Posted: August 1st, 2023
Gun control laws
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Topic of essay: Gun Control in US ( This is Argument essay again don’t forget essay is Argument essay.
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Gun control laws
Introduction
Gun control laws are put across as legal limits on the possession of firearms. Gun control presents legal measures that prevent and restrict the concealment of guns and firearms. In the U.S., gun control laws are controversial because gun control is a constitutionally protected issue, yet many gun violence and killings are committed every year. Research shows that in the U.S., 33 people are killed with guns daily. Mass murders by guns are widespread in the U.S. Studies indicates that the U.S. records the highest number of homicide by firearms. However, gun control proponents argue that making guns inaccessible will reduce crime and save lives while the opposing side claims that limiting access to firearms prevent citizens from defending themselves. The paper presented is an argumentative essay on Gun control in the U.S.
The Second Amendment allows people to secure firearms as an act of a well-regulated Militia to protect the Free State. The amendment is understood as the right of individuals to keep guns as an act of service to the state. The Second Amendment did not restrict individuals from registering firearms like shotguns. Such arms were not considered to have a reasonable relationship with the efficiency and preservation of a well-regulated militia (Lott and John 67). However, in 2008, the individual right to use firearms for other traditional lawful purposes, such as self-defense, was recognized, thus leading to local gun control laws. The District of Columbia v.Heller challenges the rules of the handgun ban because they violated the Second Amendment. However, the gun control provisions remained due to the longstanding prohibition of guns by felons, the mentally ill, or individuals carrying firearms in sensitive places such as government buildings and schools.
Arguments for and against gun control
According to (Kwon 42), frequent murder committed with guns is so prevalent in the U.S. while the majority of them do not make it to mainstream media outlets. The most heinous ones get national attention. For example, in 2016, the Orlando mass shootings that killed multiple adults in a night club. Mass shootings often have victims who have been killed indiscriminately that compounding antagonism between both sides of the gun control arguments. Gun control is a divisive topic in American politics. Both opponents and proponents fear their loss of safety.However, proponents fear for their safety because out of 100 people; there is an average of 88 guns (Kwon 42). A campaign against Gun violence estimated that, on average, a total of 114,994 people are shot every year. The estimation was based around incidents like suicides, accidents, police intervention, murders, and assaults. On the other hand, the opponents’ fear is based on the loss of safety because when individuals are restricted from firearm possession, they will not be able to protect themselves.
The Gun Control Act that controls firearms at the federal level was established in 1968. The Act allows individuals that are above 18 years of age to purchase rifles or short guns. However, other firearms like handguns can only be sold to individuals who are 21 years or older. Owning a gun is essential for protection against danger and invasions. However, easy access to firearms makes it easy to injure or kill a person. In disagreements and access to a gun can cause the situations to escalate quickly. Regardless, guns do not kill, people do. Whether people own guns or not, they can use other objects like knives to injure or kill. Therefore, gun control is not going to stop people from murder and killings completely.
The research found that when an individual owns a gun, they are more likely to injure a friend, family, or neighbor as compared to an intruder. On the other hand, possessing a firearm for self-defense or hunting is utterly legitimate, according to the Second Amendment law. Confiscating all guns is against the law and impossible to accomplish (Lester at all 317). The gun ownership laws were old and protected in the U.S. In 2008, the majority opinion in the District of Columbia et al.v. Heller supported the Second Amendment right to possess firearms under service to the militia and traditional purposes such as self-defense. The statement emphasized the fact that gun possession is an individual right. Gun laws are older than the state, and the founders understood that the right to own guns was equal to other liberal rules such as freedom of speech or religion.
Criminals can continue hurting other people, whether gun control is implemented or not because other instruments can be used as weapons. However, the lack of gun control laws will only make it easier for criminals to access weapons. The laws cannot make all guns completely unavailable, but making all the guns readily available does not make sense either. Suicides cases have recorded five times higher in homes that have guns (Kwon 42). Arguments have been presented that gun control will not work; therefore, they should not be pursued any further. A counter-argument states that countries with strict gun control laws that the U.S. have experienced lower murder and death rates. Study shows that the states with lax gun control laws have high rates of gun murders. For example, sates like Chicago, have lax gun control laws because guns can be easily obtained and transported from Michigan, Indiana, and other neighboring states. Therefore, gun control legislation is needed to establish responsible and safe gun possession.
