Preview

Gun Control

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2123 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Gun Control
The Debate over Gun Control

Crime and guns. The two seem to go hand in hand with one another. But are the two really associated? Do guns necessarily lead to crime? And if so do laws placing restrictions on firearm ownership and use stop the crime or protect the citizens? These are the questions many citizens and lawmakers are asking themselves when setting about to create gun control laws. The debate over gun control, however, is nothing new. In 1924, Presidential Candidate, Robert La Follete said, “our choice is not merely to support or oppose gun control but to decide who can own which guns under what conditions.” Clearly this debate still goes on today and is the very reason for the formation of gun control laws.

Guns are extremely powerful weapons. They can cause destruction, harm or even death. They can be used to defend and protect or to threaten and kill. Any way you look at it, guns are powerful tools, not only physically but socially. As college students it is important to stay abreast of the current events and issues circulating our country today, one of which is the controversial issue of gun control. It is extremely important to pay attention to where gun control laws are headed. The directions they take not only affect our nation and society but our future as well as we all move to communities and begin to raise families.

So why is gun control such a hot debate? Perhaps to answer this question it would be important to look at some key statistics concerning handguns in our society. In this nation, where nearly half of all US households own at least one gun, nearly 30,000 people die from a gunshot each year (Dahl). From this alone it is no wonder gun control is such an important issue, however as bad as this may seem, the number of firearm related incidents have decreased over the years. In the early 1990’s the number of people killed or wounded by firearms soared. Since 1993 however the US has seen a steady drop in deaths due to firearm

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    The gun control debate sparked major attention to gun control policies that have become a major issue within the country and has led to several conflicts and concerns within Congress and Legislative office. Acts of violence has developed into a nationwide problem and needs effective attention in order to gain gun control across the country. The victims and families of the shootings have now congregated together in efforts of passing more gun control policies. The serious issues arise developed and occurred the media and most popular on improving and protecting social influence in communities regarding bullying and gun control.…

    • 1887 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    For the last couple of years, gun control has continued to be a huge controversial debate in Congress. This argument over whether gun control laws should be strict is nothing new to the world of politics. The ideas of gun control consist of laws that either keep away firearms from people, or allow one to keep guns for personal protection. They also control who the guns are being sold to and who can own them. In America, each state government has passed many gun control laws. Many people think that gun control is right because they think keeping people away from guns will reduce the amount of deaths each year. They also think that guns cause many of the deaths that had been committed each year. Whenever people hear the word gun, the thoughts…

    • 214 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    For all the attention that gun control has received, there are two basic opinions that are to be discussed. To its proponents, gun control means prevention of crime. This, they say, should lead to peace. Charles Krauthammer wrote about this in “The…

    • 1938 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    More Gun Control or Less?

    • 675 Words
    • 3 Pages

    There have been a few gun control fights throughout history, none of which being very effective. The problems with firearms that we face today are in fact tragic, and this gun control fight is indeed the largest the country has ever had. But looking back, there have been multiple murders and crimes committed every day since the dawn of America. And this fight for gun control, is it really the answer we seek? Or are we heading in the opposite direction? The problems with gun violence and controlling it are indeed very thoughtful subjects, and we all wish to end these tragedies and the problems that create them. Here, I am about to present two articles with two opposite perspectives on this subject.…

    • 675 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Gun control has been a highly controversial issue in the United States for the past several decades. From assassinations to mass shootings, every time guns and violence comes together the issue resurfaces. Should the nation act on stricter gun control laws and regulations? Can people be trusted to own a gun, that they will use it responsibly? The nation is truly divided on the topic of gun control, both sides having strong beliefs.The Constitution of The United States of America allows citizens the right to bear arms. In the past years there have been many instances of violent crimes on college campuses. Many people who are against…

    • 478 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Guns in Today's Society

    • 3014 Words
    • 13 Pages

    In the United States today, gun control has become a very big issue in the lives of its citizens. People arguing with each other over whether it is our constitutional right to be able to obtain and bear any kind of arms that we choose or that it only belongs to the militia. Many arguments come up over whether or not just average people can show up at a gun show and sell a gun to any person without giving them a background check first. Not only do they want back ground checks they want restrictions, and bans. Should there be bans on certain kinds of weapons? If so what kind of weapons? Should any person be able to buy a gun anytime or any place? Are people getting the right picture on what guns do for the country or are they getting deprived of information? It was shown that, "Out of 300 evening news segments, anti-gun stories outnumbered pro-gun stories by 164 to 20" (Dickens 1). This is an outstanding number that shows that the media plays a huge role in what people think about the issue of gun control. If all they see is guns involved with murders, and not involved with self-defense; how much longer will we have our guns? All of these things are factoring in to the issue of gun control and how important it is to some people and hated by others. In this paper I will lay out different views, arguments, and issues that could affect gun collectors, hunters, and the every day citizen for years to come…

    • 3014 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gun control has been a major debate in the U.S., especially after all the mass shootings that have taken place. Gun control advocates believe that the government should carry out stricter gun laws to prevent more shootings. People who opposed to gun control think that harsher gun laws will not affect the amount of gun crimes in the United States, and they believe it is unconstitutional. Gun laws should be heavily enforced because of mass shootings, the possibility of it falling into the wrong hands, and other countries’ gun laws.…

