Gun Laws
By: Kelly Witt
Do we deserve to have our gun rights taken away from us? The Second Amendment is a large part of our country and our history, and when it was created, it was widely appreciated. Today, as guns start to quickly advance, become more powerful and more commonly used, it is argued that guns are becoming a problem. Our nation is divided on the modern argument regarding whether we need to get rid of or change the Second Amendment, or gun rights. Many people believe that we should not do anything to affect the Second Amendment, as part of creating our country was giving more power to the people, including the right to protect ourselves with guns. Some feel like guns should be kept to protect us, or to be used as a hobby. Others believe that we need to restrict our usage or get rid of of guns, as they are becoming too much of a problem especially considering recent gun violence we have been powerless to stop. In recent society, it's almost impossible to determine who should not be allowed to have a gun, as now, seemingly harmless people are taking part in the violence. The overall issue at hand is: what should we do about the whole gun situation and which side has the better argument on this topic?
Let’s start this heated debate with the side that believes we deserve our right to keep the gun laws the way they are. So far, the most common arguments include: “It's our right to bear arms, as stated in the constitution, and The Bill of Rights,” and “People without guns are murdered daily.” Basically it's argued that they are needed for protection, and we deserve to keep them as said in the Constitution. As more violence has occured in the U.S., people have started to feel less and less safe, which isn't the best when you’re living in “the land of the free.”
It is the one of the first things mentioned in this debate that keeping guns is our right, as stated in The Bill of Rights. The second amendment says “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.” According to Marshall St John, owning guns is a strong form of supporting our rights and our freedom.1 In the article Marshall wrote, he uses pathos to try to guilt people into believing that if you don’t own a gun you don’t truly support our freedom in the U.S. Many websites and sources agree with this, which technically works to support this claim even more, considering how often it is used.
It is thrown around a lot, that another reason why we need to have guns is to protect ourselves. There are dozens of arguments against this as well as points that do a good job of backing this statement up. Most commonly, people are worried about others breaking into homes either for robbery or for straight up murder. It is believed that guns are used to protect ourselves and our families/friends from other people with guns. This is well said by John Donovan, who talks about how he feels that we should have guns for protection and that we as people are responsible for what we do with our weapons and that “no law will protect you.” 2 This brings up another argument I have come across stating that the government and/or law enforcements won't protect us and we need a way to protect ourselves in these times. A national survey was taken in February of 2013 that showed that among gun owners, 48% had them for protection, which is 22% more than the amount of people who had guns for protection in August of 1999.3 This could imply that within the time of 1999 and 2013, as gun numbers were raised as well as gun violence, many more people believed they were no longer safe, therefore buying guns in hopes of protection. One of the large lines between people is that when given the element of fear, some decided to buy more weaponry, while those in favor of eliminating firearms did what they could to get rid of them. This makes things even more complicated when deciding who is correct.
Now that we understand why many say we need to keep guns, let’s go over the opinions of those who believe we need to get rid of guns. Some common arguments for why we need to get rid of guns include the fact that they are too accessible, police and gun dealers can’t keep track of who will use guns for wrong, and guns are the third most common cause of death.4
First, in America you can get guns almost anywhere; they are way too accessible to just about anyone who wants one. All you need to acquire a gun is your name, address, date of birth, race, and citizenship. They then ask you a few basic questions, and the gun(s) are/is yours. 5 It's actually more difficult to get a dog than it is to get a gun. Getting a new pet can require a home visit before purchase as well as personal references.5 Other things that are harder to get than guns are passports, a divorce, cold medicine, and a drivers licence. In other words, the day someone wants to use a gun it's more than convenient to get one.
Second, It's becoming too difficult to keep track of those who should be able to use guns who aren't a threat. This is shown very well when looking back at the shooting that recently occurred in Las Vegas. A 64 year-old managed to create one of the largest shootings and when investigators looked back at his history, they found he had no criminal record. In the room he was staying in, they found over thirty guns and explosives, yet no clear motive for what was done. When more research was completed, they found out that the guy who sold the shooter his guns had said that there were no “red flags” or obvious reasons why he might be a threat.7 This means practically innocent, harmless people are candidates for violence and there's almost no way to regulate who we should be cautious of. “Trust no one.”
