Guns For America Essay, Research Paper

Issue: Should A National Gun Control Policy Be Established?

Americans participated in a great debate through the 60 s, 70 s, 80 s, and now the 90 s. It is the argument of whether handguns, shotguns, and rifles should be restricted or banned. This debate over ownership of a firearm has produced strong emotions through the past years and does not seem to be abating. Does the U.S. Constitution give people the right, or should guns be restricted or banned because they are used in the commission of many crimes? Some argue that the right to bear arms is not as vital today as it was in the 1700 s, or that it does not apply to individuals. Others argue that it is an individual right guaranteed by the Constitution to own a firearm.

It is obvious that the nation does not want guns in the hands of convicted felons; however it is necessary that guns be not confiscated from law-abiding citizens. Our second amendment states 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. This amendment was not made for the hunters; it is designed as an individual right in the Bill of Rights. Our second amendment protects our right, and it cannot be infringed.

In 1986, the Handgun Control, Inc, decided to devote to passing the Brady bill, which would establish a national seven-day waiting period for handgun purchasers. This came in after the assassination attempt by Jim Hinckley on Reagan, and his press secretary, Jim Brady was shot. On one side this will allow a check on the buyer, to see if they have a criminal record, are mentally unstable, or is a minor. The other side of it is anyone who can wait a week for a gun is a kind of person who shouldn t have one. The bill supposedly will lessen gun violence, according to pollsters. Ross Perot commented during the 1992 election, that the Brady bill was a timid step in the right direction but won t fix the problem, so why pass a law that won t fix it. Now the bill has passed, after seven years, and was reduced to five days, but will it achieve its goal? It took so long to pass the bill that the Clinton administration and congressional leadership are not likely eager for another handgun proposal. But Clinton said on Good morning America on June 4, 1999, People ought to have to register guns like they register their cars. The Clinton-Gore administration is misusing the national instant check system to retain the identities of firearm purchasers. Government records on gun owners supposedly protect society. The public view on rising violence, may force gun control onto the agenda again.

The public is truly split on whether there ought to be a total ban on handguns. But the percentage of Americans who would support a total ban is rising. Even with the N.R.A, which opposes any firearm regulation, they are only a small sized group, which has no power to frustrate the national will.

Some people believe that owning a gun deters burglary, if you have a gun in the house criminals will be scared. It is the fear factor towards a criminal that makes owning a gun advantageous. The argument is it doesn t matter what they are used for. If they re loaded, someone is bound to get hurt. Statistics prove that it is more likely that a gun is used to kill its owner, a member of the family, or a friend than to kill intruders. Some own guns for sport, some for self-protection. Yet out of the 34,000 gun deaths in America each year, fewer than 300 are listed as justifiable homicide, the category that could include shooting burglars, muggers, or rapists. The opposing view is those numbers don t represent the large number of private owners who own a gun and are saved because the intruder or attacker is scared off by the gun. Those numbers also don t represent the wounded intruders and attackers who are victims of gun injuries. The argument is that guns are allowed by our Constitution. The opposing viewers say that guns add to the violence in gun crimes. The N.R.A slogan is, Guns don t kill, people do. Pete Shields and John Greenya, who are for gun control, say, Guns don t die, people do.