Battle For Gun Control Essay Research Paper free essay sample

Battle For Gun Control Essay, Research Paper The Battle for Gun Control Jason Reifschneider March 8, 1999 The Battle for Gun Control The United States of America has the highest rate of gun-related deceases of any states in the universe, and yet has some of the most broad policies of gun control. Very few Torahs exist that limit the sale, or trade of guns. Controversy surrounds this issue, with both sides touting statistics and studies to back up their instance. However, the issue of gun-control ordinances has non been resolved. Gun-control Torahs have regulated gun purchasing power, and yet has non provided clear cogent evidence of any sort of offense decrease. Americans have the right to bear weaponries as the Second Amendment provinces. This is a right, an undeniable privilege. When the fundamental law was created it was a symbolic gesture. The amendments created were to be the foundations of a great society they were the desires, and wants of this new state. We will write a custom essay sample on Battle For Gun Control Essay Research Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The Second Amendment was one of these desires. It states that all Americans have the right to bear weaponries, a right to have guns. It says nil about how this right should be hindered by control Torahs. A group that declares itself a guardian of this amendment is the National Rifle Association ( NRA ) . The NRA drapes itself with the Second Amendment, utilizing it as a cover-all for their beliefs. The NRA is America # 8217 ; s biggest opposition of gun control. Their slogan: Guns don # 8217 ; t kill people, people kill people. They oppose gun control on the footing that it restricts a Constitutional right that every American demand protected. Guns are legal, easy to purchase and fundamentally rather inexpensive. They can be bought anyplace. From the vicinity Wal-Mart to the secondary black-market. Americans love their guns. We have obsession with guns. 71 % of Americans own a gun. ( National Safety Council, 1995 ) Guns are a symbol of strength, maleness an undeniable power. But, does our love and popularity of guns have an affect on gun related offense and deceases? Pro-gun advocators would hold us believe non. The National Center for Policy Analysis claims this is the figure one myth that gun-control protagonists spew. They point to Switzerland as illustrations of states with high gun ownership and low offense rates. Switzerland ahs the highest sum of gun ownership in the universe, and yet has one of the lowest slaying rates in the universe. Switzerland relays on this high rate of gun ownership, since there is no active military all males 20-50 old ages old are required by jurisprudence to transport a military -issued au tomatic arm. However, this fact does little to back up the pro gun argument, since many other states such as Britain and Japan besides have low gun related deceases, but besides have low gun ownership rates. Whenever a fatal gun accident takes topographic point, peculiarly when a kid is involved if frequently makes province or national intelligence, such as the cause with the Jonesboro shots of spring of 1998. The onslaught and slaying of kids indignation America, doing a rage of gun-control advocators demanding stricter Torahs and punishments to protect kids from gun force. The NRA late lobbied for a licking in statute law ( brought before the senate as an reply to school land shots ) that would # 8217 ; ve made trigger locks compulsory. Although the Senate finally turned down the measure, may believe it would be the unequivocal gun jurisprudence to protect kids. Unfortunately, others saw otherwise. Mrs. Tanya Mates, executive manager NRA Institute for Legislative Action was quoted as stating # 8220 ; It was a great a twenty-four hours for gun safety in America, thanks to the U.S Senate. # 8221 ; ( Policy.com: Issue Library Gun Violence and Children ) This jurisprudence could hold pr otected kids but at what monetary value? When kids are violent, will gun Torahs forestall them killing? Americans will hold peace of head, but the power of the Second Amendment will be diluted. Unfortunately, Americans can non happen a common land. How can Americans protect both the rights of gun proprietors, and possible victims of gun force? Unfortunately, it takes decease or a great hurt for Torahs to be established, and so be brought up for statute law. The Brady Bill, passed February 28, 1994 established a jurisprudence that required that person might purchase all accredited pieces purchases subject on instant felon background cheque before the gun. This measure established by Jim Brady as a preventative step that would curtail felons from buying a gun. Jim Brady was shot while protecting the president Ronald Regan in 1980 by a adult male with a past felon record. Advocates of gun control claim this jurisprudence has decreased gun-related offense in America. While offense has decreased by 7 % in ten old ages, it has non been proven that this jurisprudence is the cause. And yet, force in teens and kids has accelerated. Why the recent force? Many point to our inexorable environment. Television, films and videogames as chief perpetrators for engendering these violent ideas in Americas kids. However, the facts remain: a k id can play guns, and still non harbour deathly purposes. The cause is far greater than that. The cause is accessibility. Guns are