Third, guns are the third most common cause of death, not just in America, but worldwide. Although, it wouldn't be surprising if America accounted for a large percentage of those studies. Every day, an average of 19 kids are treated for gun wounds and many child gun injuries are caused by intentions of suicide.8 Many adults keep guns in their homes, as earlier stated, “for protection”, which means that guns are available for kids to get to. Many teens and children don’t talk to others about suicidal thoughts and depression, and too often it becomes too late. If one of these kids has such easy access to firearms, it usually means the end for that kid. Guns are a very final way to injure yourself. Now, at this point, people who want guns to stay would argue that “they are responsible gun owners” and they keep their guns locked in a safe so kids can't get to them. Yes, this is efficient for some people, only now, they are contradicting their first argument that guns are used for protection. If you have guns locked away, and someone, let’s say, breaks into your house aiming a gun at you and your family, you can't protect yourself because your guns are locked away in a safe.
This is often where this debate starts to get interesting. Let's go back to the original arguments from the people who want guns to stay. It was said that we have a right to keep guns, as stated in the second amendment in the bill of rights. At this point, those opposed to having guns easily disagree, as they are called “amendments.” The dictionary defines an “Amendment” as “A minor change in a document; a change or addition to a legal or statutory document.”, as in: they can be changed, which might end up happening considering all the recent violence that has happened. At this point, pro-gun owners would say that only some people have done mass shootings and we don’t deserve to have our guns taken away because of mistakes others have made. “Why should I have my rights taken away? I didn’t do anything wrong.” This is true, only if you look at how often these things happen it's too dangerous of a risk in current society. Therefore, all guns should be taken away, but wait! There's one problem with that: as guns are so available, meaning that so many people have guns, it would be incredibly difficult to take them all away, so we should just keep our guns and get more security. Then, those who don’t like guns could try to compromise and say something like: “how about we just put restrictions on guns, like let them be used for jobs, police, hunting, and even then only use handguns instead of assault rifles.” But then, people who like guns can’t collect guns, or use them in sport anymore. What if people want to keep their assault rifles? It's funny that we even call them assault rifles. They sound like they’re going to be used to assault someone; “they're not called peace rifles, they're called Assault rifles.” Around here is when “ protection”, and earlier debates get thrown back in, and the whole argument becomes a blur of repetitive nonsense. This is well explained by Jim Jefferies.9
This is an incredibly difficult debate because so many arguments on both sides contradict themselves, and so many true points can be made for both as well. This has been an issue for so many years now, and it's clear why we have gotten almost nowhere with it. The Second Amendment was brilliant, useful, and significant when it was first created. It helped join us together as a country, combined with our other rights we were given, and it made history. We have come so far with technology and mass production in current society, and guns have created so many new problems that couldn't be predicticted back then. Such an issue could not be properly summed up in an essay like this one, nor could it be decided who is correct. Either way, the final question that stands is: do you want to take the risk and keep guns around, or play it safe and have them taken away?
