Argumentative Essay: Gun Control Vs Gun Rights
Gun Control vs. Gun Rights
Gun controls vs. gun rights have been an issue for many years. With every death used by guns, the debate gets hotter and hotter. Gun control believers want you to believe that if all guns were outlawed then there would be no crime. Gun rights believers want you to understand that it is your constitutional right to own a gun. Unlawful or irresponsible people contribute to the debate between gun control vs. gun rights. The Second 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" NRA (2005). Gun rights groups, such as the NRA, argue that gun control will infringe on law-abiding citizens …show more content…
constitutional right to own a gun. Guns are not only for sport they are also for personal protection. "The high rate of incarceration and the aging of the criminal population are often cited, but the increase in concealed carry laws, which let law-abiding citizens carry concealed fire-arms, is not often mentioned among the reasons for the drop in violent crimes in this country" as stated by Samuel Francis (2000). As stated by William Krouse (2002) the firearm related deaths decreased an average of 5% per year as shown in the figure 1 below.
Figure 1
(CREAT CHART WITH THIS INFO) 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Homicides and Legal Intervention 14910 14200 13524 12880 12267 11683 11,127
Suicides 22243 21183 20175 19214 18299 17428 16,599
Accidents 1104 1051 1001 953 908 865 824
Unknown Circumstances 434 413 393 375 357 340 324
Although the gun related deaths have gone down over the years. Many people that believe there are still too many deaths, especially among children. The Million Mom March on Washington in 2000 was to show Americans and Congress that mothers wanted more action to be taken to prevent the death (accidental or gang related) of their children. They called for "common-sense gun laws and tougher background checks, longer cooling-off periods before buying a gun and mandatory safety locks on handguns" Time (2000). At the same time as this march there were counterdemonstrations by the "piston-packing mamas" a pro-gun moms' movement stating that "We want the government to know that it's up to us to protect our own kids" Time (2000). In America, there have been many gun related crimes such as Columbine and the more recently the Virginia Tech shootings. The Virginia Tech shooting brought to light loopholes in the background check process of purchasing a gun. Cho Seung-hui purchased his handguns in February and March of 2007. He produced the required paper work and his background check showed he had no criminal record so by the laws of Virginia he was allowed to purchase one gun per month. At the time he purchased these weapons mental health status was only a factor if one was committed and since he was seen as an outpatient it was not on record for the background check information. Even though he had been found "mentally ill" and "an imminent danger to self or others" by a district court as stated in The Economist (2007). Since this incident, congress has passed laws that include background checks of mental health when purchasing a gun. Gun control advocates believe that if there were more laws prohibited the purchase of guns than Cho would have to have chosen another weapon and less people may have died. Gun rights advocates believe that if more people had their concealed carry permit that Cho could have been stopped sooner and less people would have died. This debate is one that both sides tabled for the sakes of the families that lost loved ones and did not purse public debate of there side. This incident in itself will be a reminder for both sides of the issue for many years to come. The debate has caused some to try to come up with ideas that would be a compromise for both sides. Personalizing guns that can only be operated by the user is one way that is being tested and discussed. This would only allow the registered owner of the gun to be able to fire the gun, preventing accidental shootings of young children that get a hold of the gun. In addition, if the gun were to be stolen or lost it would not fire. This is not a new idea gun personalization has been being perfected since 1880. Smith & Wesson when they made guns that were impossible for children under eight to be able to pull back the hammer and fire the gun. Gun manufactures have provided trigger-locking devices with new guns. A magnetic technology has been tried where the owner wears a magnetic ring that would unlock the trigger. The technology now exists and is being tested with law enforcement officers who are at risk of having their handgun taken. In an article called making guns safer by DeFrancesco, Hargarten, Robinson, Teret (1998) they stated that "This will raise the cost by about 50 percent but the public would spend this if they have the piece of mind that it would prevent an unintentional accident." The laws today restrict people who respect the law itself, the people who would only use firearms for legal purposes anyway. Moreover, when we give people the right to defend themselves, we find that criminals start looking for other victims out of fear that they will become the victims themselves. We must work to reduce crime in the world, but we should look at the problem realistically, and develop plans that would be effective. It is obvious that gun control laws are neither realistic, nor effective in reducing crime. Therefore, we must direct our efforts toward controlling crime, not controlling legal ownership of firearms.
