Gun law advocates argue that gun control laws diminish the amount of weaponry in the streets, and, by extension, in the hands of criminals. Likewise, gun control will diminish suicide. There were 464,033 total gun deaths between 1999 and 2013: 270,237 suicides (58.2% of total deaths); 174,773 homicides (37.7%); and 9,983 unintentional deaths (2.2%) (CDC, 2014). If perhaps, one of these families had a surviving brother or sister, mother or father, due to the current policies, it is worth enacting change. It is inhuman to allow people to die by firearms when they could simply be banned. In light of the recent mass shootings, families are left with the lingering wonder as to whether these national tragedies could be prevented. Criminals can easily …show more content…
As previously mentioned, there have been instances where the United States has denied groups the right to bear arms. In the June 26, 2008 District of Columbia et al. v. Heller US Supreme Court majority opinion, one of the most conservative justices in modern history, the late Justice Antonin Scalia, LLB, conceded that the rights of the second amendment is not an unlimited right to own weaponry, but rather, has various limits that need be addressed (US Supreme Court, 2007). Furthermore, if the ambiguous right to bear arms includes all arms, wherein lies the arbitrary limit to weaponry that cannot be purchased. To say that there is an unlimited right, is tantamount to arguing civilians should be capable of obtaining tanks, atom bombs, or other decommissioned military equipment. Gun control opponents argue that such rights have no substantial constitutional limit. Furthermore, this right was established over two centuries ago, in a long passed time where advanced weaponry consisted of single fire muskets. The founders of this country would clearly not have established such a haphazard policy so as to encourage that every American has access to a firearm, regardless of training and expertise. The amount of guns, and their types, endanger the lives of all citizens and therefore must be …show more content…
The Bible is clear about the right of individuals to protect themselves and their family. For example, Exodus 22:2 says, "If a thief is caught breaking in at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed;” (New International Version) The right to protect American homes from harm seeking invaders is a treasured right. Likewise, as our founders were expressly clear, the liberties included in the Bill of Rights are not granted by the whim of kings or subject to the approval of society, rather, they are from the immutable will God. Human life is the most precious gifts God has bestowed on creation, therefore, it must be protected, treasured, and maintained. To declare that individuals do not have the right to defend themselves, is to deny the will of
It appears as though the repetitive and unfortunate tragedies of mass shootings have become incorporated into the everyday life of American culture. We are forced to live in a heightened degree of fear, skepticism, and hesitation concerning our public safety. This phenomenon could reasonably occur in response to the vast ineffectiveness of the country’s current gun laws. Time after time similar misfortunes arise, yet few major changes are implemented to prevent them from reoccurring in the future. We cannot let this trend continue any further. Though some claim that increased gun control is useless and infringes upon the Second Amendment, it limits civilians’ weapons grade, obstructs those deemed unfit to wield such lethal weapons, and insures a greater level of security, thus it should be executed.
Many teenagers and even adults feel worthless and depressed and give up on life. Instead of taking action and getting help to solve their life problems, these people choose to commit suicide. There are about 30,000 suicide deaths per year. This number is outrageously high. One out of every 45 attempts of suicide actually succeeds. Whether suicide attempters succeed or fail, all depends on how easy it is for them to get the resources they want to use for this task, especially firearms. Deborah Azrael, a research associate at Harvard’s Research Center, found that when guns were predominant in a state, suicide rates were higher. The inverse of this statement was also correct, in states where guns were not prevalent, suicide rates were lower. Many lives would be saved, many suicides would be prevented, and many families would be able to avoid heartbreak and despair, if firearms were not accessible in the United
The argument on firearm regulation has been a heated discussion for many years. On one side of the debate, we have people in favor placing restrictions on guns, while, on the opposite end of the spectrum, we have people fighting the regulation of guns. People in favor gun restrictions believe gun control can reduce crime ,while, the people against gun control believe having the right to bear arms is an effective crime deterrent. I believe that every law abiding citizen should be able to carry a gun and defend themselves against people who intend to harm them.Gun control laws are simply
Gun control laws should regulate production, distribution, ownership and use of firearms by civilians. Gun control laws are not intended to dispossess law abiding citizens of licensed firearms but to intervene on reckless use of firearms that cause harm to the public. Gun control should also make it difficult for criminals to access firearms. Armed civilians have in many instances deterred acts of crime from being instigated by scaring away criminals. Nonetheless, gun laws can only be described as immensely lax. This essay seeks to argue for the enactment of strict gun control laws by highlighting the dangers posed by guns in the hands of members of the public.
In the year 2016 alone, there have been 145 mass shootings around the United States, while there have been only 173 days in the years so far. In order to prevent these atrocities from occurring so frequently gun ownership should be regulated by both the federal and state governments through a background check for all sales of firearms. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System has prevented more than two million convicted felons and other prohibited purchasers from buying guns. The law also has a deterrent effect since the prohibited purchasers are less likely to try to buy guns when they know comprehensive background check requirements are in place. However, currently the federal law requires criminal background checks only for guns sold through licensed firearm dealers, which counts for only sixty percent of the total gun sales. The U.S. Congress needs to regulate the obtainment of guns with a background check for all sales of firearms in order to protect the lives of citizens in this country while not violating the Second Amendment and the rights of the state.
