Carrying a Concealed Handgun
English
Final Research Essay
Carrying a Concealed Handgun Carrying a concealed handgun is widely argued. It is legal in 49 states. Many people think carrying a gun will increase crime and start public shootouts. This is not the case. Carrying a concealed handgun is okay. It is also a right protected by the Constitution. In District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects “the individual right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation. This meaning is strongly confirmed by the historical background of the Second Amendment.” Handguns aren’t given to just anyone that walks in. The Gun Control Act of 1968 limits who can receive a handgun. Criminals cannot receive permits to carry a concealed handgun. Law enforcement agencies do background checks to ensure they are allowing the right people to carry a handgun. The mentally ill are also included in the Gun Control Act. If someone commits a crime with a legal carry permit, they would do it whether the handgun was legal or not. This doesn’t happen often though. According to ConcealedGuns.ProCon.org, only .003 % of murders between May 2007 and March 2010 were committed by handgun permit holders. The website also shows that the “general public is 5.7 times more likely to be arrested for violent offenses and 13.5 times more likely to be arrested for non-violent offenses, than concealed carry weapon permit holders.” Concealed handgun permit holders are, for the most part, good people. Some do lose their permits but permit revocation rates are very low. The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute Report, Concealed Carry Legislation, shares this data: -In 2004, Utah had a permit revocation rate of .4% -From 1986-2003, Kentucky had a permit revocation rate of .8% -In 2001, Indiana had a permit revocation rate of .2% -From 1995 to 2005, NorthCarolina had a permit revocation rate of .1% -From 1995-2006, Virginia had a permit revocation rate of .2%
Final Research Essay
Carrying a Concealed Handgun Carrying a concealed handgun is widely argued. It is legal in 49 states. Many people think carrying a gun will increase crime and start public shootouts. This is not the case. Carrying a concealed handgun is okay. It is also a right protected by the Constitution. In District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects “the individual right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation. This meaning is strongly confirmed by the historical background of the Second Amendment.” Handguns aren’t given to just anyone that walks in. The Gun Control Act of 1968 limits who can receive a handgun. Criminals cannot receive permits to carry a concealed handgun. Law enforcement agencies do background checks to ensure they are allowing the right people to carry a handgun. The mentally ill are also included in the Gun Control Act. If someone commits a crime with a legal carry permit, they would do it whether the handgun was legal or not. This doesn’t happen often though. According to ConcealedGuns.ProCon.org, only .003 % of murders between May 2007 and March 2010 were committed by handgun permit holders. The website also shows that the “general public is 5.7 times more likely to be arrested for violent offenses and 13.5 times more likely to be arrested for non-violent offenses, than concealed carry weapon permit holders.” Concealed handgun permit holders are, for the most part, good people. Some do lose their permits but permit revocation rates are very low. The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute Report, Concealed Carry Legislation, shares this data: -In 2004, Utah had a permit revocation rate of .4% -From 1986-2003, Kentucky had a permit revocation rate of .8% -In 2001, Indiana had a permit revocation rate of .2% -From 1995 to 2005, NorthCarolina had a permit revocation rate of .1% -From 1995-2006, Virginia had a permit revocation rate of .2%