Reference
DeFrancesco, S., Hargarten, S., Robinson, K. D. Teret, S. P., "Making guns safer." Issues in Science and Technology 14.n4 (Summer 1998):37 (4). Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson Gale. University of Phoenix. Retrieved April 15, 2007 from http://find.galegroup.com/ips/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC- Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodID=IPS&docID=A20988908&source=gal e&srcprod=OVR&userGroupName=uphoenix&version=1.0
Gun Control. opposing viewpoints, 2003. Gun control will reduce school violence. Cothran, Helen, book editor. Greenhaven Press, Tucker, Cynthia. Liberal Opinion, May 10, 1999. Universal Press Syndicate 1999.
Gun Control. opposing viewpoints, 2003. Gun control will not reduce school violence. Cothran, Helen, book editor. Greenhaven Press, Brezina, T. Wright, J. D. Forum for applied Research and public Policy. 2000.
Krouse, William, Congressional Research Service, Almanac of Policy, (October 2002)
retrieved on May 17, 2007 from http://www.policyalmanac.org/crime/guns.shtm
"In the university of death; The Virginia Tech massacre." The Economist (US) 383.8525 (April 21, 2007): 28US.
Academic OneFile. Thomson Gale. University of Phoenix. Retrieved on May 3, 2007 from http://find.galegroup.com/ips/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC- Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=IPS&docId=A162305414&source=gal e&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=uphoenix&version=1.0
"Mothers Against Guns; The Million Mom March on Washington this Sunday is inspired by women like these, forever scarred by gun violence. (Nation)." Time 155.20 (May 15, 2000): 36+ Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson Gale. University of Phoenix. Retrieved April 15, 2007 from http://find.galegroup.com/ips/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC- Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=IPS&docId=A62950573&source=gale &srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=uphoenix&version=1.0
Nisbet, Lee PhD. Editor. The gun control debate you decide. pp 391. 2001. Prometheus books. Kopel, D.B. Guns who should have them? Amherst N.Y. Prometheus Books, 1995
NRA-ILA. "The Second Amendment." Retrieved on April 23, 2007 from
http://www.nraila.org/Issues/FactSheets/Read/aspx?id=177
Sheley, Erin. "Gunfight at D.C. Corral; A victory for the Second Amendment." The Weekly Standard 12.27 (March 26, 2007) NA Academic OneFile. Thomson Gale. University of Phoenix. Retrieved April 15, 2007 from http://find.galegroup.com/ips/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC- Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=IPS&docID=A160776784&source=ga le&srcprod=AONE&userGroupName=uphoenix&version=1.0
Gun controls vs. gun rights have been an issue for many years. With every death used by guns, the debate gets hotter and hotter. Gun control believers want you to believe that if all guns were outlawed then there would be no crime. Gun rights believers want you to understand that it is your constitutional right to own a gun. Unlawful or irresponsible people contribute to the debate between gun control vs. gun rights. The Second 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" NRA (2005). Gun rights groups, such as the NRA, argue that gun control will infringe on law-abiding citizens …show more content…
constitutional right to own a gun. Guns are not only for sport they are also for personal protection. "The high rate of incarceration and the aging of the criminal population are often cited, but the increase in concealed carry laws, which let law-abiding citizens carry concealed fire-arms, is not often mentioned among the reasons for the drop in violent crimes in this country" as stated by Samuel Francis (2000). As stated by William Krouse (2002) the firearm related deaths decreased an average of 5% per year as shown in the figure 1 below.
