The Debate Concerning Gun Control
The debate concerning gun control is a controversial issue that policymakers have failed to agree on for a long time. It continues to be a pressing issue in American society. Proponents for gun control argue that the current gunfire shootings in the United States are devastating and thus call for laws to control gun ownership. The pro-gun control legislators say that every person has the right to live and therefore firearms should be banned. Interestingly, pervasive American culture to gun ownership stems from the colonial history, frontier expansion and has revolutionary roots. The right is protected by the American Constitution under the Second Amendment. The constitution clearly states that every person has the right to bear firearms. It follows that confiscating citizens from owning guns violates the constitution. As such, the Second Amendment gives American citizens a constitutional right to own guns and therefore, enacting gun control laws is not an effective measure to save lives and deter crime.
Arguments against Gun Ownership
Arguably, citizens are protected by the second amendment as it provides the right to gun ownership. The amendment states that "the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed" (Daniel). Prohibition laws infringes the right of citizens as the constitution clearly states that every person has the right to bear firearms. The consensus among Americas in what the constitution stipulates produces divergent debates. It is important to note that the founding fathers understood the right to own arms and it is thus illogical and insincere to argue that guns should be controlled because only militias are allowed to have them. Enacting laws to control gun ownership infringes the right of people to self-defense and denies citizens a sense of safety. The law allows owners to use guns in self-defense and it maintains liberty delineated in the bill of rights (The Lancet 16). Police are not able to protect everyone in every place and all the time. The laws only hinder with the capability of people to defend themselves against violent criminal acts.
The anti-gun legislators should understand that gun control will not prevent criminals from buying guns and wrongdoers will continue to break laws. There are many guns which are illegally owned by people compared to those that are acquired legally. The problem with the gun control regulations is that they prohibit and restrict people who lawfully acquire the firearms and ignore those who get them through illegal means. It is important to note that gun control laws do not work to deter crime. Studies indicate that banning weapons has no impact on reducing gun murder cases. According to Pew Research Center, "Criminals don't obey the law... criminals in possession of these illegal weapons now have a much easier job" (Pew Research Center). The laws protect individuals against foreign criminals and invaders. The country should be more focused on keeping out the illegal immigrants and terrorists who pose a threat to the security of people and the nation as a whole.
Notably, the gun control laws are necessary because few people are killed with guns. Many people die from car crashes and heart diseases compared to firearms. The move will only reduce the ownership and not the suicide rates and sincerely, the laws are unnecessary. Instead of focusing on gun control laws, their needs to be educative programs about guns and gun safety to prevent gun deaths. If the question is about banning guns because they kill many people, cars also do kill a lot of people. Therefore, should cars be banned too? Cars are not designed to kill people, but they do report alarming death rates. If only education about guns safety can be made a priority, the society will be safer than before, and the number of deaths will reduce (Claire). Again, psychiatric evaluation for mental illness should be done to determine the ability to own guns. However, banning guns is similar to banning drugs as people will still find a way to get them. Therefore, citizens have to learn more about gun safety measures through education.
The gun control efforts have proved to be ineffective and do not reduce the number of deaths. Countries that enact the gun control laws still report a high number of deaths (Robert). The strict laws pertaining to gun ownership have not worked in Mexico, and similarly, they will not work in the US. Mexico is one of the countries in the world that has stringent gun laws (Simon). However, the country still reports high number of death resulting from gun shootings. For example, in 2012, the country reported a total of 11,309 gun murders, and this translates to "9.97 gun homicides per 100,000 people" (Simon). The rates were contrary to the US which reported only 9,146 gun homicides in 2012 explaining that the rate is .97 per 100,000 people. Mexico has one gun store called "Directorate of Arms and Munitions Sales" while the US has about 63,709 legal pawn shops and gun stores (Robert). The process to own a gun in Mexico is cumbersome and difficult and yet many guns are in supply illegally. Mexico still records a high number of deaths compared to the US. It is interesting to note that in 2006-2010, the Mexican gun shop sold only 6,490 guns whereas, by 2012, about 15,000,000 guns were owned by people (Simon). This means that approximately 13.5 guns per 100 people. It, therefore, means that gun control and gun ban will not deter people from getting access to them.