https://www.ammoland.com/2011/08/fifteen-reasons-you-should-own-a-gun/#axzz4w0qNhZHC1
http://thefederalist.com/2016/06/24/why-we-will-always-need-to-own-guns/2
http://www.people-press.org/2013/03/12/why-own-a-gun-protection-is-now-top-reason/3
https://nowtoronto.com/news/10-reasons-we-need-a-national-handgun-ban/4
http://money.cnn.com/2015/06/19/news/guns-background-checks/index.html5
http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/16/health/getting-gun-ease-trnd/index.html6
http://www.npr.org/2017/10/02/555170297/shooter-behind-las-vegas-massacre-had-no-criminal-record7
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/childhood-firearms-homicide_us_5947ddbbe4b0f15cd5bce3e68
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4g87779
By: Kelly Witt
Do we deserve to have our gun rights taken away from us? The Second Amendment is a large part of our country and our history, and when it was created, it was widely appreciated. Today, as guns start to quickly advance, become more powerful and more commonly used, it is argued that guns are becoming a problem. Our nation is divided on the modern argument regarding whether we need to get rid of or change the Second Amendment, or gun rights. Many people believe that we should not do anything to affect the Second Amendment, as part of creating our country was giving more power to the people, including the right to protect ourselves with guns. Some feel like guns should be kept to protect us, or to be used as a hobby. Others believe that we need to restrict our usage or get rid of of guns, as they are becoming too much of a problem especially considering recent gun violence we have been powerless to stop. In recent society, it's almost impossible to determine who should not be allowed to have a gun, as now, seemingly harmless people are taking part in the violence. The overall issue at hand is: what should we do about the whole gun situation and which side has the better argument on this topic?
Let’s start this heated debate with the side that believes we deserve our right to keep the gun laws the way they are. So far, the most common arguments include: “It's our right to bear arms, as stated in the constitution, and The Bill of Rights,” and “People without guns are murdered daily.” Basically it's argued that they are needed for protection, and we deserve to keep them as said in the Constitution. As more violence has occured in the U.S., people have started to feel less and less safe, which isn't the best when you’re living in “the land of the free.”
It is the one of the first things mentioned in this debate that keeping guns is our right, as stated in The Bill of Rights. The second amendment says “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.” According to Marshall St John, owning guns is a strong form of supporting our rights and our freedom.1 In the article Marshall wrote, he uses pathos to try to guilt people into believing that if you don’t own a gun you don’t truly support our freedom in the U.S. Many websites and sources agree with this, which technically works to support this claim even more, considering how often it is used.
It is thrown around a lot, that another reason why we need to have guns is to protect ourselves. There are dozens of arguments against this as well as points that do a good job of backing this statement up. Most commonly, people are worried about others breaking into homes either for robbery or for straight up murder. It is believed that guns are used to protect ourselves and our families/friends from other people with guns. This is well said by John Donovan, who talks about how he feels that we should have guns for protection and that we as people are responsible for what we do with our weapons and that “no law will protect you.” 2 This brings up another argument I have come across stating that the government and/or law enforcements won't protect us and we need a way to protect ourselves in these times. A national survey was taken in February of 2013 that showed that among gun owners, 48% had them for protection, which is 22% more than the amount of people who had guns for protection in August of 1999.3 This could imply that within the time of 1999 and 2013, as gun numbers were raised as well as gun violence, many more people believed they were no longer safe, therefore buying guns in hopes of protection. One of the large lines between people is that when given the element of fear, some decided to buy more weaponry, while those in favor of eliminating firearms did what they could to get rid of them. This makes things even more complicated when deciding who is correct.
Now that we understand why many say we need to keep guns, let’s go over the opinions of those who believe we need to get rid of guns. Some common arguments for why we need to get rid of guns include the fact that they are too accessible, police and gun dealers can’t keep track of who will use guns for wrong, and guns are the third most common cause of death.4
First, in America you can get guns almost anywhere; they are way too accessible to just about anyone who wants one. All you need to acquire a gun is your name, address, date of birth, race, and citizenship. They then ask you a few basic questions, and the gun(s) are/is yours. 5 It's actually more difficult to get a dog than it is to get a gun. Getting a new pet can require a home visit before purchase as well as personal references.5 Other things that are harder to get than guns are passports, a divorce, cold medicine, and a drivers licence. In other words, the day someone wants to use a gun it's more than convenient to get one.
Second, It's becoming too difficult to keep track of those who should be able to use guns who aren't a threat. This is shown very well when looking back at the shooting that recently occurred in Las Vegas. A 64 year-old managed to create one of the largest shootings and when investigators looked back at his history, they found he had no criminal record. In the room he was staying in, they found over thirty guns and explosives, yet no clear motive for what was done. When more research was completed, they found out that the guy who sold the shooter his guns had said that there were no “red flags” or obvious reasons why he might be a threat.7 This means practically innocent, harmless people are candidates for violence and there's almost no way to regulate who we should be cautious of. “Trust no one.”
