The Pros And Cons Of Gun Control

Passing gun control legislation that creates a universal background check and gun database system as well as passing mental health legislation that improves the health care system’s protocols and policies for assisting people with mental health disorders and that enacts counseling programs in communities and schools will decrease the likelihood of mass shootings in schools. The United States is bitterly divided. Issues of great concern, such as the rise of mass shootings, are partisanized. Both sides of the debate will not comprise or listen to what their opponents have to say. Groups from both sides can only agree that one innocent life taken from gun violence is one too many.

Implementing gun control policies in a nation with a large number of gun ownership is difficult because these policies are bound to be opposed by some citizens. Striking a balance between protecting the right of Americans to own guns and controlling gun ownership

When it comes to the topic of guns, most of us will readily agree that it is our constitutional right to bare arms. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of as AR platform and assault rifles. Whereas some are convinced that we should not be able to own them, others maintain that we should be able to own assault rifles. The term “assault weapon” is an invention of pro-gun control politicians that demonizes semi-automatic rifles with certain looks.

“On March 10, 2009, Michael Kenneth McClendon, 28, shot and killed ten people in a shooting spree in three communities in two southern Alabama counties: Kinston in Coffee County, and Samson and Geneva in Geneva County. Five of the victims were family members and two were children. After engaging in an exchange of fire with police, he committed suicide, bringing the total of dead to eleven. Officials at the time said this was the worst shooting event in Alabama history” ((2009, March 10), Geneva County massacre. Retrieved from Wikipedia.

The gun control debate has been especially fueled in recent years with the emergence of school shootings, foreign and domestic terrorist attacks, and a rise in other gun related violence.  With all of this a majority of people, including gun owners, believe that there should be some restrictions in place in an attempt to suppress gun related violence.  Through the years it has been difficult for people to agree on any sort of action.  All in all, gun control is an immensely disputatious topic in which there will always be controversy.     To give some background on the subject, gun control legislation began in 1934 with the installation of new criminal penalties, taxes, and regulations on sawed off shotguns and machine guns as a response to the era’s gang violence related to criminals such as Bugs Moran and Al Capone.

Before television became more advanced during the mid 1940s, only about a few networks existed at the time, especially with news channels. Before cable got its upgrade, only very few well known news channels existed at the time. In the past, it was more simpler to announce the latest news . Sure the newspaper and radio exist, however, most newspaper articles were only made locally, for example, it will only talk about an event that happened in the city. But the news on television are more prominent in this present time, but now people can search anywhere for the latest events that occur around the world, whether it's on social media, television, or on the newspaper.

Since 1982, regulations on an individual’s right to arms have been negotiated. 55 percent of Americans see direct correlation between guns and crimes,but they don’t see the other side of the story. Guns is not what causes these crimes. Because of the real meaning behind the second amendment, the real reason behind mass shootings, and the

Politicians continue to debate the issue of gun control, but the actual truth of the matter is not in controlling or limiting gun sales and usage. The problem is a decline in the morals of society. If a deranged person or criminal wants to use a gun, he or she will find a way, legal or

Lott continues on to mention that Even after accounting for factors such as law enforcement, poverty, and demographics, each percentage point increase in gun ownership produces a four percent drop in violent crime. Backing the claim that, “States with higher gun ownership rates have much lower crime rate” (Lott 29). Lott also mentions that Countries with the strictest gun control laws tend to have the highest homicide rate. This once again shows a correlation between a higher gun ownership rate and a lower violence rate. Mauser and Kates also support Lotts claims by explaining, “Where firearms are most dense violent crime rates are the lowest, and where guns are least dense violent crime rates are the highest” (Kates, Mauser 649).

The law is never something to take lightly especially when the specific law is set in place to prevent the loss of human life. Gun control laws have a basis set by the federal government and are expanded upon by each individual state as they deem fit. Federal gun laws and state gun laws have their similarities and differences, but both are set in place as a barrier of protection against those who could cause bodily harm to others if equipped with such power that a gun holds. The U.S federal Government has its own set of regulations concerning firearms and the state of California builds upon them to create a stronger gun policy, meaning both sets of codes and regulations have similarities and differences, but no matter the differences, these laws are set in place to prevent massacres like the Las Vegas, Nevada shooting, and while California gun laws are built upon federal laws, they can be improved for a safer more controlled environment. Federal gun laws are the foundation for state laws and the building blocks for more advanced restrictions set by individual

Gun Control Gun control has become a polarizing and controversial issue around the globe. There have been many reported issues of mass shootings both in schools and in the public, making it a hot button issue. Proponents argue that, if the government strictly controls the ownership of guns, such tragedies can be prevented. Most Americans have an obsession with guns because the law allows them to do so. Therefore, they are always ready to scoff at anyone trying to control gun ownership.

In today’s society, one of the most alienating issues in American politics is gun control. More specifically, the issue is whether or not guns should be banned in the United States. Some people would say that guns should be banned because it would reduce crime as a whole and keep citizens safer. These people, enthusiasts of stricter gun laws, fear being safe in their country where there are so many people who have access to guns. Opponents of this argument, however, also fear losing safety.

The use of and the owning of guns is a very hot and debated topic in society today. For many, this is a life and death debate due to the recent and numerous school shootings. These school shootings have caused an outcry for more gun control, specifically in relation to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Despite these calls, increased gun control is not the answer. Most gun owners’ use their guns responsibly and for good purposes.

The con side of gun control laws made good points as to why more laws would not be in the benefit of the people but they did not provide credible sources to increase the credibility of their claims. A lot of their references included well known newspapers such as the Chicago Tribune and the NY Times. While they did reference the Supreme Court, US Fish and Wildlife Services, and the Heritage Foundation I believe that these few sources are not enough to support their claims and make them credible. When looking at their Top Con quotes I found that they used a lot more credible sources such as US representatives, senators, and the Founder and President of Crime Prevention Research Center. Therefore they were able to make their claims more credible.

Guns, what do we know about them? Well ever since the 1200-1300s, when they were first invented they have been known to be used for protection or the opposite, crimes. In everyone’s minds this weapon of choice has certainly a negative or positive connotation as to how you look at it. In 2009, it has been confirmed by the Congressional Research Service that there are over 310 million guns used by regular citizens not including the military. Obviously many people don’t feel safe within the government and feel to the need to protect themselves and loved ones.