Guns Kill, But Laws Never Will

Current Gun Control regulations do not deter violence and crime. It has been shown that places that have relaxed their gun control laws have a higher crime and death rate. Data proves that homicide rates “[...] among the metro areas whose principal city is in a state that requires some form of permit to purchase a gun, is 4.32 per 100,000 residents, compared with 5.74 among cities in no-permit states”(Bailey). This is evidence that there is a correlation between gun control and death rates. It is also proven with statistical evidence that places with the least amount of gun control have the most violence. Statistics show that “‘none of the states with the most gun violence require permits to purchase rifles, shotguns, or handguns. Gun owners are also not required to register

Gun control has recently brought a massive uproar to the United States after several tragedies combined mass murder with firearms. Some argue that guns are meant to be used for our protection and it takes someone to pull the trigger while others believe that guns are intended to cause serious harm or death to the intended target. The right to own a firearm stems from the second amendment of the constitution and states that a well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to bear arms, shall not be infringed. The first piece of gun control legislature that was passed in the United States was in 1911 when Sullivan’s Law passed to make buying or carrying a handgun without a permit a felony

On Wednesday June 18, 2015 nine shot dead at a historical black church in Charleston, South Dakota and only a month later on July 16, 2015 in Chattanooga, Tennessee with five dead leaving citizens devastated. The past year contains more than 350 mass shootings, averaging 1.02 shootings per day and continuous growing number of deaths, multiple mass shootings around the world leaving dozens of victims in its path. There is no exact definition of mass shootings, but most sources believe it is when four or more people are shot in one location. Citizens in America are easily able to obtain a gun and the growing issue is whether this should change and stronger laws in place. Although citizens believe gun control laws take away second amendment and right to protect themselves, mass shootings are increasing yearly and action needs to happen to prevent the next attack.

Gun control is one of the oldest laws dating back to the early 1800’s. It was approved in the southern part of the United States. During this period, the Georgia administration banned handguns, but the Supreme Court cancelled the law after some time due to the second amendment. The second amendment of the United States which says “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.” has secured certain gun rights for Americans for more than two centuries. But, over the past years, more laws have been made regarding the purchase and usage of guns.

Gun Control has obviously gone out of control in the recent years. Look around, they are everywhere. Reducing the rate of Crime in the United States would make the country a better place to live. In the past and in the present, Mass Shootings have impacted America. Virginia Tech shooting killed 33 teachers and students (Bowman). In 1999, the

There are some commonalities that should be considered in developing an effective government policy aimed at preventing mass shootings. According to Michel Martin of National Public Radio, “in more than half of mass shootings, 54 percent, the perpetrator also shot an intimate partner or relative.” Furthermore, according to gun policy expert, Robert Spitzer, mass shootings “almost never occur spontaneously with no prior indication.” This means that there is some knowledge available that could prevent mass shootings. “Despite their differences, however, these mass killers shared one quality with each other and with every other American besides: easy access to deadly weapons” (Frum). Many of the guns used in mass shooting events were legally obtained. Dan Gross of the Center to Prevent Youth Violence sums up the issue with gun control as “’not as much a matter of keeping certain guns away from all people as it is a matter of keeping all guns away from certain people’” (Martin).

Ever since 1364 when the first account of a firearm was recorded humans have wanted to control guns. Gun control would eventually travel with Columbus when he first came to America and set up the first colony called Jamestown. And there would be rules regarding weapons on the Mayflower compact.

In the last ten months, since the start of the year 2015, proximally 300 mass shootings have taken place in the United States. This number is about 100 times the amount of mass shootings in Australia since their gun restricting bill was passed in 1996. This raises the discussion whether or not changing the American gun laws would help bring down the total of injuries and fatalities.

Many mass shootings have happened throughout the years because of the loose guns laws that are implemented in the states such as, Texas. Each state should have the same policy, not just certain states. Texas for example, has passed an open carry law,

There have been a number of changes made to the regulation of manufacturing, selling, and transporting firearms in the United States since 1791. The Second Amendment to the Constitution, as passed by Congress in 1791, declares that “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.” In 1837, Georgia’s state legislature passed a law that banned the sale of knives and all pistols except “horseman’s pistols.” Possession of those weapons were also prohibited unless the weapons were worn in plain sight. The legislation stood as the law for eight years before the state’s Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional and voided it. In 1877, Georgia finally amended its constitution to include a right to bear arms. The National

The battle between gun control laws versus the people have been around for decades. The first attempt to prevent gun control was in 1671 in the English Parliament. This document did not apply to individuals that hunted. Throughout time, people continued to hunt animals along with other humans. The Second Amendment soon

Where did gun control begin? The efforts to do something about guns began as far back as 1968. According to AICGS (the American Institution for German Studies at John Hopkins University), efforts began with The Gun Control Act of 1968, which granted the federal, state, and local law enforcement officials powers to regulate gun control, in the effort to fight crime. This act made it illegal for any licensee to sell or deliver firearms or ammunition to, any individual they have a reasonable cause to believe is less than the age of eighteen; as well as, for the licensee to sell any firearm, that is not a shotgun or a rifle, to any individual under the age of twenty-one. Just like every other law or act, it comes with a couple of exceptions, including:

The majority of US states don’t have background check requirements for private gun sales or transfer of ownership. In 31 states, people can purchase firearms from unlicensed sellers without undergoing a background check. According to a 2012 study by Injury Prevention of prison inmates convicted of gun crimes in 13 states, 96% of offenders who were legally prohibited from owning a firearm acquired their gun from a supplier who didn’t conduct background checks. According to Philip Cook and Jens Ludwig, the databases utilized in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS, have an incomplete coverage. Far too many states fall short on submitting prohibiting mental health and other records. Five states had made fewer than 10 records available and eight states had made fewer than 100 records available as of November 2014, according to FBI data. The failure of states to submit records severely limits the effectiveness of NICS. In a national online survey of 1,613 gun owners, 22% who reported obtaining their most recent firearm within the past two years said they did so without a background check. Additionally, the current background checks do not prohibit stalkers or people with Domestic Violence Restraining Orders (DVROs) from being able to get a gun. The private sales or gun show loophole with the current gun laws

The first gun control law was passed in 1968, after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Having this law passed, many people became outraged because of restrictions on firearms. These restrictions could have cause decorative firearms to be put away or hidden out of sight; as well as a decrease in sales for the people that

Gun control had been a phenomenal issue in our country. In December 15, 1791 the second amendment established in the top ten amendments in the Constitution by James Madison. The amendment stated that people have a rights to bear arm to protect themself, their loved ones and their property. To legally get a gun you have to be 21 years old and over, without