Guns in America

Biaggi Granadillo

Guns in America

Firearms have been used in North America since the times of Columbus. They were an important part of the United States’ history and is a right of every citizen. People argue that they are presently not needed and should be banned, but this is not true. While gun control is definitely useful and effectively keeps guns out of the wrong hands, the right to bear arms is in the constitution, and should not be changed. Guns have been used not only for hunting but also for sport and defence as well.

First off, hunting is a part of American history and is a big part of American culture today. In 2011, 13.7 million people in the U.S., or 6% of the U.S. population, went hunting according to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service study. There are hunting uses for AR-15 rifles and other semi-automatic firearms. In Texas alone, there is an annual damage cost of $400 million by wild boar. Many people claim AR-15 rifles are the best type of rifles to take down passels of boar. They allow the hunter to take down the most boar and take away the most damage costs as possible.

Secondly, firearms have gained a big presence for sport. Competition shooting is a growing sport. Not only is it growing in the U.S. as a whole, but particularly growing in high school students. Schools around the country have started making shooting teams and there are even local teams in many cities that are open for teens to join. The guns commonly used for competition shooting are semi-automatic rifles. The ones many people want banned. On the other hand, many of these rifles are chambered for cartridges that are smaller and less powerful than many hunting rifles.

Lastly, guns have been widely bought and used for self defense. Many people who are against guns in the U.S. argue that less than 1% of victims of gun violence have been able to protect themselves with