Gun Control
English 1302
5th march 2013 Sides of Crime Control
Gun control laws have been surrounded by controversy since The Bill of Rights, including the Second amendment was passed in the congress. "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," the founders wrote. Until recently there was considerable argument over just what the founders intended by their words. Did they mean to provide only for armed units to protect us from invasion, or did they mean that each individual has a right to a gun? However, in the District of Columbia v. Heller case, the Supreme Court made a landmark ruling upholding the right of individuals to bear arms for hunting and for self-defense. In the light of the Supreme Court’s hearing, the recent mass shooting incidents and growing gun related deaths across the country have called for changes and introduction of new gun related laws i.e. gun control laws to curb gun violence. In this paper I will review five main positions on the issue of gun violence in United States. First, there are those who argue that the only way to reduce gun related deaths is by making stricter gun control laws and enforcing new ones. These people believe gun related deaths can be reduced significantly by reducing the number of guns in the hands of the citizens. Second, this group argues that gun control laws are not effective means to curb gun related deaths. They argue that focus must increase crime control rather than gun control. They say less guns will not help bring the gun violence figures down. They argue for different laws to curb gun violence such as gun trafficking law. Third, this group argues that more guns will reduce gun violence. They say as gun ownership increases, criminals will be more cautious to attack and hence reducing gun related deaths. Forth, theses are the people who argue that instead of proposing new laws, whether it is to increase or to
5th march 2013 Sides of Crime Control
Gun control laws have been surrounded by controversy since The Bill of Rights, including the Second amendment was passed in the congress. "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," the founders wrote. Until recently there was considerable argument over just what the founders intended by their words. Did they mean to provide only for armed units to protect us from invasion, or did they mean that each individual has a right to a gun? However, in the District of Columbia v. Heller case, the Supreme Court made a landmark ruling upholding the right of individuals to bear arms for hunting and for self-defense. In the light of the Supreme Court’s hearing, the recent mass shooting incidents and growing gun related deaths across the country have called for changes and introduction of new gun related laws i.e. gun control laws to curb gun violence. In this paper I will review five main positions on the issue of gun violence in United States. First, there are those who argue that the only way to reduce gun related deaths is by making stricter gun control laws and enforcing new ones. These people believe gun related deaths can be reduced significantly by reducing the number of guns in the hands of the citizens. Second, this group argues that gun control laws are not effective means to curb gun related deaths. They argue that focus must increase crime control rather than gun control. They say less guns will not help bring the gun violence figures down. They argue for different laws to curb gun violence such as gun trafficking law. Third, this group argues that more guns will reduce gun violence. They say as gun ownership increases, criminals will be more cautious to attack and hence reducing gun related deaths. Forth, theses are the people who argue that instead of proposing new laws, whether it is to increase or to