guns.” Thus, although people say firearms aren’t the problem, guns cause a lot of deaths throughout the United States.
Firearms do not only cause a number of deaths but also promotes conflicts to become more violent or deadly, while also rarely being used for self-protection. Arguments that are happening within households, have turned deadly when a firearm is present. The FBI found that in 2013 arguments resulted in 1,962 gun deaths. A common study that has been conducted from 1967 to 2017 is the “weapons effect.” The study was conducted by angering a participant then having the participant sit at a table; furthermore, on the table was either a shotgun or revolver, or badminton racquets and shuttlecocks. The participant was told to deliver a level of electric shock, of the participants choosing, to the person that angered them. Participants who had a gun sitting at the table delivered a higher electric shock than those who had sports items. Leonard Berkowitz, Emeritus Professor of Psychology and conductor of the study, stated “guns not only permit violence, they can stimulate it was well. The finger pulls the trigger, but the trigger may also be pulling the finger.” Citizens that are armed are unlikely to stop crimes, it is found that civilians tend to make the dangerous situations more deadly. The mass shootings that occurred between 1982 and 2012 none were stopped by an arm citizen. Mass shootings that were stopped, were stopped by law enforcement personal. Jeffrey Voccola, Assistant Professor of Writing at Kutztown University, notes, “The average gun owner, no matter how responsible, is not trained in law enforcement or on how to handle life-threatening situations, so in most cases, if a threat occurs, increasing the number of guns only creates a more volatile and dangerous situation.” Similar to armed citizens rarely stopping crimes, guns are rarely used in self-defense, if guns are used it can make the situation more dangerous. A study from the Violence Policy Center (VPC) found that private individuals rarely use guns to kill criminals or stop crimes. Federal data show that from the 13 states reported no justifiable firearm homicides occurred in 2012: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming. Guns are not being used for self protection, if anything guns are promoting violence, making dangerous situations turn deadly.
Lastly, a majority of adults, along with gun owners support common sense gun control. Background checks are highly discussed and agreed upon; according to a 2018 Quinnipiac Poll, 97% of American voters support universal background checks. Approximately 40% of gun sales don’t require a background check because the sales are undocumented private party gun sales, also known as the “gun show loophole”. Don Macalady, member of Hunters against Gun Violence, spoke and said, “As a hunter and someone who has owned guns since I was a young boy, I believe that common sense gun legislation makes is all safer. Background checks prevent criminals and other dangerous people from getting guns”. Background checks allow for the FBI to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to see if the buyer is prohibited: felons, fugitives, domestic abusers and mentally ill. However, allowing for transactions to take place without a background check is putting guns into hands of dangerous people. Not only will stricter background checks help gun violence but bans on assault weapons will help gun related deaths decrease. American citizens voted on the ban of assault weapons; 67% support a nationwide ban on assault weapons. Assault weapons unique designs allows for the shooter to kill as many people possible in a short time period. Increased lethality is the reason for which these weapons were designed. According to the Violence Policy Center sixteen law enforcement officers were killed with assault weapons; four involved bullets penetrating the officer’s body armor. Bans on high-capacity magazines are also supported as common sense gun control. A high-capacity magazine is defined as an ammunition-feeding device with the ability to accept more than 10 rounds. Large capacity magazines make it virtually impossible for the victims to escape while allowing the shooter to shoot as many rounds as possible without having to stop to load a gun. Sandy Hook Elementary School lost 20 children and 6 adults to a shooter that had an assault weapon. The shooter equipped the gun with 30-round magazines, which allowed him to fire 154 rounds in less than 5 minutes. A review of mass shooting between 1982 and 2012 found that large capacity ammunition magazines were recovered in 50%. A study between 2009 and 2013 found that shootings where large capacity magazines were used resulted in 57% more people killed, compared to other mass shootings. Overall, many American citizens agree that certain common sense gun control should be put in place.
Some argue that there are already gun control laws; therefore, there is no need for more. This argument is partially true, there are gun control laws. The current gun control laws are not strict enough, it is very easy to buy a gun without following the laws. The Brady background check was signed into law in 1993; was signed in order to prevent firearms from getting purchased by dangerous people. The law has blocked 3 million guns sales to prohibited buyers, showing that background checks work. However, one out of five gun sales happen in “no questions asked” transactions: internet, gun shows and most states. This loopholes allows for dangerous people to buy guns without a background check, allowing thousands of guns to be in the hands of those dangerous people. Along with the argument that there are already gun control laws, guns are also argued to be necessary for self-protection; however, the statistics show that guns are rarely used for self-defense. Josh Sugarmann, Violence Policy Center Executive Director, states “The National Rifle Association (NRA) has staked its entire agenda on the claim that guns are necessary for self-defense, but this gun industry propaganda has no basis in fact. Guns are far more likely to be used in homicide that in justifiable homicide by a private citizen. In fact, a gun is far more likely to be stolen than used in self-defense. A current investigation by Commerical Appeals of stolen guns found that roughly 9,100 guns were reported stolen in the city between January 2011 and June 2016; 21 were used in homicides, 27 in robberies, 62 for aggravated assaults, amd 64 for drug crimes. In 2012 there were 259 reported justifiable gun related homicides; in comparison, there were 183,660 guns stolen. These numbers show that guns are more likely to be stolen then be used for self-defense.
Everywhere in the United States guns can be found. These guns are causing more harm than good. The Second Amendment has been a part of the Constitution since 1791, however gun control laws are older and are necessary in order to create a safe environment. Firearms are allowing people to kill thousands of people in just a short amount of time. Also, promoting violence in once safe environments like houses; furthermore, making dangerous situations turn deadly. Finally, gun control laws will help these dangerous weapons stay out of hands of people that can cause chaos. The minute gun control laws are enacted the benefit of these laws will soon be seen throughout the country, allowing for people to feel safer.