Gun Control Essays (2266 words) - Gun Politics In The United States

Gun Control Gun Control The idea of gun control and regulation is becoming more and more popular throughout the U.S., although it may still bring up resistance among some people. Guns are sort of a foundation of American culture. This countrys freedom was won over bloody and heroic wars with guns. Guns are portrayed throughout television, movies, and video games. Guns are a popular symbol of power, control, authority, dominance, and can be associated with security and defense. The role guns play in our society is a highly controversial debate. I will support the gun control and regulatory side of this topic as a short-term realistic goal. There are both avid supporters of the 2nd amendment guaranteeing American citizens the right to bear arms, and there are people who strongly disagree with the widespread use and availability of guns to youth and criminals. Those in favor of open gun use are often motivated by the 2nd Amendment, and the right many claim to hunt, protect the home, or for defense against pote ntial militias or government overthrow. The motive behind proponents of gun control on the other hand, is to restrict accessibility to guns to prevent violence and death in our society. My position ultimately, with relevance to our presentations in class, is neither an attempt to persuade or convince anyone to use guns nor to control and restrict them. From here however, let me tell you that guns play a role of non-importance in my life, and therefore I have sought out a reasoning that has led me to favor a world with no guns altogether. This may sound rather idealistic or radical, but it is necessary. Our world is in need of a profound, collective reformation where violence and guns are concerned particularly in the United States. This is my long-term goal of potentiality. Firstly, the extent of gun violence is tremendous, primarily in the U.S. among all other industrial nations. Next to automobile fatality, gun violence is the second leading cause of death by injury in the U.S. I t should become first by the year 2003 unless something is done to prevent it. In the early nineties for example, four states Nevada, Virginia, Louisiana, and Texas had trends of gun injury as the top cause of death. This type of violence it seems is almost as epidemic as AIDS is in causing death. That is a very scary thing to consider. (gunfree.org) The National Center for Health Statistics reports that firearms have taken the lives of 35,957 people in the U.S. in 1995. There is a 21.5% firearm fatality increase since 1985. And, of these fatalities, suicides rank first at 18,503 people; homicides second at 15,835 people; unintentional shootings next at 1,225 people; and 394 were undetermined. (gunfree.org) Now I would like to demystify several arguments used against gun control. The first one assumes that gun control wont stop gun violence or crime. Most criminals get guns through legal means contrary to what the gun lobby says to justify having a huge availability of guns. This i s proven by the Criminal Justice Research Center. They apparently surveyed that only 27% of adult inmates and 43% of juveniles have bought handguns illegally on the black market. On the other hand, of these inmates, 69% of adults and 55% of juveniles obtained guns through means like retail, gun shops, private owners, friends or family. This confirms that most guns are gotten legally through controlled methods. (gunfree.org) Also, the FBI has received reports of a median number of about 274,000 guns stolen yearly from 85 to 94. This points out that the guns sold by owners and dealers are a risk to us and can be regulated to lower crime, murder, suicide, and other fatalities. (gunfree.org) Is owning a gun really a constitutional right? The 2nd amendment of the constitution says: 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. The Supreme Court made clear in its 1939 case decision of U.S. v s. Miller, that the 2nd Amendment doesnt protect possession of a firearm unless there exists some type of reasonable relationship in preserving