Every year, guns are used over 80 times more often to protect a life than to take one. Gun control has been a highly controversial issue in the U.S. for at least the past decade. From assassinations to mass shootings, every time guns and violence come together the issue resurfaces. So the big question, would new gun laws help or hurt our crime rate in the U.S.? The nation stands divided on this issue with both sides taking a firm position on what they believe. There are two sides to the gun control issue, the people that want some weapons banned because they believe that doing so will help stop mass shootings and other firearm related deaths, and the opposition, which believes that the Second Amendment cannot and should not be infringed, …show more content…
The two sides are the Democrats and the Republicans. They are the most important political parties in the country today. The majority of anti-gun control supporters are Republicans. They have long been supporters of the pro-gun movement, mainly due to both their conservative nature and also an increased backing by the National Rifle Association, a very powerful source in the pro-gun movement. The Second Amendment states that, "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." This amendment is the most widely discussed and debated of all, mainly because both sides have a different interpretation of what exactly it means. Here are a few facts and statistics conducted through surveys and polls in the U.S. : There are approximately 794,300 cops in the U.S (author pg). The total gun error rate of the cops is 11%. There are approximately 80,000,000 gun owning citizens is the U.S, the total gun error rate of the citizens is 2%. Mexico has some of the strictest gun control laws the world yet, in 2012, Mexico had 11,309 gun murders compared to the U.S. which had 9,146 gun murders. These are just some of the many facts and statistics that the anti-gun control supporters use to defend the claim that stricter gun control laws will not help save lives …show more content…
The pro-gun control supporters believe that having stronger gun control laws, increased background checks, mental screening, etc.. will help prevent shootings, murders, and gun related accidents. Many pro- control supporters believe that the second amendment doesn’t mean exactly what it says, they believe that the Second Amendment was intended for militias; that gun violence would be reduced; that gun restrictions have always existed; and that a majority of Americans, including gun owners, support new gun restrictions. Fact: (ProCon.org) the U.S. has the highest rate of firearm deaths among twenty five other high income nations, also not having strict enough background checks makes it easy for convicted felons and other people that should be prohibited able to buy and sell guns to unlicensed dealers in undocumented transactions that can never be traced back to that person. Out of a national poll, 92% of respondents, including 91% of gun owners were in favor of mandatory background checks for anyone who purchases a firearm.
The subject of gun control is hotly debated not only by the media and special interest groups but also by law enforcement agencies, and ordinary citizens alike. Some feel that since the Second Amendment was written before the advent of modern firearms that it is outdated. Others believe that it is an inalienable right that must be preserved in order for Americans to remain a free people. 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. ”(archives.gov)
They also argue that the Second Amendment was written in a different time and does not reflect the realities of modern society. In recent years, the debate over the Second Amendment has become increasingly heated, with both sides passionately advocating for their positions. Some have called for stricter gun control laws, such as background checks and bans on certain types of firearms, while others have argued for the protection of their Second Amendment rights. Ultimately, the issue remains divisive and complex, and there is no easy solution that will satisfy all parties
Gun control has been a controversial issue for many years. Many citizens believe that if gun control is strictly enforced it would reduce the threat of crime. People have the right to bear arms for protection, or even just the pleasure of hunting and recreational activity. With the recent events involving firearms and mass shootings, people are skeptical whether to increase or decrease gun laws. Americans have a constitutional right to own handguns and stricter laws and licensing will not effectively save lives.
According to www.debates.org, there are two sides to the issue and many opinions on gun safety. The side that wants gun restrictions say “ I see everybody keeps saying "2nd Amendment" this, "2nd Amendment" that. You're looking at something that was adopted in 1791. Ladies and gentlemen... we live in the 21st century, it should be about time that we do something about old rules.
A loose interpretation of the 2nd Amendment looks mostly at the “the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed”part of the 2nd Amendment, this is usually seen from a pro-gun rights supporter as an all inclusive clause which covers an individual 's right to bear arms. In contrary to gun control supporters, they see the framers setting up the 2nd Amendment as a right for individuals to bear all arms, not only for militia use,but for personal use such as hunting or sport. And any regulation that will infringe upon someone bearing arms is a violation of what the constitution guarantees for them. Having guns is right they believe to have and the way they are used can be
Gun laws have been around since the 1930s starting with the National Firearms Act in 1934. Since then, there has been a long timeline of domestic terrorist attacks and changes in these laws that have consequently altered the way people view the idea of gun control. The issue of gun control is very controversial and involves many political and social perspectives. Gun laws are often debated due to ideas of violence and self defense. The basis of any gun control argument can often be linked to the concept of the second amendment which 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.”
