The United States has become a Nation in which anyone can own a firearm. The Second Amendment, which constitutes the right for an individual to bear arms, has become controversial among the American people. Advocates have struggled to come up with a solution to the ongoing debate of how to reduce gun violence and how not to infringe on the Second Amendment Americans are guaranteed by their Constitution the right to bear arms with good reason; laws seeking to control guns have been ineffective to the point where every citizen in every state should have the right to carry a concealed weapon. In the article “Fundamental Rights And The Right To Bear Arms” Cynthia Stark claims that gun control supporters feel that specific types of firearms and components that make a gun dangerous should be banned. Stark reports how the National Firearms Act of 1934 and the Gun Control Act of 1968 are the two major federal statutes that regulate firearms. Stark argues about the right to own a firearm and if owning a gun is considered a fundamental right to the lives of people. Advocates and opponents of gun control argue the nature and status of the right to bear arms. Opponents of gun control feel that the right to bear arms is …show more content…
A poll was conducted by the Southern States Police Benevolent Association to find the leading cause of crime. They found out that sixty-five percent didn’t think that gun control was an effective method to combat crime (Bejlefeld). Only one percent thought that guns caused crime while forty-eight percent said drug abuse was one of the leading causes of crime (Bejlefeld). Twenty-one percent believed that one of the main causes of crime has to do with the failure of the criminal justice systems (Bejlefeld). This report proves that gun is not the leader in crime and the failure of the justice system is the leading cause of
As violence and murder rates escalate in America so does the issue of gun control. The consequence of this tragedy births volatile political discourse about gun control and the Second Amendment. The crux of the question is what the founding fathers meant when they wrote, “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.” Since the writing of the Second Amendment the make and model of firearms has changed dramatically and so has the philosophies of the people. A rifle is no longer defined as a single shot, muzzle-loading musket used to primarily protect families or solely for food. Should the weapons we use today be protected by an amendment written nearly 222 years ago? Should the second amendment be rewritten? Does the Second Amendment apply to individual citizens? These questions spark extensive debates in Washington D.C. regarding what the founding fathers intended the amendment to be. The answer to this question lies in the fact that despite hundreds of gun control articles having been written , still the gun control issue remains unresolved. History tells us gun control debates will be in a stalemate until our judicial system defines or rewrites the Second Amend. This paper will examine the history of the Second Amendment, and attempt to define the framers intent, gun control legislation and look at factors that affect Americans on this specific issue...
America is the most well armed nation in the world, with American citizens owning about 270 million of the world’s 875 million firearms (Marshall). Indeed, this is more than a quarter of the world’s registered firearms. The reason why Americans own so many guns is because of the Second Amendment, which 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.” (Rauch) This amendment guarantees U.S. citizens the right to have firearms. Since this amendment is relatively vague, it is up for interpretation, and is often used by gun advocates to argue for lenient gun laws. Hence, gun control is a frequently discussed controversial topic in American politics.
Lott, Jr. John R. More Gun Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000. Print.
In the book Guns, Gun Control, and Elections: The Politics and Policy of Firearms, Wilson discusses the complex issue of gun control and the many debates and controversies regarding the issue. Many people throughout the United States feel it is the right as a citizen in the United States to own a weapon, and the government should have no say in the matter. These people believe this because of the part of the Second Amendment that states, “The right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.” People who are strong advocates against gun control use this part of the Second Amendment to drive their point across. Advocates against gun control believe that preserving the freedom of a state through a militia is not the only way it should be looked at, these people believe that the amendment also implies a clause that takes into account one’s right for self-defense.
In America guns have been a part of the country’s society since it’s birth. Throughout history the citizens of the US have used firearms to protect the nation, protect their families, hunt for food and engage in sporting activities. The issue of Guns and gun control is complex. Weighing the rights and liberties of the individual against the welfare and safety of the public has always been a precarious balancing act. In the United States, gun control is one of these tumultuous issues that has both sides firmly entrenched in their positions. Those parties in favor of gun ownership and the freedom to use and keep arms, rely on the fact that the provision for such rights is enshrined in their constitution. In this climate of growing violence, rife with turmoil and crime, gun advocates feel more than ever that their position is justified. As citizens of the “Land of the Free” possessing a gun is a fundamental right, and may even be a necessity... Anti- gun lobbyists point to the same growing violence and gun related crimes in an effort to call on the government to take action. By enacting more laws and stricter control, these people not in favor of guns feel society would be better safer.
Over the past five years Americans have seen many horrific tragedies related to gun violence. Each of these terrible events has been accompanied with scrutinizing media coverage, and subsequently, a push on government level for increased gun control. On the surface these movements to take away guns from Americans may seem justified because of these events. In reality the federal government is encroaching upon our Second Amendment, the right to bear arms.
The United States Constitution is regarded as the supreme law of the land. When it was drafted over two centuries ago, the goal of the founding fathers was to provide for the general welfare and common defense of all citizens, establish a more perfect Union and insure domestic tranquility for the United States of America. Unfortunately, this tranquility has been disturbed by unnecessary tragedies at the hand of armed individuals. Tragedies like the Sandy Hook shooting and the Columbine massacre, where armed individuals took the life of innocent civilians mercilessly, have shaken our communities and forced us to take a different approach when it comes to gun safety. Gun control has been the topic of many heated debated in recent years. We have, as a nation, become so accustomed to firearms in our everyday lives whether for protection, hunting, or self-defense, that we have forgotten that firearms are dangerous and deadly weapons. The second amendment of the Constitution grants all individuals the right to bear arm; however, this amendment continues to be used and abused by individuals who chose to interpret it differently than it was originally intended. It is our duty, as citizens of this great nation, to open our eyes wide and realize that this problem is not going to fix itself. Although the right for all individual to bear arm is granted and secure in our Constitution, it is imperative for the safety our population to regulate all gun purchases and tighten by the requirements necessary to purchase a firearm in order to prevent further tragedies from occurring.
