Gun Control

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Gun Control

Introduction

In accordance with research "a whopping 33000 people lose their life due to incidents that involve a gun." These tragic stats are of the United States of America alone that too on an annual basis. Imagine being in the cinema or even in history class in high school, there are chances that the people around are carrying loaded guns. This fact might seem unbelievable but it has been made possible due to the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution. In accordance with the amendment, the civilians of the United States are allowed to have guns in their possession. It is understandable that individuals would want to carry guns for the sake of sports, however, the possession of handguns should be out of the question. Having a shotgun means that a person has the power to kill. Without the proper training and awareness, that is a very dangerous power for any civilian to have. The carrying and possession of shotguns should be strictly prohibited. The sole reason that shotguns are made is to kill people. Guns have increased the murder rate in the United States and even made it possible for children to kill each other. The tragic school shootings make it obvious that the country needs gun control badly. This paper will shed light on the need for gun control with the help of credible scholarly articles and journals.

Discussion

The statistics that have been mentioned above are quite staggering. The shocking part is that the statistics show the results of a single country. There are 195 countries in the world and the annual rate of individuals losing their life to a gun in one country alone is 33000. Many people believe that gun law is one of the worst things that could have ever happened to the United States (Van Sparrentak et al., 884-886). Shootings have become a common occurrence in the country. One of the biggest reasons behind that is the easy availability of guns. People who are against the Second Amendment believe that there needs to be gun control or complete eradication of the weapon altogether. Unfortunately, the individuals who are in favor of gun law believe that there should not be any gun control. Instead, efforts should be made to improve the mental health of the people who use and own guns.

The debate surrounding gun control is quite a pressing matter. There are two kinds of arguments going around. Some people believe that gun law should be made firmer. However, another school of thought believes that gun law should be made more lenient for hunting and self-defense purposes. Regardless of what anyone has to say gun control is essential to reduce the murder rate in America alone (Kleck, Kovandzic and Bellows, 488-513). All of the arguments that are presented by the people who favor gun law can be shunned by talking about the main purpose of the guns. The core reason why guns were made was to kill. How can such a weapon be permissible to the general public who have no military training whatsoever? Ironically, the Government answers that they in a way want to protect the general public by permitting guns. A gun is a dangerous weapon and it should not be permitted to any civilian without the proper training. When individuals talk about self-defense, other measures can be taken which are less abrasive. For instance: pepper spray, stun gun and a personal alarm. These items have proven to be effective for self-defense. Further, home security can also be improvised and improved to help avoid the use of guns.

A small example that contradicts the gun law is that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) make sure to check the food products and drugs so that the American citizens are not brought any harm. Similarly, the Environmental Protective Agency (EPA) also makes sure that the pollution laws are being followed so the people stay healthy. These examples help see how smaller actions are being taken to ensure the health and safety of the citizens, but the government will let anyone walk around with a gun. This fact shows that the government is not taking measures in the areas that require more attention. Further, ever since the second amendment came into existence, “around 52% of all the homicides in America involve the usage of a gun” (Smith and Spiegler). It is a fact that whether a gun is purchased legally or illegally, no seller can know how the buyer will use the weapon. All the school shootings that have occurred in America should be a changing point in the gun law. A school going child having a gun in their possession should have been a turning point for the people who are in favor of the Second Amendment. The first shooting incident screamed the need for gun control. It is just unfortunate that the government never took it under consideration. No matter how many people speak in favor of gun law, no one can completely shun the need for gun control.

Conclusion

It is a fact that not just America but every country needs to have gun control. The importance is being discussed by talking about the condition and statistics of one country to prove the need for gun control worldwide. Unfortunately, the government cannot see that the Second Amendment has done more damage than good. In accordance with research, “a total of 88.8 guns are available for every single individual in America alone.” Further, almost every other family in the United States has come in contact with a gun. How they choose to use the weapon defines the future of this Nation.

Works Cited

Kleck, Gary, Tomislav Kovandzic, and Jon Bellows. "Does gun control reduce violent crime?." Criminal justice review 41.4 (2016): 488-513.

Smith, Jacob, and Jonathan Spiegler. "Explaining Gun Deaths: Gun Control, Mental Illness, and Policymaking in the American States." Policy Studies Journal (2017).

Van Sparrentak, Murphy, et al. "Youth opinions about guns and gun control in the United States." JAMA pediatrics 172.9 (2018): 884-886.