Gun Control In America

Nathan 3/30/08

Gun Control in America

Ever since the days of the pioneers, firearms have been an element of the American tradition as defense and a means of hunting or activity. As we progress through the 21st century the use of guns has changed significantly. The reason that the use of the gun is changing is fast and steady increase in crime and the battle for the right to have possession of a hand gun, the introduction of legislation for gun control, to try to decrease the felony in the United States, has been a brutal debated issue in recent years.

Even though many people believe that gun control violates the right of the people, set in the second amendment "the right to bear arms.” Controlling distribution and sales and the registration of guns and gun owners is necessary for the reason that of the homicide rate concerning guns and the violent behavior by criminals using guns. Bob Adams states in his article “With military-style weapons once again legal on American streets, “People are going to die,” declares Steve Lenkart, chief lobbyist for the International Brotherhood of Police Officers. “Cops are going to die; civilians are going to die. (par109)

Many people feel that gun control violates the right of the citizens given in the second amendment the right "to bear arms". Opponents of gun control, together with the National Rifle Association, better known as the NRA, disagree that the "Right to Bear Arms" is guaranteed in the second amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America and licensing restrictions penalize law-abiding citizens while in no way preventing criminal use of handguns. It is also argued that by making it complicated

for guns to be bought and registered for the American public there is a threat to the individual protection of American families all over. Iain Murray states in the U.S gun control debate, “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.”(par1) I agree with what he said because having a gun for defense gives a person a sense of security about threats towards them or others alike. Also Keith Huss states, “That all people should have the right to own a gun. Guns do not kill, ignorance of the person using the gun kills.”(Interview)

On the other hand controlling the sale and distribution of firearms is necessary because of the homicide rate involving guns. In 1988 there were 9000 handgun associated murders in America. Metropolitan centers and a number of suburban communities of America are setting new records for homicides by handguns. Larger Metropolitan centers have ten times the murder rate of all Western Europe. For example in Washington, D.C. there was an estimated 400 homicides including guns.

In addition gun control has been seen as necessary because of the violence by criminals using guns.