It is important to note that people present to be the problem and not the guns. Therefore, they will continue to harm others even if guns are banned or controlled. Emphasis has to be directed in good parenting and education. The laws are pointless as the society will continue to be dangerous. Notably, guns do not kill people but rather people themselves (Jones 7). Even if guns are banned, people will find out alternatives such as the use of knives, bomb, and hammers. In the United Kingdom, for example, handguns were banned in "1997 after a man shot 16 elementary students and later shot himself. In 1996, the gun murder rate was 1.12 per 100,000 people" (Simon). However, the rate increased in 1997 to 1.24, and in 1998 it rose further to 1.43. Moreover, in 2002, the rates increased further to 2.1 (Simon). This only shows that the laws are effective in preventing deaths. Therefore, the criminals are the problem, and the government has to come up with ways of rooting them out from society.
Counter Argument
People who advocate for implementation of gun control measures articulate that the move will be a significant factor in saving the lives of people. Undoubtedly, the right to gun possession has resulted in massive killings. The guns give some people ample time to assault the freedom of others to live. The current society has witnessed deadliest attacks. In June 2016, Omar killed 49 individuals and wounded more than 50. Perhaps, the Las Vegas attack that occurred on October 1, 2017, is the most dreadful gunfire attack in the modern US. Stephen Paddock opened gunfire killing at least 59 people, and more than 527 individuals were injured in the process (NBC News). Indeed, the history of gunfire attack on the Americans is devastating. Hence, enacting gun control measures will help to curb curbing the high number of deaths that resulted from gun attacks. Besides, proponents argue that gun control will reduce violence and crimes arising from gun ownership. With this point, gun control will result in fewer guns in the society, and the outcome will be a reduction in gun crimes. Those who advocate for gun control contend that the appropriate solution to gun violence entails reducing the number of guns in the society. It will be difficult for criminals to get access to guns and cause violence. If ownership of a gun has to be granted, then there should be restrictions on the type of arms one should own. In a nutshell, stringent gun control measures directed at reduction of gun ownership will help in the protection of the society from gun violence.
Conclusion
Gun control laws limit the rights stipulated in the second amendment. The regulation translates to an infringement to the individual constitutional rights. The second amendment is meant to provide protection and self-defense to citizens. The shooters will still get access to the guns even if the laws are enacted. The laws are simply a violation of the second amendment and do not prevent reduce death rates. Gun control laws are ineffective and do not deter criminal activities. Proponents argue that more gun control will work to reduce the number of deaths and save lives. They also go ahead to mention that control will reduce the societal cost associated with gun violence and foster the right to live. However, those who advocate for the laws forget that guns are essential for self-defense against criminals.
Works Cited
Claire Moore, "To Teach or Not to Teach Gun Safety in School," www.abcnews.go.com. Accessed December 8, 2018.
Daniel J. Schultz, "The Second Amendment: The Framers' Intentions," www.lectlaw.com. Accessed December 8, 2018.
Jones, Michael A., and George W. Stone. "The U.S. Gun-Control Paradox: Gun Buyer Response to Congressional Gun-Control Initiatives." Journal of Business & Economics Research (JBER), vol 13, no. 4, 2015, p. 167. Clute Institute, doi:10.19030/jber.v13i4.9449.
NBC News. Las Vegas Attack: The Victims’ Stories. https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/las-vegas-attack-the-victims-stories-1061188675743. Accessed December 8, 2018.
Pew Research Center. "Why Own a Gun? Protection Is Now Top Reason." May 9, 2013. www.pewresearch.org. Accessed December 8, 2018.
Robert J. Spitzer, "Five Myths about Gun Control,” Dec. 21, 2012. www.washingtonpost.com, Accessed December 8, 2018.
Simon Rogers, "Gun Homicides and Gun Ownership Listed by Country," July 22, 2013. www.theguardian.com. Accessed December 8, 2018.
The Lancet. "Gun Deaths and the Gun Control Debate in the USA." The Lancet, vol 390, no. 10105, 2017, p. 1812. Elsevier BV, doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(17)32710-1.
