The Importance Of Owning A Gun

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Owning a gun is both a fundamental right and a derivative right. The derivative right goes in hand with a fundamental right, the right to protect oneself from harm (Stark, 2001). Therefore, it is a derivative right because it is “derived from the right of self-defense” and self-defense is most important (Huemer, 2003, p. 299). Owning a gun also is a prima facie right, which is a right that must be given moral weight, but can be overridden by important countervailing reasons (Huemer, 2003). The prima facie right is needed because we have the right to gun ownership, but if our intent of owning a gun is to harm our self or others the right may be overridden. Self-defense is a main reason for many gun owners. Placing a ban on gun ownership weighs …show more content…

The act to do the wrong requires a separate decision to perform that activity (Huemer, 2003). Life is complete with risk every day, ownership and recreational use of firearms do not fall under excessive risks to cause harm. Gun control advocates debate often that those who have access to guns have a higher chance of using that gun in a heated argument (Boylan, 2003). Refuting this debate is that normal atypical individuals do not hold the thought of shooting someone during an argument (Huemer, 2003). In support of the idea, early research in 1988 showed that eighty nine percent of adult murders in which the murder resulted from an argument, the criminal had a prior criminal history (Huemer, 2003). Also, those who process murder as an option to end an argument can do so without a …show more content…

This comes just weeks after a shooting at a Navy/Marine recruiting station. These events urge needs of gun safety but the issue lies in who are doing these shootings. Implementing more controls over guns will take guns out of non-criminal hands and put them in criminal hands. Banning of guns, or placing restrictions on concealed gun carry is not the answer. Finding ways to get them out of criminal hands is. Let it be in the form of stricter penalties for legally purchasing only to turn around and sell; make it harder for private sale of guns without background checks; limit magazine size; just don’t ban concealed carry or guns themselves. It is a person’s right to own a gun for recreational pleasure and

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