Gun Control Essay, Research Paper

Controlling sales and the registration of guns and owners is necessary because of the homicide rate involving guns and the violence caused by criminals using guns. Since the early days of the United States, firearms have been part of the American tradition as protection and as a means of hunting or sport. As we near the end of the 20th century the use of guns has changed significantly. Because the increase in crime and the fight for the right to own a handgun, the introduction of legislation for gun control, to try to reduce the crime in the United States, has been a hotly debated issue in recent years.

Many people feel that gun control violates the right of the people given in the second amendment the right “to bear arms”. Opponents of gun control, including the National Rifle Association argue that the “right To bear arms” is guaranteed in the second amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America and licensing restrictions penalize law-abiding citizens while in no way preventing criminal use of handguns. It is also argued that by making it difficult for guns to be bought and registered for the American public there is a threat to the personal safety of American families everywhere.

Controlling the sale and distribution of firearms is necessary because of the homicide rate involving guns. In 1988, there were more than 9000 handgun-related murders in America. American metropolitan centers and some suburban communities of America are setting new records for homicides by handguns. The larger American metropolitan centers have ten times the murder rate of all Western Europe. For example in Washington, D.C. there was an estimated 400 homicides including guns.

Gun control is a necessity because of the violence caused by criminals using guns. Drug dealing and high tech weaponry have escalated the warfare in cities between long established loosely knit gangs. Many police officers are killed every year due to drug and gang related incidents involving guns.

There are valid reasons for why certain people feel that gun control is unfair. People against gun control feel that it is a violation of the Constitution to control the sale and distribution and the registration of guns and gun owners. It is necessary for there to be certain limits on the way that firearms are handled in this country because of the homicide rate involving guns and because of the violence created by criminals using guns. If effective gun control legislation were legislated, there would be a significant decline in gun-related crimes and fatalities.