Gun Control

A gun and cartridges placed against the United States flag
Restricting gun access has been controversial in the US because the country’s constitution considers owning a gun as a basic human right.

Gun control refers to a set of laws that regulate the possession of weapons by the civilians of a country. These weapons could be revolvers, rifles, pistols, or other types of guns. In most countries, the laws come with several restrictions. However, it has always been a matter of argument whether this ownership is a right or a privilege, especially in the United States. Misusing the right has often led to gun violence in the country and made gun control a global human rights issue. 

There have been attempts, in the past, by various bodies such as the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Bamako Declaration to place certain gun control laws for world civilians; in most countries, possession of a weapon by a citizen is considered a criminal offence. 

Take a look at the following gun control essays to understand what the issue is exactly about.

Gun Control Essay Examples

Gun Control

News is all around us and is readily available to everyone. There are many flaws in the system that hurts the authenticity of the news when you see it. The media is indirectly part of the political system. Most news is either considered liberal or conservative by many.

Gun Control: Is It Gun Violence or Not?

The conversation of gun control and gun regulation has been a great debate over the decades. NRA Executive vice president Wayne LaPierre, in his speech on Newtown Shooting that occurred on December 21st, 2012, addresses the topic of gun control and argues that guns are not the cause of gun violence.

Gun Control Problems and Solutions

Since the early days, gun control has been a never-ending debate. It is because of the fast increase in crime, the fight for the right to own a hand gun, the introduction of legislation for gun control in order reduce the crime in the United States, that this issue has been hotly debated in recent years.

Gun Control in America

One of the biggest issues facing our nation today seems to be gun control. The government is constantly proposing legislation for more and more gun laws. There are people that feel strongly on both sides of this issue. Neither side wants more gun violence; the question is how to control gun violence.

Gun Control Essay

What is the need for gun control? The necessity of gun control is one of the most debatable topics today, and one of the reason for gun control is to get the guns out of the wrong hands. 33 million Americans own firearms for hunting, but hunting is not the sole reason for which many citizens of America purchase firearms.

Gun Culture in the US

A poster depicting a gun placed against the backdrop of the Second Amendment script at the National Firearms Museum
Guns are allowed in the US under the Second Amendment, but it’s still a heated topic of debate due to frequent shooting episodes.

Gun control in America has always been a controversial topic. Since 1791, US civilians have been allowed to carry guns as a part of the Second Amendment of the US Constitution, which states that “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.”

But in the 21st century, the country witnessed a high number of firearm-related deaths (mostly homicides and suicides). Between 2012 and 2018, there have been incidents of public mass shootings, especially in schools and colleges of Las Vegas, Texas, California, and Florida. In 2012, 27 children and teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary, Connecticut were murdered in a gun violence episode; 49 people died at a Florida nightclub in 2016; 60 people were killed in Las Vegas in 2017; and in 2018, 14 students and three staff members were shot at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. Since then, the exact meaning of the Second Amendment has been a topic of debate—whether these rights of gun ownership are actually a violation of human rights.

In the past, the US congress put up firearms legislations, which, at times, were approved by the US Supreme Court. It included the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934, the Federal Firearms Act (FFA) of 1938, United States v. Miller (1939), The National Rifle Association of America (NRA, 1871), and the Gun Control Act (GCA) of 1968. All of these have collectively restricted among civilians the sale and ownership of high-risk weapons. In 2008, the Supreme Court ruled in District of Columbia v. Heller that the federal government be barred from making gun possession illegal. As of January 2022, 21 states in the country allow civilians to carry weapons without a permit.

America Does NOT Need Gun Control

There are presently in excess of 200 million guns in the United States, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms  Each year this number grows by 4 to 5 million. There are 60 to 65 million legal owners of one or more guns.

An Argument Against Gun Control

An Argument Against Gun Control As long ago as 1789, the creators of the Constitution realized the importance of guns in American society. 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.”

The Necessity of Gun Control

Gun control is one of the most debatable topics today. Thirty-three million Americans own firearms for hunting (Aitkens 9). But hunting is not the sole reason for which many individuals buy firearms. Of all countries, the United States is the one which is troubled most by a large number of criminals who are in possession of guns.