The argument for gun control
Gun control is essential to establish safe restrictions that can keep the system under control. The Second Amendment only protects gun owners. However, the amendment does not offer an unlimited right to own guns. The District of Columbia et al. v.Heller Supreme Court opinion did not cast doubt in the prohibitions of gun possessions by the mentally individuals or criminals. The amendment still establishes restrictions and limitations towards gun possession.
Moreover, in 2016, the Ninth Circuit Court ruled that the Second Amendment does not protect the right of the public to possess firearms; thus, the permitting process must be applied. Gun control will significantly reduce deaths and injuries. Between 1997 and 2016, guns were the leading cause of homicides and suicides. The recorded number of deaths was 572,537, which represents 58 percent of total suicides deaths by firearms. The murders were represented by 37 percent, and 20 percent of deaths were unintentional deaths caused by guns (Lester at al 317).
An England medicine journal found that guns are responsible for 15 percent of child deaths; therefore, coming second to motor vehicle crashes (Blendon et al. 1719). The unregulated purchase of handguns increases the risks of violent deaths. Gun control laws such as background checks, ammunition purchases, and licensing laws should be strictly adhered to to reduce gun deaths and injuries. Research shows that ammunition purchases with background checks can reduce fatalities by 56.9 percent. Gun licensing laws and identification requirements can reduce the projected deaths by 80 percent. Gun control laws are necessary for decreasing firearm homicides. Opponents have argues that they love guns and should not be restricted from something they like. However, everything requires control to create harmony. Gun control and restriction will prevent mentally unstable people from firearms access, thus protecting women from stalkers and domestic abusers. Study shows five women are killed with guns every day in domestic abuse situations. Possession of firearms during domestic disputes can escalate the situation leading to fatal instances. In the U.S., women are likely to be victims of domestic homicides and shootings instigated by domestic violence (Blendon et al. 1719).
Opponents claim that gun restrictions and control laws infringe the Second amendment laws to own guns or activities such as hunting and sport. However, gun possession for hunting means that the weapons are rarely used for self-defense as required by the amendment law. The research found that protection by the use of firearms is the least employed protective behavior. Moreover, legally owned guns are often stolen and used for criminal activities. Guns obtained in illegal activities enter the circulation during the initial transactions. Guns are easy to steal and quickly sell at a higher price compared to the initial cost. Individuals who lawfully acquire a gun for protection can lose them to theft .the firearms can easily be used for crime
Conclusion
Opponents state compelling arguments against gun control that indicate the ineffective effective of gun restrictions. (Blendon et al. 1719) Says that countries that have banned handguns still experience murders. For instance, after the U.K. banned handguns in 1997, a man shot 16 elementary children before killing himself. Gun does not kill, it is people who do is a well-known quote in the gun control agenda. The Second amendment allowed guns for self-defense in a situation where the militia was not available. However, reckless conceal of firearms can be fatal in the long run. The results have been experienced in multiple shootings where mentally ill individuals possess guns.
Gun control laws are necessary to establish order and prevent unnecessary possession of firearms. Moreover, the U.S. spends a lot of money in emergency cases associated with gun violence. The American Journal of Public health found that more than 100,000 people get shot every year. Hospitalization caused by firearm injuries raises Medicaid costs. The magazine estimated that in nine years, damages caused by gun violence have grossed to $2.7 billion. Many victims lack insurance; thus, the payments are catered by the taxpayers. Also, gun violence costs include incarceration costs, perpetrator control, policing, medical costs, lie insurance, and private security costs. Gun control laws are essential to reduce the rate of crimes, injuries, and deaths.
Crime goes higher in places where gun laws are loose. Study (Lester at all, 315) found that violent gun crimes decline nationwide when gun laws are tighter. Guns go through the manufacturing process, and they can end up in the wrong hands during distribution. Therefore, gun laws should be implemented from the manufacturing stage. Also, establishing laws such as mandatory safety features during the manufacture will reduce the number of accidental deaths. Serious gun control laws should conduct mental health tests before lawfully issuing guns. Also, the second amendment was implemented for the militia to own their guns and not any individual who desires a gun.
Works cited
Lester, David, and Mary E. Murrell. “The influence of gun control laws on personal violence.” Journal of Community Psychology 14.3 (2016): 315-318.
Lott, John R. More guns, less crime: Understanding crime and gun control laws. University of Chicago Press, (2013): 67
Blendon, Robert J., John T. Young, and David Hemenway. “The American public and the gun control debate.” JAMA 275.22 (2006): 1719-1722.
Kwon, G. “The effectiveness of gun control laws: multivariate statistical analysis.” American Journal of Economics and Sociology 56.1 (2007): 41-50.
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