Third, guns are the third most common cause of death, not just in America, but worldwide. Although, it wouldn't be surprising if America accounted for a large percentage of those studies. Every day, an average of 19 kids are treated for gun wounds and many child gun injuries are caused by intentions of suicide.8 Many adults keep guns in their homes, as earlier stated, “for protection”, which means that guns are available for kids to get to. Many teens and children don’t talk to others about suicidal thoughts and depression, and too often it becomes too late. If one of these kids has such easy access to firearms, it usually means the end for that kid. Guns are a very final way to injure yourself. Now, at this point, people who want guns to stay would argue that “they are responsible gun owners” and they keep their guns locked in a safe so kids can't get to them. Yes, this is efficient for some people, only now, they are contradicting their first argument that guns are used for protection. If you have guns locked away, and someone, let’s say, breaks into your house aiming a gun at you and your family, you can't protect yourself because your guns are locked away in a safe.
This is often where this debate starts to get interesting. Let's go back to the original arguments from the people who want guns to stay. It was said that we have a right to keep guns, as stated in the second amendment in the bill of rights. At this point, those opposed to having guns easily disagree, as they are called “amendments.” The dictionary defines an “Amendment” as “A minor change in a document; a change or addition to a legal or statutory document.”, as in: they can be changed, which might end up happening considering all the recent violence that has happened. At this point, pro-gun owners would say that only some people have done mass shootings and we don’t deserve to have our guns taken away because of mistakes others have made. “Why should I have my rights taken away? I didn’t do anything wrong.” This is true, only if you look at how often these things happen it's too dangerous of a risk in current society. Therefore, all guns should be taken away, but wait! There's one problem with that: as guns are so available, meaning that so many people have guns, it would be incredibly difficult to take them all away, so we should just keep our guns and get more security. Then, those who don’t like guns could try to compromise and say something like: “how about we just put restrictions on guns, like let them be used for jobs, police, hunting, and even then only use handguns instead of assault rifles.” But then, people who like guns can’t collect guns, or use them in sport anymore. What if people want to keep their assault rifles? It's funny that we even call them assault rifles. They sound like they’re going to be used to assault someone; “they're not called peace rifles, they're called Assault rifles.” Around here is when “ protection”, and earlier debates get thrown back in, and the whole argument becomes a blur of repetitive nonsense. This is well explained by Jim Jefferies.9
This is an incredibly difficult debate because so many arguments on both sides contradict themselves, and so many true points can be made for both as well. This has been an issue for so many years now, and it's clear why we have gotten almost nowhere with it. The Second Amendment was brilliant, useful, and significant when it was first created. It helped join us together as a country, combined with our other rights we were given, and it made history. We have come so far with technology and mass production in current society, and guns have created so many new problems that couldn't be predicticted back then. Such an issue could not be properly summed up in an essay like this one, nor could it be decided who is correct. Either way, the final question that stands is: do you want to take the risk and keep guns around, or play it safe and have them taken away?
https://www.ammoland.com/2011/08/fifteen-reasons-you-should-own-a-gun/#axzz4w0qNhZHC1
http://thefederalist.com/2016/06/24/why-we-will-always-need-to-own-guns/2
http://www.people-press.org/2013/03/12/why-own-a-gun-protection-is-now-top-reason/3
https://nowtoronto.com/news/10-reasons-we-need-a-national-handgun-ban/4
http://money.cnn.com/2015/06/19/news/guns-background-checks/index.html5
http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/16/health/getting-gun-ease-trnd/index.html6
http://www.npr.org/2017/10/02/555170297/shooter-behind-las-vegas-massacre-had-no-criminal-record7
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/childhood-firearms-homicide_us_5947ddbbe4b0f15cd5bce3e68
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4g87779