alluring, and easy for kids to acquire a clasp of. 88 % of childr nuts are injured or killed in hiting are shot in their places of relations and friends ( Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms: National Safety Council ) Gun control Torahs were created as a means non merely to protect Americans, but besides as agencies of offense decrease. The theory being that with fewer guns on the street, the less guns used for condemnable intents. Registering guns is non a preventative step. It has non proven to forestall gun offense. There are merely excessively many guns to command. Guns are easy assessable. Guns are a big portion of the American civilization. Americans have an international image, that we are violent, gun-toting cowpuncher. An image that is non needfully untrue. Guns are everyplace. Children conveying them to school so frequently that most interior metropolis public schools house metal sensors at their doors. How do Americans compensate our right to have guns, and our desire to protect others from their force? Guns are a necessary in all states, with Americans the 2nd merely to the most sum of amassed guns. Guns we claim are a protectant, and those gun control Torahs help Americans. And yet, n o clear facts have proven that gun Torahs have decreased offense. They neither aid, nor promote gun ownership. Are gun-control Torahs the reply? Possibly, this is non an reply easy given. Countless studies and statistics support both sides to this argument whether or non they are powerful in forestalling offense. Registering guns and gun control is non a new thought. Many states have adopted similar Torahs. A celebrated quotation mark that neither supports nor debunks gun control is one by Adolph Hitler. # 8220 ; This twelvemonth ( 1935 ) will travel on in history! For the first clip, a civilised state has full gun enrollment! Our streets will be safer, our constabularies more efficient and the universe will follow our lead into the hereafter! # 8221 ; And the universe has. In fact, Australia has some of the strictest gun-control Torahs established because of Americas instead broad gun-control Torahs. In a state such as Australia, on that prides itself as outback, wild and renegade, they late tightened already rigorous gun policies. Australian Prime Minister Jon Howard said that his # 8220 ; most effectual # 8221 ; line is accumulating support for an assault arms has been America. # 8220 ; I don # 8217 ; t want Australia to travel down the American way. There is a widespread position, which I believe is rather accurate, that the high homicide rates in the U.S. is in past due to the slack gun laws. # 8221 ; ( Los Angeles Times: July 30th, 1998 ) Americans gun Torahs are so slack due to wholly to the Second Amendment. This is a powerful Constitutional right. One that is defended by every bit powerful resistance. Most states have adopted similar Torahs as Australia. America is paralleled to every other state as a premonition to those states. And yet, America has about the same offense rates as Britain, Australia, and France. ( Time: May 14, 1998 ) Why are gun control Torahs so popular in most states? For many grounds, citizens without guns are people without power. They are people without the control to garner a reserves, or oppose any authorities. With constabulary and felons being the merely to 1s to ain guns, mean citizens need non worry. However, Americans still have the right to have a gun. Unlike other first universe states, we are virtually unrestricted in our gun purchasing powers. While we no longer necessitate guns to protect us on an mundane footing, they # 8217 ; rhenium still a convenience. One that many take adv antage of. Gun control Torahs may non hold proved to diminish offense, but they have regulated American gun power. Gun control Torahs are controversial for many grounds they restrict a constitutional right, doing the NRA and others to protest and buttonhole against their blessing. Nevertheless, gun control Torahs continue. New measures are created every twenty-four hours. In fact, since May of 1998, President Clinton has made gun safety a major aim and has proposed the Nationwide Child Access Prevention Laws. Laws that would do grownups responsible for any actions taken by kids with guns. If parents have neglected to procure their pieces, and let easy entree to a gun they would be reprehensively charged with their kid # 8217 ; s # 8217 ; offense. Gun control is really popular among politicians. Many believe it is the end-all to offense, and slaying. However, Americans can non avoid more gun ordinances. As America develops our demand for guns will cut down, and more limitations will take topographic point. Which is why gun control Torahs are so controversial. Americans feel protected by the huge wing of Amendment 2 of the Constitution. But, gun control Torahs hone in on the power that that amendment has. Gun control Torahs are merely that. Control Torahs. They control what sorts of guns we buy, how we buy them, and who gets to have them. However, more Torahs will boom. It is inevitable. Americans demand gun control Torahs, at the same clip they admonish them. Guns and Public Health: Epidemic of Violence or Pandemic of Propaganda? James D Wright and Peter Rossi: 1994 Policy.com: Gun Control in America: updated July 30, 1998 Time Sylvestor Monroe: # 8221 ; Guns in America # 8221 ; , May 1998 Armed and Considered Dangerous: A Survey of Felons and Firearms: Daniel Kates, 1986