Persuasive Essay On Gun Control

October 1, 2017 marked the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. With almost 500 injured and 58 killed, not only did Las Vegas feel the tragedy of a personal loss, but the incident had rippling effects that shook all of America (Flaherty). With the fresh wounds of the recent Las Vegas shooting, politician's initial reaction is to implement more strict gun restrictions and "lay down the law" to prevent a similar event from happening again. Due to the drastic laws being carried out, the topic of gun control is a current issue in society. Is the solution to implement more firm restrictions on gun ownership or can the government allow the people to be their own advocates? While the opposing views of pro-gun restrictions argue that is up to the discretion of the government, they are often narrow-minded resolutions with no hope to finding a real solution. This particular shooter obtained his guns legally and passed all background checks, going unnoticed until his plan unfolded. Establishing more strict firearm restrictions would not have stopped the Las Vegas shooting from occurring. The number of gun restrictions can not increase, the government needs to either fix the existing laws or do away with gun restrictions entirely. Gun restrictions are not the solution because guns are not doing the killing--people are, the laws only attack the law-abiding citizens, and the gun restrictions add another infringed upon right that the government controls. While voting against additional gun rules will not completely eliminate the controversy behind this topic, voting against these laws will be a milestone to regaining the rights we have already been promised.

Assault rifles are becoming the weapon of choice in these recent mass shootings. Since 2004, out of 48 mass shootings 13 of them included assault rifles. The assault rifle can be bought in many states starting at the age of 18. According to the gun control group, since 2009 individuals under the age of 21 committed two mass shootings with an assault rifle. Only one of the two rifles used was bought legally, which means just a single shooting where at least four individuals were shot and slaughtered could have been prevented. Everytown for Gun Safety reports, since 2009 there have been 156 mass shootings, eleven of these shootings were committed by individuals under the age of 21. Out of those 156 incidents 11 of those the shooter used an assault rifle. Although You have to be 21 to

Gun control activist feel that the numerous of different types of guns in the hands of Americans is too great and dangerous. There are about 240,000,000 guns circulating across the nation made up 300,000,00 citizens (Gun Violence Archive, 2017) Gun control supporters believe that more guns lead to more violence and gun crime. These supporters speak about the extreme strict gun laws in countries such as the United Kingdom and Japan and compare the gun number to gun violence. The ratio in those countries is closely one hundred times lesser than that of the United States with 0.4 deaths per one hundred thousand people. However, the 14 deadliest mass shooting in the world, only half of them happened in the United States. Although, there was a decline in gun crimes during the 1990’s, there has been a rise since 2010 (Gun Violence Archive, 2017). Closely thirty thousand people a year in the United States die as a result of firearms. Over the years there have been traumatic events involving firearms, such as Columbine, and most recent Las Vegas shooting. Semi-automatic weapons were involved in those massacres, which resulted the high death tolls in mass shootings. So, the debate continues whether or not the public should be allowed to have legal access to these kinds of weapons. The second Amendment of the Constitution states the right for American Citizens to keep and bear arms and shall not be infringed. Still, gun control supporters argue about to what extent the amendment protects. Furthermore, the debate involves the weapons that are similar to the national military and law enforcement fire arms, and whether or not the general

It is widely agreed that the United States has a very large number of guns compared to other countries. If guns really keep Americans safe, the United States would be the safest place in the world since it is estimated that 270 million firearms are owned. Compared to the world richest nations, the United States has the highest gun accidents, murders, and suicides among them all. An investigative report conducted in 2012 by Mother Jones Magazine found that between 1995 and 2012, the number of guns has increased by 50% while the population has increased only by 20% (Doeden). Firearm injuries are the second leading cause of injury death in the United States. In 2010, the percentage of homicides committed by firearms was 67.5 percent. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence estimated 97,820 people are shot and killed in the United States yearly, averaging 268 people per day, since 1972 (Newhard pp13). Unfortunately, with some many Americans killed by guns every day, shootings in the United States have become so common, many citizens have grown immune to the news.

As I reflect on this past year’s top news stories and headlines, one of the main legal issues that continues to arise and cause terror in our own country is gun control. This is a controversial issue that has been debated for years, especially as more and more shootings occur. We’ve seen deadly mass shootings in our schools, churches, malls, nightclubs, concert venues, and most recently in Las Vegas, which is now classified as the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, leaving 58 people dead and 546 injured. All of these mass shootings are senseless actions caused by a small few but have a nationwide effect on countless families and loved ones. People are afraid for their safety with a fear of not knowing when and where the next shooting will take place. This is why there are so many proponents of stricter gun regulations. As I was doing my research on gun control, I found that in America, there is an average of 88 guns per 100 people (about 270 million guns), which is the highest total and per capita number in the entire world, according to the 2011 Small Arms Survey. Additionally, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence estimates that around 114,994 people are shot each year in the US, including murders, assaults, accidents, police intervention, suicide attempts, and suicides. There are also people who fear that stricter gun regulations will make them have a loss of security, arguing that restricting their right to bear arms would leave citizens unable to protect themselves in times of self-defense from local criminals or foreign invaders, or if in a rare case the government were to turn against the people someday. Many gun owners believe it is their birthright to have a gun in their possession as it is part of America’s great heritage, with the country’s colonial history and revolutionary roots. People are divided in their view of what gun control should and shouldn’t be. America has around 35-50 percent of the world’s civilian-owned guns, according to a 2007 report by the Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey. That being said, the United States also has the highest homicide by firearm rate among the world’s most developed nations. Over the years these statistics have gone up and down but one thing that

