Gun Control Is Inevitable

Issues involving the ownership and possession of guns have led to heated debates in American society. One of the most notable is the issue of gun control. Many believe some form of gun regulation is necessary in order to lower the level of gun related violence in the country. However, the opponents of gun control feel that it would be an infringement of their rights according to the Second Amendment. The outcome and extent of gun control has strong political implications. It helps determine the present day meaning of the Second Amendment. While each side has strong arguments, the rights of an individual in this matter must be balanced by the greater needs of society. Today, based on the number of crimes and violent acts committed with guns, society needs more gun control.

While there is obviously some gun regulation currently in effect in the United States, pro-gun control advocates still require more, while anti-gun control advocates strongly oppose them. Along with a number of other things, the two opposing views are different interpretations of the Second Amendment. The Amendment reads, "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." Groups of interest who support gun regulations tend to concentrate on the first part of the amendment where the key word is "militia." Focusing on this part, those in favor of gun control laws basically feel the right to own and possess guns lies with the militia, not the individual.

Those against gun-control strongly oppose the new policies pro-gun control advocates are trying to enact. For anti-gun control activists, the key word in the Second Amendment is, "people," found in the second part of the sentence. They take the expression into an individual sense, therefore giving the individual the right to own and possess arms. The new laws and regulations being advocated by pro-gun controllers give those in opposition the feeling that their rights involving guns are slowly being taken away, and they worry how far it will go.

So is gun control necessary? When answering this question, one must take into consideration that gun related violence in the United States has risen exponentially over the past decade. The higher the accessibility to guns, the higher the rates of gun related deaths and injuries. In contrast, the chances of gun related deaths or injuries are considerably less if a gun is not present. Gun control laws aim at keeping the presence of guns to a minimum.

Anti-gun control advocates provide their strongest argument by sticking to the United States Constitution. They argue that regulating guns is an infringement of their rights as American citizens. They interpret the Second Amendment as giving them the right to bear arms. However, regardless of how the Amendment is interpreted, the need for gun control still exists. The