Ramon Quinonez
Professor Pappas
English 101
May 6, 2015
Bang !
One of the most mentioned topics in this country today is that of gun control. Tragic events such as the shootings in Columbine back in 1999 to Virginia Tech in 2007 and if that did not stun the country enough how about the recent massacre that occurred in 2012. There were twenty children and six staff members who lost their lives in a mass murder at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.[1] The shootings prompted the debate about gun control in the United States. Firearms have been part of the American tradition as protection and a means of hunting or sport. Now, in the 21st century the use of guns has changed significantly. Many people believe these horrible shootings could have been prevented if there were stricter laws against guns; but the question still on one’s mind: would that really prevent those sick shooters from committing more murders? This debate has been brought to the senate boards to take better precautions and procedures. I believe us Americans should advocate for stronger gun laws not stricter gun laws.
Weapon ownership rights are based on the interpretation of the second amendment in the United States Constitution, which gives Americans the right to bear arms. The amendment is for supporting the natural rights of self-defense, resistance to oppression, and the civic duty to act in in defense of the state. But I say controlling distribution and sales is also necessary because homicide rate involving guns and violence by criminals using guns has increased tremendously. It is a topic that should not be overlooked. Some Americans believe weapons in general promote violence and would like to completely ban weapons. Individuals like myself believe the key to reducing gun violence is by having stronger gun laws to lead to more gun safety.
President Barack Obama proposed legislative action aimed at preventing gun violence and future tragedies involving children. The President proposed closing background check loopholes to keep guns out of dangerous hands, banning military-style assault weapons and making schools safer by improving security as well as creating a safer environment.[2] In order to lessen and prevent gun violence, it will take political will and public pressure to get it done.
Although this quote is cliché and overrated: Guns do not kill people, but people kill people. This is a slogan I totally agree with! The trigger on a gun cannot pull itself, there has to be a determined finger behind it. A stronger approach to gun regulation would be the most effective and efficient approach to reduce gun violence. The second amendment gives every American the right to defend themselves. There are roughly 2.5 million Americans who use guns to defend themselves each year.[3] That is a high percentage of gun use for safety. If society was to put a complete stop on gun possession this could create negative outcomes such as an unshielded society.
This stronger not stricter gun law approach would be to allow Americans to exercise their rights to bear arms, while also implementing regulations to keep society safe. The federal government should rewrite the gun laws or simply create a blank slate of policies that apply to all Americans with enforcement on safety. Background checks should be implemented in every gun purchase, with a ban on unchecked purchases at gun shows. Guns should not be sold to those individuals who are diagnosed as mentally ill or who are unstable or unable on following the gun laws. This will reduce the risk of having someone who cannot think right having a weapon at his or her disposal. Manufacturers should also try to create new tools in making sure guns don’t go off when they are accidently dropped. From these few suggestions, positive outcomes can arise such as helping to reduce self-inflicted wounds.
Some may argue that a ban on guns will reduce mass shootings. If the laws become stronger it will make it harder for criminals to get their hands on weapons. In 2011 there were 32,163 deaths that resulted from the use of guns[4]. Between 1955 and 1975, the Vietnam War killed over 58,000 American soldiers, a figure less than the number of civilians killed with guns in the U.S. in an average two-year period[5]. The second amendment was ratified in 1971 and we are now in the 21st century. When the U.S. constitution was written people like Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and George Washington probably would have never envisioned the modern weapons that civilians are allowed access to nowadays.[6] Who would have thought gun violence would be at such an extreme level today? I know I wouldn’t have.
There may not always be a valid connection between gun violence and gun laws. For example, Chicago is one of the country’s most violent cities, despite being under some of the nation’s harshest gun laws. This is just additional proof that shows a complete ban on guns would not reduce crime rates. Regardless of any law for banning firearms, guns will always exists. Criminals will always find ways to get their hands on guns through illegal trafficking or buying materials from a hardware store to make a crude gun. We have to be smarter as a nation and realize that the problem is not guns but the people behind the guns.
I respect everyone’s opinion when it comes to gun laws. I understand the position of liberals when they feel like the best solution to reduce gun violence is a complete ban. The United States is very violent and people are concerned with all the mass shootings and precious lives being taken away. On the other hand since I want an unbiased passage of this law I cannot completely agree with conservatives who believe gun laws are a waste of time. A completely unregulated second amendment would result in a nightmare Western movie scenario with heavily armed citizens settling disputes with machine guns.
I do agree that guns are violent when they are in the wrong hands. Instead of completely disagreeing with conservatives or liberals point of views, I would use their information in creating a stronger gun law. Keep in mind that a complete ban will leave civilians defenseless and no regulation will lead to easier access for criminals to get firearms. Every time I look around someone is dying. It is so crazy how close this topic is to me. I know in 2009 there were 24 homicides in my city.[7] I am from a small city in Rhode Island-Providence, RI. Out of the 24 people who were murdered I knew roughly 1/3 of the lives lost. Although this rate could not be compared to other cities like Detroit or Chicago, I just feel hurt because these deaths are occurring right in front of my eyes. It is just mind boggling to see people I care about result to being the person who pulled the trigger as well as knowing the person who lost their life. If one was to ask the shooter why did it have to result to death? The person probably could not even remember the reasons behind their actions. The death and anguish caused by gun violence are devastating, I know that threat and reality of gun violence sends fear into communities. But to say guns kill people is absurd in my own opinion. It is the person, who chooses to behave violently and commit violent crimes that kill people.
Work Cited
“Constitution.” Who wrote the Constitution-. Web.7 May 2015
“Defensive Gun Use.” Taking Note Defensive Gun Use Comments. N.p., 15 Apr. 2013. Web. 07
May 2015.
“Guns in the United States- Firearms, Gun Law and Gun Control.” Guns in the United States-
Firearms, Gun Law and Gun Control. Web. 7 May 2015.
“President Obama’s Gun Control Proposals.” National Conference of State Legislatures. Web 7
May 2015
“Providence Murder Rate.” Eyewitness News. 7 May 2015
“Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting: What Happened?” CNN. Cable News Network, n.d. Web. 07
May 2015.
“Statistics on Gun Deaths & Injuries.” Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence RSS. Web. 07 May
2015
[1]Sandy Hook Shooting: What Happened? CNN, http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2012/12/us/sandy-hook-timeline/index.html
[2] President Obama’s Gun Control Proposals, National Conference of State Legislatures, http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/justice/summary-president-obama-gun-proposals.aspx
[3] Defensive Gun Use, The New York Times, http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/15/defensive-gun-use/?_r=0
[4] United States Gun Facts, Figures and the Law, International Firearm Injury Prevention and Policy http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/united-states
[5] Statistics on Gun Death & Injuries, Law Center To Prevent Gun Violence http://smartgunlaws.org/gun-deaths-and-injuries-statistics/
[6] Who Wrote the Constitution, Laws Constitution, http://constitution.laws.com/who-wrote-the-constitution
[7] Providence Murder Rate, Eyewitness News, http://www.wpri.com/news/local/providence/providence-murder-rate-declined-in-2010