In 1968 Congress passed the Gun Control Act. This act regulates interstate commerce in firearms, making it so that you must be a licensed manufacturer, dealer, or importer. The Gun Control Act was the first attempt at restricting easy access to a firearm. In 1976 the District of Columbia City Council prohibited it’s residents from owning a handgun. Dick Anthony Heller sued the district in 2007 for denying him the right to keep his handgun in his home on Capitol Hill. In June 2008, the Supreme Court ruled the District of Columbia’s handgun ban was unconstitutional. The people of this country believe in their reserved rights, Mr. Heller’s fought for his second amendment right and won, showing the spirit of democracy. Since the Columbine High School shootings in 1999, 27 separate mass shootings have left five or more people dead each time. These randoms acts of violence have taken place in schools (Sandy Hook, Virginia Tech), the workplace (Fort Hood), movie theaters(Aurora, CO) , and even in the church (Charleston, S.C.). Everyday seems to bring new tragedy involving guns, but is it the gun that is killing people or the operator? As with anything, there are pro and cons to the right of own a firearm. With a firearm in your possession, you can protect yourself and your family from just about any threat. Having a gun gives you power over your own life, but this power also extends over someone else life
In the United States today, gun control has become a very big issue in the lives of its citizens. People arguing with each other over whether it is our constitutional right to be able to obtain and bear any kind of arms that we choose or that it only belongs to the militia. Many arguments come up over whether or not just average people can show up at a gun show and sell a gun to any person without giving them a background check first. Not only do they want back ground checks they want restrictions, and bans. Should there be bans on certain kinds of weapons? If so what kind of weapons? Should any person be able to buy a gun anytime or any place? Are people getting the right picture on what guns do for the country or are they getting deprived of information? It was shown that, “Out of 300 evening news segments, anti-gun stories outnumbered pro-gun stories by 164 to 20” (Dickens 1). This is an outstanding number that shows that the media plays a huge role in what people think about the issue of gun control. If all they see is guns involved with murders, and not involved with self-defense; how much longer will we have our guns? All of these things are factoring in to the issue of gun control and how important it is to some people and hated by others. In this paper I will lay out different views, arguments, and issues that could affect gun collectors, hunters, and the every day citizen for years to come.
Americans participated in a great debate through the 60's, 70's, 80's, and into the 90's. It is the argument of whether handguns, shotguns, and rifles should be restricted or banned. This debate over ownership of a firearm has produced strong emotions through the past years and does not seem to be abating. Does the U.S. Constitution give people the right, or should guns be restricted or banned because they are used in the commission of many crimes? Some argue that the right to bear arms is not as vital today as it was in the 1700's, or that it does not apply to individuals.
Argument Essay Outline I. Introduction After the shocking massacre in Sandy Hook Elementary school, Connecticut, people nationwide had been focused on the debate over gun control. Statistics from “Poll: Support for tighter Gun Checks Ebbs” published by The Wall Street Journal shows that over half of the people support stricter gun controls. President Obama has recently announced twenty three mentioned major executions in his speech: “Now is the Time” to prevent more gun violence. Despite the concern of the people, articles such as “One Year after Newtown, Congress Still Stalled on Gun Control” from the CBS news shows that the Congress had been reluctant on passing such regulations.
From an ethical standpoint will the use of a gun be morally right or wrong? The answer will depend on what the gun is used against and its purpose for its use. I would think most people would agree that less shooting and gun violence is a good thing, also these people would agree that protecting yourself and feeling secure is surely a good thing. The problem of courses rises when trying to achieve these goals without conflicting ideas. The United States has over 89% of firearms for each 100 individuals, or around 270,000,000 weapons, which is the most noteworthy aggregate and per capita number on the planet. 22% of Americans own one or more weapons; that is 35% of men to 12% of ladies. Since 2013 the support of gun rights in America
With the recent increase in gun-related tragedies, politicians have adjusted their stumping to address America's gun laws. Taking a strong position on the gun laws is understandable, as a majority of the American people find themselves on one side of a political dichotomy; the two sides of which seek either to preserve the current gun laws, or to restrict the American people's right to bear arms. The answer to the current hysteria surrounding gun laws lies not on the side of restriction, but on the side of preservation.
Liberty – the state of being free from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority – is a defining element of American values. The right to liberty from tyranny was a central motivation that fueled the American Revolution and the subsequent founding of the United States. The implications of and limits to liberty have been continually debated and evolved since the revolutionary era and are perhaps more relevant than ever today. One prominent issue pertaining to liberty is gun control. Established by James Madison in the Bill of Rights, the Second Amendment gave citizens “the right to bear arms.” Since then, some lawmakers and citizens have sought to restrict the right to bear arms in an attempt to preserve safety for all. As a result of such
“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” (“Second Amendment”). Every American is familiar with this sentence from the United States (U.S.) Constitution, which gives all American citizens the essential right to own and use a firearm. However, many people are challenging this right at this very moment. In fact, it is a constant debate whether guns should be completely banned, restricted, or left alone as they are already. Many people are now questioning how much control the American people should have when it comes to firearms. Guns are definitely a hot topic for our nation right now and people should be informed on the options there