Gun Control Shootings

Injuries or deaths caused by firearms are an ever increasing concern to public health in the United States. Reports of school shootings, homicides, and suicides committed with firearms are a gripping trend that are seen all too often in news headlines.

Gun Control Laws – Should They Be Altered?

While many people believe there should be more gun control and the possibility of banning guns all together, I believe the gun control laws should not be changed. Although there are many reasons that may persuade people to choose to ban guns, I believe that there are several other reasons that lead to all the tragedies with guns in America.

The Gun Control Debate

A man holding a flag participating in a rally against gun control at the Minnesota State Capitol
Gun use by US civilians is considered a basic human right but has always been a controversial topic.

The primary reason for the gun control debate is that the proponents believe the Second Amendment was written during different times and isn’t applicable in the 21st century. There is no need for common people to carry guns, and a gun in the wrong hands only leads to tragedies. On the other hand, the opponents still consider the possession of weapons a fundamental human right as per the constitution. The party argues that these weapons are a part of self-defense.

Imposing restrictions on weapons would definitely reduce the risk of shootings. Passing a decision of this stature would also show the government in agreement with the US public, but at the same time, it would violate the Second Amendment of the US Constitution and lead to a rise in a black market for guns.

Explore the following essays to learn more about the pros and cons of gun control.

We Need Gun Control

Baton Rouge, Lousiana–October 17, 1992–8:30 P.M….A Japanese exchange student, Yoshihiro Hattori, was searching for a party he had been invited to. Thinking he had found the house in which the social would take place, Yoshihiro knocked on the door.

The Pros And Cons Of Gun Control

As a result of several recent mass shootings, gun control has become a popular topic. Gun control refers to the laws, background checks, and more protections against mentally ill individuals purchasing firearms. Some of the population believes that gun control should be strengthened, while the others are against it.

Gun Control Is Not Crime Control

Gun Control is not Crime Control Americans are faced with an ever-increasing problem of violence. The streets of America are now a war zone. Teenage gangsters murder one another for drug territory, and innocent victims are caught in the crossfire.

Gun Control Measures in the Present Day

The 21st century has seen several mass shootings that resulted in the loss of innocent lives. In 2021, President Joe Biden passed new gun control bills, including “red flag laws” that regulate specific types of firearms and gun modifications, as well as research funding on firearms trafficking. The current government has also ensured the development of gun-free zones, strict ID checking for younger weapon buyers, banning assault rifles, and arming schools. All these efforts are in hopes of reducing gun violence in the US.

Gun Control Laws

Many government officials believe it is their right to control the use of firearms in our country. Many civilians believe it is their right to bear arms to protect themselves and their families. This has been a very controversial issue over the past recent years.

The Fight for a New Gun-Control Law

The devastating 1999 Columbine High School shooting caused grief and anger among the United States citizens and politicians. This horrifying tragedy that resulted in the death of thirteen innocent victims turned the spotlight on the country’s gun-control law.

Politics and Gun Control

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. – U. S. Constitution, “Amendment II” Over 200 years ago, when the Founding Fathers drafted the Second Amendment, no one ever questioned the need for private gun ownership.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does gun control work?

    As per most studies and statistics, imposing strict gun laws does reduce mass shootings and homicides. The tougher the laws get, the fewer gun-related deaths there are.

  • Can gun control reduce suicides?

    It has been observed that restricting firearms does result in fewer suicides among children and teenagers. Even though suicides can occur due to many reasons (including mental health issues), access to firearms does accelerate the risk of commiting them.

  • How many US citizens want gun control?

    Around 48% of Americans consider gun violence as an issue; as per Pew Research Center’s 2021 survey, 53% of the US population is in favor of stricter gun control laws.

  • Which countries have no gun control?

    Besides a few states in the United States, other countries that are quite lenient with respect to gun laws are Bosnia, France, Finland, Argentina, Norway, Panama, and Italy. It’s easy to obtain permits for owning guns in these countries.

  • Which states have the best gun control laws?

    California in the US has the strictest gun laws, followed by New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, Maryland, and Hawaii. The Constitution of California doesn’t allow private citizens to carry guns without a permit.