The Crime Of Gun Control

Many tragedies have occurred recently that have spurred the debate on whether or not we need tighter gun controls. On one side of the debate are the gun control supporters, who claim that the easy access to guns is the primary cause for high rates of crime plaguing the United States. On the other side are people who argue that gun laws will not prevent criminals from obtaining guns, since they will continue to get them illegally. Guns are used for protection when in the hands of people who obey the law. It is crucial to not hinder law-abiding citizen’s ability to possess firearms with stricter gun laws, since gun laws do not lower crime, and guns can keep people safe.

The studies and research on gun control has opened up many ideas on how weak the current laws really are. Crime rates consist of high numbers. “Since 1982, there have been at least 62 mass shootings across the country, with the killings unfolding in 30 states from Massachusetts to Hawaii”

Gun control laws would reduce gun deaths, but gun control laws do not determine crime gun owners determines crime. On the Pro side there were four hundred and sixty-four thousand thirty-three total gun deaths between 1999 to 2013. If we enforced the gun law more then it can drop the death rate with guns down since deaths with guns is the 12th leading cause of deaths. Children at the age of 15 or younger were more likely die from a gun accident then children in wealthy countries. If we did background checks on people when they buy ammunition purchases the deaths could reduce by eighty percent. As the saying goes “guns don’t kill people, people with guns kill people”. In 1980 to 2009 assault weapons bans have not affected murder rates at the state level. If people could just not get so mad and want to kill somebody for no reason, then we would not have to deal with this problem all the time. States with the largest increases in gun owners have the largest drops in violent crimes. Eighty four percent shooting victims have declined when the state passed the laws. When people have weapons on them it makes it much easier for a criminal to hurt them because it makes the criminals job much easier to harm you or threat you if the criminal sneaks up on you and gets your weapon then you are screwed then. I think that it kind of be both because if we have the law enforced then less people will die but on the other end what is the law going to do to people who will go against the law.

Laws regulating the use of guns in America have been a hot topic for years. Media coverage of mass shootings, acts of terrorism in and outside of the United States, and stories of families being murdered in the night has resulted in a desensitized, or perhaps, overly sensitized nation. People are scared and have centered their idea of safety on one of two main approaches: creating stricter gun laws so less crime occurs, or taking away gun restrictions so everyone can protect themselves against crime. Policies stemming from these vantage points begin by the agenda set by pertinent support and opposition groups, reflecting these approaches.

Mass shootings are increasing in the United States, and gun control advocates are seizing the opportunity to push anti-gun legislation to deter gun violence in America. Guns and the Second Amendment have come to the forefront of political rhetoric, leading to conflicting views between lawmakers on the future of gun legislation. Republican lawmakers are encouraging law abiding citizens to acquire firearms and to defend themselves against acts of violence by criminals. On the contrary, Democratic lawmakers believe the only way to slow gun violence in the United States is to remove guns from society. While certain politicians believe strict gun laws would protect the American people, the proposed policies would make our nation more vulnerable

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.

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

Another article looks at the Tucson shooting where six individuals were killed as an example (Kaveny, 2016). While the author agrees that the constitution protects the rights of gun owners, she makes the argument that semiautomatic weapons were not what the founding fathers had in mind though and that these type of weapons should not be allowed to be owned by the public (Kaveny, 2016). The author also believes that it would be beneficial to have to obtain a license to own firearms and to purchase insurance for possible damages along with further funding for mental health patients to help keep these mass shootings from happening again (Kaveny, 2016).

Eighty-nine people depart from this earth due to gun violence in the US every day. From school children, to victims of domestic violence, to people going about their daily lives, this status quo is unacceptable. On Tuesday January 5th, 2016 President Obama announced that he would send proposals on reducing gun violence in America to Congress. His spokesman, Jay Carney, mentioned that this is “a complex problem that will require a complex solution.” The ability to own a gun is considered by some a birthright of Americans. However, with crime rates involving handguns rising each day it has become quite clear. Handgun laws must become stricter in order to reduce homicide and crime. The question is, “which solution in most effective in decreasing gun violence?” Gun control is a major conflict that is constantly reoccurring and the US is seemingly divided over it.

In the article, “Controlling Gun Violence: Obstacles to Effective Policy,” the author Elizabeth Hartfield, indicates that although back-door attempts at gun control, such as banning large capacity magazines, have been successful, there are still obstacles that must be addressed in order to curb gun violence. Hartfield highlights the following barriers to successful gun control: the difficulties associated with regulating guns already in circulation, the weaknesses associated with attempts to ban the manufacture and sale of certain types of guns, and the problems associated with determining who is fit to purchase a gun.

Gun control has become an increasingly controversial topic in the nation due to the continuous debates relating to gun control and whether or not laws should be passed to make it harder for guns to be obtained. Guns serve for a variety of purposes that range from good to bad. Guns are not for everyone. Some individuals cannot handle guns properly, and some choose to use guns inappropriately. Lately, guns have become more of a problem in our society. There has been an increasing amount of shootings that have taken many lives and have wounded people emotionally, not just physically. Although guns are used for protection, firearms are reportedly used more in crimes. More and more shootings are breaking out across the nation. As a result, the

Gun control has been around for years since the Second Amendment was ratified and the people’s opinions have been heightened since, but many don’t realize the casualties that have happened without the use of protection. There has been at least 200 shootings at school in the United States and 156 victims have been injured, as well as 94 people killed. 2.7 million violent crimes take place annually either at school or near schools that leads to school shootings happening due to mentally ill students or civilians (Miller). Everyone is so distracted on how the shooters get a hold of guns, especially when they are students. But, instead of thinking about how they should start thinking about what led them to act aggressively, which 56% of students were found to be involved in “school associated homicide or suicide.” By not thinking or trying to help someone who would like to be treated “normal” many just ignore and move on, this is what leads to many school tragedies, “the Columbine shootings rank as one of the worst mass shootings in US history as well as one of the deadliest episodes of school violence”(CNN). Without knowing the two shooters had already been inside the school placing bombs around the cafeteria, gladly they did not go off. With no clue of what had happen everyone continued act normal, giving the shooters the advantage of going back to their car for the guns. Thirteen innocent people had their

Today’s statistics present that "hundreds of thousands of other people in our communities committed suicide with a gun and nearly half a million people suffered other gun injuries"(4,name) And this is no surprise,as this nation continues to grow rapidly in number.But this nation must not continue to let these statistics to rise,nevertheless continue "homicide victims [to be] armed in disappropriate numbers:[as] large and growing proportion of victims are criminals themselves"(Polsby,2)The people of the nation must take action by drawing a limit and supporting gun control,for it not only affects the safety of an individual citizen,but as a nation altogether.With the laws established they will make society safer, not interfere with civil liberties,and will work towards saving lives and dissolve gun violence.

Hence we conclude that gun control is not only immoral because it infringes on the fundamental human rights of U.S. Citizens to be armed as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, but also because it has shown no real substantive effect in the reduction of violent crime. Further, we re-emphasize the relative unpredictability of mass shootings and the lack of rational choice on the part of mass shooters as evidence of the inability of sanctions imposed by firearms regulations to deter such violent perpetrators from the unlawful possession of firearms. Thus we further conclude mass shootings are impossible to deter, reduce, or eliminate through further firearms regulation. Finally, we conclude based on the fact that despite the massive proliferation

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.