Gun control

Enforcing Gun Control Gun control is a discussion that many people feel differently about. There are many articles that talk about the importance of gun control to keep guns out of people’s hands that are unstable dangerous. In the article, “The Case for Gun Control,” written by Fareed Zakaria, he talks about the history of guns. In this article the author writes about how the U.S. has more crime and more citizens own firearms than any other countries. The article, “U.S. ‘model’ for Gun Control,” by Susan Haigh, she writes about the recent Newton school shooting and how the Connecticut government needs to pass a bill to have better gun controls. An article written by Jamelle Bouie featured in The Daily Beast, also talks about the Sandy Hook shooting and how gun controls may take years for new bills to pass just like gay marriage. Brian Witte wrote the article, strict gun control measure passes in Maryland, where he talks about a law was passed in Maryland supporting more control for guns. All these articles talk about how there are going to be tighter laws on guns where the government will be looking into people’s backgrounds and limiting the amount of ammunition that someone can buy. There needs to be stricter guns controls so that people can be safe without having to carry their own guns all the time. There needs to be more laws for guns because the times have changed, and the laws that were written at first do not necessary apply now. When the constitution was written, people carried guns to protect themselves but now guns are used by unstable people to commit mass murders. Zakaria gives an example of a tragedy, “Only several weeks ago, we were all trying to understand the twisted psychology of James Holmes, the man who killed 12 innocent at a movietheater in Aurora, Colorado” (Zakaria 1). The murderer, James Holmes, was arrested but it was very clear he was unstable. If gun controls were passed, perhaps this tragedy would not have happened. The people of the United States carry more guns than many other countries. Zakaria writes, “There are 88.8 firearms per 100 people in the U.S. In second place is Yemen, with 54.8, then Switzerland with 45.7 and Finland with 45.3. No other country has a rate above
40” (Zakaria1). These numbers show proof that U.S. has a higher risk of more violent activities where guns can be involved. If there is more control over guns then it can help eliminate tragedies from occurring and keep guns out of the hand of unstable people. Gun Control is brought to everyone’s attention when a gun is involved in a tragedy like Newtown. The heartbreak of Sandy Hook Elementary has forced the state to make stricter laws on guns. Haigh describes the event, “The December massacre of 26 people inside Sandy Hook Elementary School...The governor who personally informed parent that their children had been killed that day, championed the cause, and legislative leaders, keenly aware of the attention on the state, struck a bipartisan agreement they want to serve as a national role model” (Haigh 1). The incident at Newtown had such an effect that both parties agreed to have stricter gun law that would cause them to be role models for other states. The disaster in Newtown has made the Connecticut state Senate pass laws that ban the sale of large capacity ammunition, background checks, and some guns. Susan Haigh writes in her article, “The legislation adds more than 100 firearms to the state’s assault weapons ban creates what officials have called the nation’s first dangerous weapon offender registry as well as eligibility rules for buying ammunition” (Haigh 1). Connecticut’s new law’s about guns shows the citizens that theyare taking the issue of guns more seriously. It is unfortunate that tragedy has had to happen for states to realize that they need stricter gun laws. Gun safety is something that should be enforced in all countries not just in the United States. In Jamelle Bouie article, “ The Daily Beast,” it states that the National Rifle Association released it’s plan for school safety on April 3,2013. The NRA’S recommended every school to have an armed guard for safety precautions. Jamelle Bouie states in his article, “ Chuck Grassley said he was open to measures to prevent illegal gun sales. “ I’m a supporter of the Second Amendment ... I also think, though, that we do have to do things to make sure the database of the FBI has all the information so people can’t buy guns that shouldn’t have guns”(Bouie 1). The Second Amendment states that we have the right to bear arms. It’s agreeable that we should have more safety per cautions regarding who buys these weapons. A requirement like doing a background check on someone who wants to purchase a gun would determine whether or not , for the safety of others, if these person is safe enough to own a gun. Jamelle states that, “It was just five years ago, after all, that then-senator Barack Obama tried to avoid a pointed question on gun control during a debate with then-senator Hillary Clinton...Obama has become a forceful advocate for new gun laws”(Bouie 2). Over the course of these tragedies they have realize that we should establish new gun laws. It’s going to take a while until they bring in these new gun laws and enforce them on society. Gun safety is important to have in this society to keep in order. Only six states in the United States have passed similar gun control and safety laws as the NRA planned to do. In the article “ Strict gun control measures passes in Maryland” by Brian Witte he writes about how Maryland will become one of the first states to pass the bill on providing finger prints when buying a gun. Witte states that, “ The measure would require peoplewho buy a handgun to submit fingerprints to state police, bans 45 types of assault weapons, and limits gun magazines to 10 bullets. It also addresses firearms access for the mentally ill” (Witte 1). As you can see Maryland is taking full precautions something that the whole country should be doing. “ Gun control advocates say the fingerprinting requirement will help keep guns away from criminals, because it will make people reluctant to buy firearms for those who are not allowed to have them”(Witte 1). With these requirement, people with criminal records or potential of wanting to harm others will lose interest in buying firearms. Maryland has enforced gun safety laws for the well being of others, but not everyone in on board with this. Others argue that serious gun control is unconstitutional. People find it unconstitutional because the Second Amendment clearly says that we have the right to keep and bear firearms. “ Adam Winker, a professor of constitutional law at UCLA, documents the actual history in Gunfight: The Battle over the Right to Bear Arms in America. Guns were regulated in the U.S. from the earliest years of the Republic”(Zakaria 1). He talks about how even back then they tried to control gun usage. Back in the day people owned guns to protect their families and other personal belongings. As time has passed people have been taking advantage of the rights that have been given to them. Resulting in tragedies suck as, the incident that occurred in Newtown.