At 10:08 P.M. on October 1, 2017, the lives of thousands of Americans were suddenly and horrifically altered. Stephen Paddock, armed with rifles altered to achieve fully-automatic fire rates, unleashed an onslaught of lead from his thirty-second-floor balcony. His target was the Los Vegas Strip, where 22,000 people were gathered for the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival. For close to ten minutes Paddock turned what was supposed to be a carefree culmination of the three-day festival into a living hell. When the smoke cleared, 580 people lay on the ground bleeding, of which fifty-eight were dead. The next morning, America awoke to the carnage caused by the worst mass shooting in its history, and true to form, immediately started pointing

In today's society, it is a norm to see people with guns, no matter who they or what their background is. The Second Amendment to our constitution allows American citizens the right to bear arms. In today's society, anyone can get a gun even if they are mentally ill or have a criminal background simply because our laws are too weak and are not being enforced. Today, I am here to talk to you about how and why we should add stricter and or new laws regarding gun control, such as (hold up fingers) having universal background checks and changing the laws regarding who can buy guns.

A few months ago, on October 1, a gunman opened fire on the crowd of concert goers at a Harvest music festival. The gunman, 64 year old Stephen Paddock started shooting at a crowd of roughly 22,000 people from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. He was able to kill 58 people and injure almost 500 in only 10 to 15 minutes, resulting in the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.

Gun control is not only a problem in the United States of America, but world-wide. This is due to mass shootings, suicides, and homicides. Gun control is one of the most divisive issues in American politics. While some people think guns should be taken away, others believe they should have the right to keep them. There is a lot of controversy on whether or not guns should be illegal or legal.

On April 20th, 1999, the deadliest mass murder ever committed on an American high school campus took place. Two senior students of Columbine High School, armed with four automatic guns, killed 13 innocent people and injured 24, all due to the unrestrictive gun laws in the US (“Where’d They Get Their Guns?”). The Columbine massacre is just one example of the many horrors that guns inflict upon U.S. society. Currently, over 31,000 US citizens die each year due to gun-inflicted wounds (Welcome to WISQARS). Many receive no media attention, but in those that do, the guns are usually obtained by unlawful means. More laws regulating the purchase and sale of guns should be increasingly implemented and strongly enforced throughout the USA in order to reduce the high incidence of gun violence caused by illegal gun trafficking and ownership.

As many as 30 Americans will be shot dead today. It is the 12th leading cause of death in the United States. According to a recent study, the gun homicide rate in the United States is 25 times higher than in other wealthy countries (guardian.com). Sadly, most Americans are divided on whether the country should enforce stricter gun laws. Many, especially the Liberals, feel as though having firmer gun laws would significantly reduce the number deaths caused by gunshot. In contrast, the Conservatives feel that passing stricter gun laws would do little to change the behavior of criminals who commit violent crimes. The Second Amendment to the Constitution gives all citizens the right to bear arms, yet perhaps the true meaning of

The Second Amendment asserts that you have the right to bear arms, but to what extent? Numerous loopholes now exist that allow for individuals with mental health issues or criminal records to purchase guns. For example, a gun purchased over the internet or from a private vendor at a gun show is exempt from background checks because neither instance does not necessarily require licensed gun sellers. Increasing amounts of gun violence affect citizens of the United States daily and this number will continue to expand until precautions are imposed. Society is culturally embracing violence and becoming willfully blind to the dangers surrounding this civilization. Yes, we have the right to protect our country, and ourselves but from what? It

Today, one of the most highly debated topics is gun control. It seems as if after every mass shooting the first thing that is brought up is gun control. People on both sides of the spectrum argue in favor or against. But does America need more gun control? Is gun control the answer to the gun violence problem? The United States does not need any more gun control.

In America, we face a unique predicament. This predicament is different from those of other countries, because the rest of the world does not face this problem at such a large scale. Indeed, the United States citizen is often stereotyped around the world as an overweight, southern white male who loves hamburgers and guns. This is a very negative stereotype and shows how the other countries view the United States’ gun issues. Guns are so accessible to the public that many people own large numbers of them, along with ammunition, without a logical reason. Debates about gun violence often focus on the number of guns that are in circulation. However, the number of guns, while part of the problem, is not the only source of America’s gun epidemic. To combat gun violence, the United States needs to reduce the number of guns manufactured, require gun safety classes, and ensure mental stability for gun owners.

Guns have played a major role in America from the American Revolution, to the constitution and the “right to bear arms,” and in recent years the political debate over gun control and mass shootings. The strong feelings on either side of the gun control debated are tied to how Americans view guns. Guns are symbols and can stand for many different things, and what guns symbolize is particularly important to many pro-gun advocates.