One of the most controversial issues our nation faces today is gun control laws. This controversy has been created due to the different interpretations of the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution which states the right of citizens to bear arms; “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” (Cornell Law School). Anti-gun control laws believe that the amendment guarantees the right to bear any kind of firearms. On the other hand, we have does that believe that more controls laws should be implemented since the 2nd amendment was for the right of States to have an armed militia during wartime. Both sides have strong point, however, the safety of our children comes first, and a firearm means death in the wrong hands.
Since the Second Amendments’ ratification in 1791, Americans still debate with one another, because of its many controversy views. The amendment allows every citizen of the United States the right to own guns and to defend themselves when in danger. The problem arises when the laws being set are restricting people from their rights. There are so many gun control laws, varying from state to state. The development of arguments surrounding gun control correlates to the increased violence and altercations related to the use of fire weapons.
Guns are just a tool, like knives and hammers and it completely depends on the people on how they use it. People who support guns and arms say that the Second Amendment secures individual’s right to carry guns with them and that gun rights is needed for self-protection, and was intended for military to have peace and defend the country if needed (Spitzer, 70). Most of the Americans use guns as a source to protect themselves and they believe that gun ownership prevents crime. A study conducted on November 26, 2013 showed that bans on weapons did not significantly affect murder rates at the state level (Lane, 5). Moreover, even if the rules and regulations are executed on gun control, not all criminals obey the law.
Moorhouse, John C, and Brent Wanner. “Does Gun Control Reduce Crime Or Does Crime Increase Gun Control?” Ebscohost, 1 Jan. 2006, web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/ pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=db378b8b-d9e7-4ee7-b26c-460bc1177bd4%40sessionmgr4008. Moorhouse and Wanner, in their article “Does Gun Control Reduce Crime Or Does Crime Increase Gun Control”, studied whether or not gun control reduced gun violence in individual states. The overarching theme throughout the individual states is that gun control doesn’t reduce gun violence and is very ineffective.
It is widely known and accepted by those in favor and against gun control that the Second Amendment in the Constitution clearly states an individual’s right to own guns. This was established by the founding fathers as a means for citizens to defend themselves against violence and/or tyranny. While some may argue this is an antiquated and unnecessary law, the Supreme Court has also sustained this amendment today as constitutional and adequate. Every law-abiding citizen has the right to feel protected against those who pose a threat to their safety. As stated in the article by Trevor Burrus “Face It: Guns Are Here to Stay”, “Even if the government enacted a massive program to confiscate these weapons, the feds would fail in their task and frighten millions of Americans in the process.”
The amount of people calling for a full ban are in the vast minority; most people advocating for gun control just want to make sure that average people, not the mentally ill or felons, can own a gun for self-defense, hunting or recreational shooting. There are more guns than people in this country, and while it may be difficult or pointless to regulate the legal, over the table purchase of them, it’s better than doing nothing, or letting teachers carry guns, which would do nothing but cause more chaos, fear, and deaths. Your 2nd amendment rights are not restricted by having to pass a background check or mental health test, in the same way that your 1st amendment rights are not restricted because you cannot say “fire!” in a movie theater or threaten someone’s life. Amendments need to adapt to be applicable, and an amendment written by people 240 years ago should not and will not be applied the same way as it is in the
Instead of banning or limiting guns, the evidence will show that removing the current restrictions and targeting individuals instead of guns will be a more effective process. The topic of gun control has two polarized opinions. One such opinion targets the individuals responsible for the crime, instead of just the weapons. John Moorhouse and Brent Wanner tackle the issue of gun control in their article “Does Gun Control Reduce Crime Or Does Crime Increase Gun Control”, which was published in 2006 in the twenty-sixth volume of the Cato Journal. These researchers looked at the effects gun control laws had on violent crime and gun violence in the individual states.
Majority of the people who oppose gun control believe that it violates the Second Amendment. The Revere Journal says that “In terms of the substance of the Second Amendment, the notion of a militia has no practical meaning today relative to what that term meant in the late 18th century. We are long past the days when farmers left the fields to become de facto soldiers, or when posses were rounded up to chase outlaws, or when settlers were on their own in a hostile environment. Some pretend that a lifestyle that no longer exists still has meaning in the America of the 21st century.” The people that agree on needing strict gun control laws will find a stronger connection to this image compared to the people who oppose
On the right hand side we have the National Rifle Association. Their ideology is advocating for the second Amendment. That Americans have the civil rights to bear arms, and keep arms. No citizen shall be stripped away from their rights to have a weapon at