Argument Essay Against Large Capacity Magazines

Semiautomatic weapons are used to cause as much damage as quickly as possible. Marimow (2017) proved this when she said, “Like Maryland's, Connecticut's ban was expanded after a gunman used a military-style semiautomatic weapon to kill 20 students and six teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School.” (p.2). Marimow (2017) also stated, “The four dissenting judges said the banned firearms are not "dangerous or unusual" and are used by millions of law-abiding Americans in part because the military-style components increase accuracy and improve ergonomics.” (p. 3). The judges concluded that not all firearms are as dangerous as others and they do not need to be as dangerous either. A civilian has no legitimate reason to have a semiautomatic weapon. The Times Editorial Board (2016) expanded on that statement by writing, “There is no persuasive reason why any civilian should be able to fire so many bullets with such speed from a military style semi-automatic weapon.” (p. 1). The Times Editorial Board (2016) made another statement by saying, “Being able to replace ammunition clips quickly also adds to the death tolls in mass shootings. Current state law requires semi-automatic rifles be equipped with a fixed magazine that requires a tool for its removal.” (p. 1). Firearm users have no need to reload their weapon as fast as possible, unless they are trying to cause damage. Hamblin (2014) stated that,"Everything is regulated, but

“ For example, assault weapons are equipped with large-capacity ammunition magazines that allow the shooter to fire 20, 50, or even more than 100 rounds without having to reload. Pistol grips on assault rifles and shotguns help stabilize the weapon during rapid fire and allow the shooter to spray-fire from the hip position. Barrel shrouds on assault pistols protect the shooter's hands from the heat generated by firing many rounds in rapid succession,” is what some anti gunners say. Most political representatives say that they have high capacity magazines which are to unnecessarily large to be useful. They claim that they are overkill. These same people do not know anything about these weapons, if they did they would understand that a 30 round magazine is what comes standard to these weapons. High capacity magazines that hold up to 150 rounds are available through purchase but do not come with the gun. Another argument is that they have to high of a rate of fire. They think that this will enable people to spray many rounds into a crowd or in an attempt to hurt someone. On the other hand these guns are not fully-automatic like the ones the military use. They are semi-automatic which means that one round is fired per-trigger pull. There are a plethora of semi-automatic weapons available to the citizens of the United States ranging from handguns to rifles to shotguns ,but the

Pros:High-capacity magazines should be banned because they too often turn murder into mass murder. A Mother Jones investigation found that high-capacity magazines were used in at least 50% of the 62 mass shootings between 1982 and 2012. [7] When high-capacity magazines were used in mass shootings, the death rate rose 63% and the injury rate rose 156%. David H. Chipman, Senior Vice President of Public Safety for Shot-spotter and former Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) agent, stated that a high-capacity magazine "turns a killer into a killing machine."Some gang members use high-capacity magazines, such as 30 rounds or even 90 rounds, to compensate for lack of accuracy and maximize

‘“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.”’ (“Gun Control”) Due to firearms, more than 30,000 people die in America every year. Mass shootings happen frequently and people die because of the lack of laws and their security. The United States needs better gun control laws because automatic assault rifles are easy to buy, the mentally ill can purchase guns, and many die from guns each year.

Guns are used for protection, power, and sporting purposes. Guns are beneficial to society when used by trained professionals, such as the police and military. When in untrained hands, however, guns can cause death to friends, neighbors, family members and children. Due to their small size, weight and concealability, handguns pose some of the greatest risks to the public, ranging from accidental death in the home to mass shootings in public places. Consequently, private ownership of handguns should be banned by the US government due to their irresponsible use in murders and accidental deaths, the increased dangers to others caused by their concealability, and the availability of alternative, non-lethal self-defense weapons.

People who appreciate activities like shooting competitions and hunting, use firearms responsibly. This use contrasts with other uses, which often result in consequences that can be both intended and unintended. With past and present mass shootings, and acts of bloodshed perpetrated with the usage of weapons; has triggered a focus on gun control that once again has been brought into the spotlight. The purpose of the ongoing gun argument addresses the crimes that are committed with guns. This issue of gun control separated people into two groups: those who believe that carrying guns might prevent some crimes and fatalities, and those who don’t. There are individuals who believe absolutely the reverse: that more crime and deaths

Furthermore, high-capacity magazines were used in at least 50% of the 62 mass shootings between 1982 and 2012. When high-capacity magazines were used in mass shootings, the death rate rose 63% and the injury rate rose 156%. (Pro) It is very clear that high-capacity magazines are unnecessary and directly lead to an increase in death and injury rates. Controlling the capacity of magazines will make it harder for criminals to carry out large mass murders due to the number of rounds in which they can fire. Large magazines give murderers the opportunity to become mass murderers simply by giving them more rounds to fire at their victims. More gun control laws could greatly reduce deaths by guns; making it harder for deadly criminals to get guns. Additionally, a band on high-capacity magazines would reduce the number of victims even if criminals were to get their hands on guns

The United States of America was founded on laws to stop a single person from ruling the country. These laws were later known as the Bill of Rights, which lists every living person’s rights. On this Bill of Rights is what is know as the Second Amendment which gives United States citizens the right to bear arms. Over the years this amendment has been questioned by the government on how it affects the safety of citizens. Safety is important and the new high-capacity magazines could be a true threat to America's safety.

