Firearms Control Laws in the United States

Gun control is an extremely controversial topic. Some people argue that the government has no authority to restrict the citizens’ rights to bear arms. Other people argue that it is the duty of the government to protect the people by getting tougher on gun control. Usually, gun control debates take place right after a national tragedy occurs. The United States already has background checks performed on people who are seeking to buy guns from gun stores. Despite the restrictions that are already set in place, terrible shootings continue to occur. People are deeply saddened and outraged at all of the gun violence, but people still find room to argue against taking action:

“If roads were collapsing all across the United States, killing dozens of drivers, we would surely see that as a moment to talk about what we could do to keep roads from collapsing. If terrorists were detonating bombs in port after port, you can be sure Congress would be working to upgrade the nation's security measures. If a plague was ripping through communities, public-health officials would be working feverishly to contain it.” (WP)

The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 was created to prevent federal firearm licensees or FFL’s from selling firearms to people who are presumed to be dangerous or irresponsible. Some of the people who would fall into these categories would be ex-felons, mental health patients (past and present), illegal drug users and addicts, juveniles, people with dishonorable discharges from the armed forces, people with rejected citizenship, and illegal aliens (paper). The permanent provisions of the Brady Act, effective November 30, 1998 led to the creation the National Instant Criminal Background Check System or NICS. (FBI) Brad...

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...done. In our country it is a right to bear arms. This means that we want law-abiding citizens to own firearms. How do we make sure that only good, law-abiding citizens maintain the right to bear arms while everyone else is denied the right to bear arms? In the end the only people who follow laws are law-abiding citizens. Criminals will never be deterred or bothered by breaking laws. So in conclusion I think that background checks are not restrictive enough when it comes to keeping ineligible people from obtaining firearms from an FFL. The background check can only go so far and if there is a will, there is a way for ineligibles to obtain firearms illegally.

Works Cited

FBI. "NICS." FBI. FBI, 21 May 2010. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.

Klein, Ezra. "Twelve Facts about Guns and Mass Shootings in the United States." Washington Post. N.p., 14 Dec. 2012. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.