    • 1019 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Gun control deals with a lot of facts and statistics. Agresti and Smith from Just Facts provides excellent facts on gun control. The first fact is crime and self defense. In 2014, there were roughly 14,249 murders and about 68% of those were with a weapon.(Agresti, Smith, 2016) This information provides a visual representation of just how many are gun related and non-gun related. A survey from the U.S. Department of Justice showed that of the 5.9 million crimes, only 10% were with a visible gun. This data shows that a small amount of crimes actually were with a gun and puts things into a different perspective. Other data shows that guns weren’t necessarily used for shooting, rather a scare tactic for felons. Agresti and Smith stated, “A 1994 survey conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that Americans use guns to frighten away intruders who are breaking into their homes about 498,000 times per year.” This fact shows that guns aren’t always needed for its primary purpose and doesn’t hurt anyone. Guns when related to self-defense is very important and beneficial when compared to statistics. The next fact is background checks in the United States. The current federal law makes it illegal to purchase, possess, or transport firearms or ammunition if you fall under specific criteria. The criteria falls under the Gun Control Act (GCA) and it lists anyone that has been convicted for a…

    • 1499 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gun Control

    • 560 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Gun Control Since the days of the pioneers of the United States, firearms have been part of the American tradition as protection and a means of hunting or sport. As we near the end of the 20th century the use of guns has changed significantly. Because of fast and steady increase in crime and the fight for the right to own a hand gun, the introduction of legislation for gun control, to try to reduce the crime in the United States, has been a hotly debated issue in recent years. Although many people feel that gun control violates the right of the people, given in the second amendment "the right to bear arms", controlling distribution and sales and the registration of guns and gun owners is necessary because of the homicide rate involving guns and the violence by criminals using guns. Many people feel that gun control violates the right of the people given in the second amendment the right "to bear arms". Opponents of gun control, including the National Rifle Association, better known as the NRA, argue that the "right To bear arms" is guaranteed in the second amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America and licensing restrictions penalize law-abiding citizens while in no way preventing criminal use of handguns. It is also argued that by making it difficult for guns to be bought and registered for the American public there is a threat to the personal safety of American families everywhere. However controlling the sale and distribution of firearms is necessary because of the homicide rate involving guns. In 1988 there were 9000 handgun related murders in America. Metropolitan centers and some suburban communities of America are setting new records for homicides by handguns. Larger Metropolitan centers have ten times the murder rate of all Western Europe. For example in Washington,D.C. there was an estimated 400 homicides including guns. In addition gun control has been seen as necessary because of the violence…

    • 560 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Gun Control

    • 379 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Gun control has been in the spotlight for the past few months ever since the theatre shooting in colorado, and the sandy hook elementary shooting in Connecticut. This article is about the impact the shootings have had on a nation as a whole. It is about the two opposing sides which are in support of new stricter gun laws or preserving our second amendment right to bear arms. There are first hand interviews with victims parents from the sandy hook shooting and also with leaders of the NRA which strongly support our second amendment right. "Mourning this tragedy has extended beyond Newtown, beyond the borders of Connecticut, and has spread across the nation and the world," says Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy of the Sandy hook Elementary school shooting, which was the spark that ignited the controversial flame.…

    • 379 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gun Control

    • 1186 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Gun Control is a topic that has been talked about for many years now especially…

    • 1186 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Gun Control Debate

    • 951 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Instead of focusing on the amount of deaths cause by gun control, we should focus on the real problem which is violence in the U.S. According to lafa.org,”” Criminologists cite FBI statistics that teenagers committed twice as many assaults without a weapon”. This explains how violence is a greater issue rather then trying to restrict rights given to us by the 2nd Amendment. Overall, violence should be a problem burdened on people rather then inanimate…

    • 951 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Gun Control Debate

    • 537 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Proponents of gun control believe that stronger laws can prevent the needless loss of life. Even individuals who support gun rights acknowledge that certain people should not be permitted to own guns. Current gun control laws prevent criminals, mentally ill individuals and children from owning guns. Unfortunately, there have been instances where young people and deranged gunmen have acquired weapons and used them to commit mass murders. Law reviews from the 1970s cite America’s high rate of gun-related crimes compared to other industrial countries as a driving factor behind gun control legislation. Statistics like this prompted New York City to successfully reduce its crime rates by putting gun control laws into action.…

    • 537 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gun Control Essay

    • 441 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Gun control is a very controversial topic that has been debated in America for quite a while now. Recent, incidents of shootings across the country, such as, mass shootings at the cinema in Colorado, the Connecticut elementary school shooting or even the recent attacks on police officers in New York have made the argument of gun control a volatile topic of discussion. While some government officials, lobby for stricter gun laws, there are many that are adamant, to the second Amendment, which states “the right of the people to bear arms, shall not be infringed.” Gun control is an effort to reduce crime and murder rates, by strengthening laws on the ownership of firearms.…

    • 441 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hi a Note on This

    • 279 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Guns are extremely powerful weapons. They can cause destruction, harm or even death. They can be used to defend and protect or to threaten and kill. Any way you look at it, guns are powerful tools, not only physically but socially. As college students it is important to stay abreast of the current events and issues circulating our country today, one of which is the controversial issue of gun control. It is extremely important to pay attention to where gun control laws are headed. The directions they take not only affect our nation and society but our future as well as we all move to communities and begin to raise families.…

    • 279 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays