Guns have always played a part in US history since colonial times when they had to fight off natives. In fact, back in those days, many colonies required that heads of households have a gun and even that one adult man from each household must bring a gun to any town meetings or church. Because of this founding, the US has the highest guns per capita, about 88.8 guns for every 100 people. It probably wouldn't surprise you that for a long time, who could own a gun was restricted to white free men. From there, there was this idea of the frontier and the Wild West but in fact, most people would have to check their guns with the sheriff. In one city, you weren't allowed to fire a gun without the mayor's permission.
Most often, the debate over gun control points back to the second amendment. Proponents of gun control laws say the second amendment is not unlimited. Just as the first amendment only grants a certain amount of free speech, so should the second amendment only grant some access to guns. However, others take it more to its word saying that the second amendment grants unlimited access and should be taken directly as it is written.
Additionally, some say that gun control laws would reduce gun deaths. According to a Lancet study just implementing universal background checks would reduce gun deaths by 56.9% and requiring gun identification could reduce gun deaths by 82.5%. On the other hand, gun owners argue that having a gun deters crime. They also argue that taking guns from everyday people and outlawing them won't stop those determined to break the law from having guns.
The argument that guns are used in self-defense doesn't have the numbers to back it up. Only 0.79% of victims in violent crimes defended themselves with a weapon.
While people say that stricter gun control laws won't prevent criminals from obtaining illegal weapons, in fact, many of these illegal weapons were at one point sold legally.
With the recent shootings occurring do you think making stricter gun control laws would solve it or not?
I disagree. There are still shootings in states and cities with strict gun laws. Even Obama, who has a liberal view of things, claimed, "Obama, Oct. 1: We know that states with the most gun laws tend to have the fewest gun deaths. So the notion that gun laws don’t work, or just will make it harder for law-abiding citizens and criminals [to] still get their guns is not borne out by the evidence." I don't think taking away gun laws will be effective, and it will also take away the 2nd amendment. This will make it harder for citizens to protect themselves and create a militia if necessary, a right given to people by our constitution.
ReplyDeleteThe Second Amendment gives Americans the right to form their own militia in case the government overstep its boundaries and citizens need to protect their own rights and freedom. But when have those scenarios or things similar to that nature occur? The founding fathers couldn't possibly fathom the advancement of weapons, so even if civilians are allowed to own these weapons, would it really stand a chance against the military? They have tanks.
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