Gun Control - a Controversial Issue

The second amendment states, "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." (Mount) Gun control has been a controversial issue for years. A vast majority of citizens believe that if gun control is strictly enforced it would quickly reduce the threat of crime. Many innocent people feel they have the right to bear arms for protection, or even for the pleasure of hunting. These people are penalized for protecting their lives, or even for enjoying a common, innocent sport. To enforce gun control throughout the nation, means violating a persons Constitutional rights. Although some people feel that the issue of gun control will limit crime, the issue should not exist due to the fact that guns are necessary for self defense against crime, and by enforcing gun control is violating a citizens second amendment right to bear arms.

Guns are evil to some, because of the violence that they create. People express guns as weapons of homicide. They insist that, the more guns with which our society equips itself, the greater the likelihood for accidents or violent acts involving fire arms to occur. It is a proven fact that handguns have been the murder weapon of choice. Guns are involved in half of all homicide cases. People believe that society has relied on weapons that create harm and criminals. Therefore, these weapons should be outlawed. However, law abiding citizens have the right to protect themselves against danger. Due to the ownership of guns, burglaries have reduced considerably. A gun is a tool, guns don't kill people. People kill people. The matter depends on who is using the gun, and what situation it is involved in. Purchasing a handgun legally is a complex procedure. The consumer must go through a two month waiting period. These procedure guarantee the innocence and reliability of a gun owner.

The second amendment states the citizens right to own and bear firearms. Freedom to poses arms is a guaranteed citizen right. If the constitutional rights of a citizen are violated, it can be a complex issue. In the case of US vs Miller during the year of 1939, The supreme court voted against individual rights to bear arms. Nothing can destroy a government more quickly than its failure to observe its own laws. This is why all citizens should be aware of all of their constitutional rights.

Enforcing gun control is not going to have an effect on the crime rate, because it will not keep criminals from purchasing weapons. If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. If a person is willing to pay a price they will get what they want. Gun owners have to protect themselves from these criminals, and all gun

owners must be informed of their second Amendment right to keep and

bear arms.

Since the days of the pioneers, firearms

have been part of the American tradition as protection and a means of

hunting or sport. As we near the end of the 20th century the use of guns

has changed significantly. Because of fast and steady increase in crime

and the fight for the right to own a hand gun, 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.

Although many people feel that gun control violates the right of the

people, given in the second amendment "the right to bear arms", controlling

distribution and sales and the registration of guns and gun owners is

necessary because of the homicide rate involving guns and the violence by

criminals using guns.

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, better known as the NRA,

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.

However controlling the sale and distribution of firearms is

necessary because of the homicide rate involving guns. In 1988 there were

9000 handgun related murders in America. Metropolitan centers and some

suburban communities of America are setting new records for homicides by

handguns. Larger 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.

In addition gun control has been seen as necessary because of the

violence by criminals using guns. Gun control is wrapped in a series of

social issues such as crime and drugs. Guns have become closely linked to

drugs and murder in the public mind.