The mounting deaths and associated trauma from mass shootings should motivate us to take action to make needed reforms to our gun laws, focus law enforcement resources on combating illegal gun possession and invest in prevention initiatives proven to reduce gun violence. Assault weapons cause more harm than good when they are able to purchased and owned by private citizens. And while most who do own and use these powerful weapons for harmless, recreational activities or a sense of protection, the fact is that when they fall into the hands of individuals who are not mentally sound enough to possess something of such force, the result is one of horrific tragedy. The government must take into consideration the hundreds of innocent people who have lost their lives as a result of these dangerous weapons, and work on ways to prevent

Researchers at the University of Alabama have conducted studies trying to find links between guns and mass shootings (Michaels). There are hundreds of millions of guns in circulation in America today. In fact, “the total number of guns in circulation is at least 240 million” (Ballaro and Finley). Adam Lankford, an associate professor of criminal justice at the University of Alabama, suggests that “America’s high rate of public mass shootings is connected with the number of guns circulating in the country” (Michaels). Implementing stricter gun laws would cause fewer people to want to purchase guns, resulting in fewer guns in circulation in the coming years. In the United States, “around 30,000 people die from gun fire each year. Around half of these are murders, a little less than half are suicides, and the rest are lethal accidents” (Ballaro and Finley). (2) Currently there are several million guns in circulation, and gun deaths in America are higher than any other developed country. (5) If the trend continues, the number of gun deaths will continue to increase. As stated in the article “10 Pro-Gun Myths, Shot Down.” author Dave Gilson states that “People with access to more guns tend to kill more people- with guns. States with higher gun ownership rates have higher gun murder rates- as much as 114% higher than states with lower gun ownership rates” (Gilson). (7) More

Guns are a major means of defense for American citizens today. Some state governments, like California, have put a limit on how much ammunition a magazine can hold. The restriction to ten rounds that California has set out was never proven to reduce crime. Wilderness Unlimited CEO, Rick Copeland, admits that the new laws haven’t affected his hunting. He also says that, “creating laws that don’t change anything is just a big waste of time” (Richman). If this law does have an effect, than it is not a positive one. A woman in Atlanta once defended herself and her children from an intruder in their home with a revolver. Despite emptying all six rounds, the

Their would be less or no more mass-murders because it would not let people who try to buy a lot of ammunition who have a bad thing on their record. Guncontrol.procon.org says,” high-capacity magazines that were purchased were used 50% in the 62 mass shootings between 1982 and 2012.” This means that people who bought high capacity magazines didn’t go through a thorough background check. That is why we need a thorough background check , so it can reduce mass shootings. Now to my next

When the constitution was written the most advanced gun only shot one bolt at a time, and took 30 seconds to reload (Murphy). Now in the 21th century guns have “high-capacity magazines were used in at least 50% of the 62 mass shootings between 1982 and 2012. When high-capacity magazines were used in mass shootings, the death rate rose 63% and the injury rate rose 156%. David H. Chipman...stated that a high-capacity magazine ‘turns a killer into a killing machine.’ Some gang members use high-capacity magazines, such as 30 rounds or even 90 rounds, to compensate for lack of accuracy and maximize the chance to harm” (“Background of the Issue - Gun

However, the market demand for assault weapons derives at least in part from their usefulness as instruments of mass murder (Keating 665).

Former Governor of New York Eliot Spitzer once said "Yes, people pull the trigger - but guns are the instrument of death. Gun control is necessary, and delay means more death and horror". Spitzer’s words makes one think: should we fear the person behind the gun or the gun itself? The majority of violent crimes that happen in America are not only caused by a criminal, but also the weapon in which the criminal is holding. America’s gun violence problem stems from the increasing accessibility of firearms. Many of the mass shootings in America could have been prevented if access to semi-automatic and automatic weapons were completely banned. Gun violence is an arising issue, and a change needs to be made concerning the gun laws in the U.S. Stricter gun control laws is necessary to prevent high accessibility to firearms and mass shootings, also research shows that Australia’s strict gun control laws are proven to be more efficient in preventing gun violence.