Over two hundred years have passed since the founding fathers of the United States of America, had created the constitution, the very document that is viewed, by many, as the milestone for what has later become the most powerful country in the world, as well as, the beacon for democracy. Having derived its values from the simple, yet intrinsic principles of liberty, the constitution has played the role of a safeguard to always ensure the freedoms of the people of America will remain intact.
While it is easy to focus on the national issues, gun control expands to much more such as, suicide and even accidents. As James B. Jacobs mentions in his book, Can Gun Control Work?, “Indeed, I believe it makes sense to understand ‘the gun problem’ as three separate problems: fatal accidents, suicides, and homicides.” (Jacobs 4) While the main threat is often seen as mass shootings due to the many times Americans see it across the television screens as national news, “the gun problem” hits a lot closer to home than many might like to think. That is why it is needed for a local gun reform group to educate locals on the laws about guns and how gun control can help their society in
Imagine heartbreak, loved ones dying, and losing hope. This has transpired for many in America today, all because of gun violence. It has become a great problem for our society in recent years. Data from Every Town Research has shown In their article Gun Violence by the Numbers “...that on an average day, 93 Americans are killed with guns...For every one person killed, two are injured” Many will deny that gun violence is a dilemma, but it is. Most do not realize this but, over 62% of the deaths are suicide, and just over 1,642 people killed by gun violence were unintended. There is something very wrong here, and something needs to change quickly. If so many of these deaths are incidental, and suicides; There is clearly a correlation between something in our society today, and the terribly high rates of suicide which need to be addressed. I contend we need to get out there and instruct our youth, and adults on how to handle situations with a gun. Additionally, we should discover what is causing so many to feel as if suicide is the only way out of the pain, and suffering from a long unsatisfactory life.
The news making the headline this previous couple of days is the truly appalling unforeseen development of six women and three men including a pastor who were shot dead at 9 p.m. on Wednesday June 17, 2015 at the Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston South Carolina , a historical church which was built up in 1816 as one of the most established African-American churches in the United States. The shooter 21-year-old Dylan Roof attended a Bible study meeting at the congregation. He sat there for 60 minutes and toward the end opened fire and told them "I have to do it”. “You raped23 our ladies and you're assuming control over our nation and you need to go". As per witnesses, Roof stacked and reloaded his weapon five times. He
An un-armed population will have a difficult time protecting itself from criminals that clearly do not care about laws and would most likely be more successful in committing a crime if their intended victims are incapable of defending themselves. While there are numerous reasons, including social, economic and mental health, as to why criminals commit crimes, having access to guns is not one of them. The 2nd Amendment of the Constitution states, "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” (U.S. Const. amend. II). Protecting the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution is vital because limiting or outright denying law-abiding citizens the ability to possess firearms, which are nothing more than a tool, will cause more problems, such as higher crime rates, than it would solve.
Original: A study shows that “46% of gun owners report that their primary reason for owning a firearm is for protection against criminal victimization” (Wallace 158). This statistic is one main reason why gun control should be limited. If America were to take away the right to bear arms, nearly half of all people who own guns would lose their sense of security in their own home, town, and country. Esposito and Finley quote a policer office from 2013 saying “simply calling 911 and waiting is no longer your best option” (86). This isn’t because the police force doesn’t do their job well, but because criminals in the twenty first century are merciless and don’t allow time for cops to come save the day.
James Mallon once said that “Gun control is like the annoying family member you hate to see. No matter how much you disdain seeing them or talking to them, eventually a climatic event, family reunion, or holiday forces you to have interaction with them.” Gun control may be that elephant in the room given all the recent tragic events involving firearm use, but ignoring that elephant is no solution. Stricter gun laws, as well as other forms of gun control may be the final viable resort to ending the onslaught that are mass shootings.
We have the right to bear arms not only because of the constitution but also for our own safety. In many states they have a law set in place for people with guns. Such as Michigan, which is called the “Castle Law”, if an intruder comes into
The average response time of a 911 call is 10 minutes. The response time of a .357 magnum is 1400 feet per second. The second amendment of the United States Constitution states, “the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed upon.” That right is now more than ever in jeopardy and we must continue to fight for it. Gun Control does not solve our nations problem of violence.
There has been an ongoing debate on whether gun control laws should be passed or banished. Citizens throughout America have multiple different reasoning behind the laws of gun control, or no gun control. I personally do not have an opinion on this matter, and was very intrigued when reading about the different point of views. There were two completely different articles I read, one was opposing gun control and the other was pro gun control. E.J. Dionne Jr.’s article “How America can free it’s self from guns” published by The Washington Post was pro gun control, he expresses what actions should occur to prevent the number of suicides, homicides, and accidental deaths from occurring. E.J. Dionne Jr. gives lots of real life situations that have