Figure 1
(CREAT CHART WITH THIS INFO) 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Homicides and Legal Intervention 14910 14200 13524 12880 12267 11683 11,127
Suicides 22243 21183 20175 19214 18299 17428 16,599
Accidents 1104 1051 1001 953 908 865 824
Unknown Circumstances 434 413 393 375 357 340 324
Although the gun related deaths have gone down over the years. Many people that believe there are still too many deaths, especially among children. The Million Mom March on Washington in 2000 was to show Americans and Congress that mothers wanted more action to be taken to prevent the death (accidental or gang related) of their children. They called for "common-sense gun laws and tougher background checks, longer cooling-off periods before buying a gun and mandatory safety locks on handguns" Time (2000). At the same time as this march there were counterdemonstrations by the "piston-packing mamas" a pro-gun moms' movement stating that "We want the government to know that it's up to us to protect our own kids" Time (2000). In America, there have been many gun related crimes such as Columbine and the more recently the Virginia Tech shootings. The Virginia Tech shooting brought to light loopholes in the background check process of purchasing a gun. Cho Seung-hui purchased his handguns in February and March of 2007. He produced the required paper work and his background check showed he had no criminal record so by the laws of Virginia he was allowed to purchase one gun per month. At the time he purchased these weapons mental health status was only a factor if one was committed and since he was seen as an outpatient it was not on record for the background check information. Even though he had been found "mentally ill" and "an imminent danger to self or others" by a district court as stated in The Economist (2007). Since this incident, congress has passed laws that include background checks of mental health when purchasing a gun. Gun control advocates believe that if there were more laws prohibited the purchase of guns than Cho would have to have chosen another weapon and less people may have died. Gun rights advocates believe that if more people had their concealed carry permit that Cho could have been stopped sooner and less people would have died. This debate is one that both sides tabled for the sakes of the families that lost loved ones and did not purse public debate of there side. This incident in itself will be a reminder for both sides of the issue for many years to come. The debate has caused some to try to come up with ideas that would be a compromise for both sides. Personalizing guns that can only be operated by the user is one way that is being tested and discussed. This would only allow the registered owner of the gun to be able to fire the gun, preventing accidental shootings of young children that get a hold of the gun. In addition, if the gun were to be stolen or lost it would not fire. This is not a new idea gun personalization has been being perfected since 1880. Smith & Wesson when they made guns that were impossible for children under eight to be able to pull back the hammer and fire the gun. Gun manufactures have provided trigger-locking devices with new guns. A magnetic technology has been tried where the owner wears a magnetic ring that would unlock the trigger. The technology now exists and is being tested with law enforcement officers who are at risk of having their handgun taken. In an article called making guns safer by DeFrancesco, Hargarten, Robinson, Teret (1998) they stated that "This will raise the cost by about 50 percent but the public would spend this if they have the piece of mind that it would prevent an unintentional accident." The laws today restrict people who respect the law itself, the people who would only use firearms for legal purposes anyway. Moreover, when we give people the right to defend themselves, we find that criminals start looking for other victims out of fear that they will become the victims themselves. We must work to reduce crime in the world, but we should look at the problem realistically, and develop plans that would be effective. It is obvious that gun control laws are neither realistic, nor effective in reducing crime. Therefore, we must direct our efforts toward controlling crime, not controlling legal ownership of firearms.
Reference
DeFrancesco, S., Hargarten, S., Robinson, K. D. Teret, S. P., "Making guns safer." Issues in Science and Technology 14.n4 (Summer 1998):37 (4). Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson Gale. University of Phoenix. Retrieved April 15, 2007 from http://find.galegroup.com/ips/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC- Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodID=IPS&docID=A20988908&source=gal e&srcprod=OVR&userGroupName=uphoenix&version=1.0
Gun Control. opposing viewpoints, 2003. Gun control will reduce school violence. Cothran, Helen, book editor. Greenhaven Press, Tucker, Cynthia. Liberal Opinion, May 10, 1999. Universal Press Syndicate 1999.
Gun Control. opposing viewpoints, 2003. Gun control will not reduce school violence. Cothran, Helen, book editor. Greenhaven Press, Brezina, T. Wright, J. D. Forum for applied Research and public Policy. 2000.
Krouse, William, Congressional Research Service, Almanac of Policy, (October 2002)
retrieved on May 17, 2007 from http://www.policyalmanac.org/crime/guns.shtm
"In the university of death; The Virginia Tech massacre." The Economist (US) 383.8525 (April 21, 2007): 28US.
Academic OneFile. Thomson Gale. University of Phoenix. Retrieved on May 3, 2007 from http://find.galegroup.com/ips/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC- Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=IPS&docId=A162305414&source=gal e&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=uphoenix&version=1.0
"Mothers Against Guns; The Million Mom March on Washington this Sunday is inspired by women like these, forever scarred by gun violence. (Nation)." Time 155.20 (May 15, 2000): 36+ Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson Gale. University of Phoenix. Retrieved April 15, 2007 from http://find.galegroup.com/ips/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC- Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=IPS&docId=A62950573&source=gale &srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=uphoenix&version=1.0
Nisbet, Lee PhD. Editor. The gun control debate you decide. pp 391. 2001. Prometheus books. Kopel, D.B. Guns who should have them? Amherst N.Y. Prometheus Books, 1995
NRA-ILA. "The Second Amendment." Retrieved on April 23, 2007 from
http://www.nraila.org/Issues/FactSheets/Read/aspx?id=177
Sheley, Erin. "Gunfight at D.C. Corral; A victory for the Second Amendment." The Weekly Standard 12.27 (March 26, 2007) NA Academic OneFile. Thomson Gale. University of Phoenix. Retrieved April 15, 2007 from http://find.galegroup.com/ips/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC- Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=IPS&docID=A160776784&source=ga le&srcprod=AONE&userGroupName=uphoenix&version=1.0