Strict Gun Control is an Attack on the 2nd Amendment
Jennifer Mago
Chamberlain College of Nursing
Introduction
The gun control debate is spearheaded by antagonistic sentiments among individuals who support gun rights and those who favor anti-gun sentiments. This debate is based on facts and statistics concerning how guns can affect the society. However, it is critical for one to understand that the issue is one of the most debated, and intense battles have been fought on the political forefront (Esposito & Finley, 2014). Despite the valid and strong points that have been made on both sides of the gun control debate, the issue remains deadlocked and may remain that way if significant steps are not taken towards any side of the debate. For this reason, various questions arise as to what is to be ultimately achieved when we choose either side of the debate. Samuel Adams once said, “The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms” (Adams, 2018). Conscious of our founding fathers’ opinion, I side with those who are against gun control. Stricter gun control is an attack on the 2nd amendment that gives the freedom to own and bear a firearm for the purpose of self-defense against violence and tyranny.
Statistics have shown that in 2007 there were about twelve thousand people in the US who were killed with firearms, and another forty-eight thousand were treated in hospitals for wounds sustained in gun assaults (The Lancet, 2017). However, that is not reason enough for stricter gun control; the same statistics also show that where there are the most armed citizens in America there are the lowest violent rate and where there is the worst gun control, you have the highest crime rate. It is true that the reason guns are frequently used to commit crimes in the US is because they are easily accessible. However, the ease of access is because there is two system gun commerce, licensed gun retailers, and private-party gun sellers and only one of these systems is controlled. In fact, 85% of the guns used in crimes are sold by the private parties. Licensed gun retailers, only sell firearms to people with identifications (Malone, 2009). To buy a gun from these retailers means to certify that you are buying the gun for personal defense and that you are not a convicted felon, fugitive, substance abuse addict, mental defective among many others. Reasoning behind this is, one gains understanding that it is not gun control we need but more guns to protect us from these secretly acquired firearms. Furthermore, when buying a firearm from a licensed retailer a background check is regularly conducted, and if there are cases of uncertainty one might wait for up to 3 days to get the gun. When buying a gun from a private seller none of the procedural safeguards applies. Private-party weapon deals can be totally mysterious and undocumented. Private merchants are not required to see recognizable proof or keep records, and they can’t start historical verifications. A concise arrangement of value, a trade of money, weapon, and a handshake, and your buy is finished.
Looking at gun control from such a perspective you will find that even if strict gun controls are established criminals will still have access to firearms and other life-threatening weapons. That leaves genuine civilians prone to gun attacks and crime. Even in countries where they have established gun control civilians still suffer from gun assaults more than in the US. For instance, in the year 1939 when Germany established gun control six million Jews as well as many others were unable to defend themselves and were exterminated. Firearm assaults exist in America since Congress drew on its constitutional specialist to manage interstate trade in drafting the Gun Control Act of 1968, the law under which present-day weapon business works. Those “occupied with the business” of offering firearms were required to acquire government licenses, however private gatherings who sold weapons occasionally were most certainly not (Jones & Stone, 2015). Today, private gatherings can purchase and offer numerous firearms a year while asserting not to be occupied with the business. Besides, private gatherings can pitch handguns to anybody 18 years old or older; authorized retailers can’t pitch handguns to anybody under 21 years old (Wu, 2018). Thus, responsible citizens should be allowed to own handguns to protect themselves from illegally acquired weapons. There are numerous cases where responsible citizens have stopped a shooting spree all because they possess a handgun.
On the other hand people who support gun control believe gun laws are the cause of much violent crime in America and need to be changed so that it is difficult to obtain guns and a person owning an illegal firearm will face the maximum allowed prison sentence even as a first-time offender. For instance, a recent mass shooting in Parkland, Florida. The shooter walked into the school with numerous firearms and opened fire killing seventeen innocent people. Supports of gun control argue that mass shootings can be reduced if guns control was put into effect and enforced.
Conclusion
Even though those with anti-gun sentiments have valid and strong points on why gun control should be established, they should also consider the dangers that can impact responsible citizens if they were deprived the right of self-defense. We should have concealed carry because it is part of our right under the 2nd Amendment and because it will reduce the amount of crime.
References
Adams, S. (2018). George Washington’s Strong Opinion on Gun Control. simplethingcalledlife.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018, from http://www.simplethingcalledlife.com/stcl/george-washington-gun-control/
Esposito, L., & Finley, L. (2014). Beyond Gun Control: Examining Neoliberalism, Pro-gun Politics and Gun Violence in the United States. Theory In Action, 7(2), 74-103. http://dx.doi.org/10.3798/tia.1937-0237.14011
Jones, M., & Stone, G. (2015). The U.S. Gun-Control Paradox: Gun Buyer Response to Congressional Gun-Control Initiatives. Journal of Business & Economics Research (JBER), 13(4), 167. http://dx.doi.org/10.19030/jber.v13i4.9449
Malone, C. (2000). Encyclopedia of Gun Control and Gun Rights. Journal of Government Information, 27(6), 906-908. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s1352-0237(00)00244-6
The Lancet. (2017). Gun deaths and the gun control debate in the USA. The Lancet, 390(10105), 1812. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736 (17)32710-1
Wu, S. (2018). The Effects of Cueing and Framing on Youth Attitudes towards Gun Control and Gun Rights. Social Sciences, 7(2), 29. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/socsci7020029
