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Gun Control is a term that refers to the attempt to reduce violence caused by the use of firearms by regulating their ownership and use. Gun control efforts generally focus on passing legislation by local, state, or national government to restrict legal ownership of certain firearms. (Zimring, 1197) Most countries have some restrictions on firearms. This term paper discusses gun control in the United States. Proponents (people who are for it) of strict gun control laws argue that reducing the number of crimes committed with guns would save lives. Each year in the United States, more than 35, 000 people are killed by guns. This is a death rate much higher than in any other industrial nation.
Attacks involving a gun are five times more likely to result in a death than similar attacks made with a knife. In 1992 guns were the weapons used in approximately two-thirds of the murders in the United States. However, gun control laws offer protection for gun owners, and a lot of scared people who want protection in a society that s starting to mirror its movies. (Wouters, pt. 1) Violence is learned and easily picked up. It really isn t just a gun problem, says Jane Grady, assistant director of the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence at the University of Colorado.
We could have all kinds of controls on the guns, but that doesn t necessarily mean our problems will be solved. (Wouters, pt. 2) A recent study found that Americans murder each other with guns at a rate 19 times higher than any of the 25 richest nations surveyed. (Wouters, pt. 1) After a particularly shocking killing, several countries have chosen to ban handguns outright. But that hasn t happened in the United States, which gives a constitutional right to own a gun. While gun control laws may decrease criminals access to guns, the same laws restrict law-abiding citizens. About half of all U. S. families own at least one gun. (Wouters, pt. 2) The most common reasons for gun ownership are protecting the home, hunting or target shooting, and collecting.
Gun control laws aim to reduce the criminal use of guns as much as possible while not putting large burdens on legitimate gun users. (Zimring, 1197) Opponents of gun control laws, including organizations such as the National Rifle Association (NRA), object to the inconvenience these laws may cause to law-abiding gun buyers or owners. Another objection to gun control laws concerns the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which reads: 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. (Cooperman, ABC) Those who oppose restrictions on gun ownership find support in the language of the Second Amendment and believe that it should be interpreted to guarantee citizens free access to firearms. However, the courts have never struck down a gun control law because of this provision, in part because they have interpreted the Second Amendment as applying only to militia weapons; nonetheless, the Second Amendment has been an important part of the debate on gun control. (Sanchez, pg. A 01) The federal government and all U. S. states have some gun control laws.
These laws are based on several strategies: forbidding people who are considered to be irresponsible from obtaining any firearms; prohibiting anyone other than the police, the military, and persons with special needs from acquiring high-risk guns that is, those that are particularly likely to be misused; and requiring waiting periods before purchasing a gun or gun license. (Cooperman, ABC) Federal and state laws prohibit people with criminal records or other individuals deemed to be poor risks from acquiring guns. Both federal and many state laws also prohibit minors from purchasing guns. (Sanchez, pg. A 01) The second gun control strategy centers on high-risk guns. Since 1934, federal law has severely restricted machine guns (weapons that fire many rounds of ammunition with a single pull of a trigger) and sawed-off shotguns.
The Congress of the United States judged these to be high-risk weapons. (Sanchez, pg. A 01) Since the late 1980 s, many people have proposed adding some semiautomatic rifles and pistols to the list of restricted high-risk weapons. These guns require a separate pull of the trigger to fire each round of ammunition but can quickly fire many rounds. Restrictions on the sale of some semiautomatic guns, which are called assault weapons in the legislation, became federal law in 1994. (Wouters, pt. 2) There have also been proposals to treat handguns (revolvers and pistols) as special high-risk weapons that ordinary citizens should not own. These proposals are controversial. (Sanchez, pg. A 01) Their backers argue that handguns are easily concealed and are much more likely to be used in crime than are rifles and shotguns. (Wouters, pt. 2) Opponents of handgun restrictions argue that taking handguns from law-abiding citizens would not prevent the possession of guns by criminals.
Despite this controversy, some localities and states have laws that stringently restrict private ownership of handguns. (Cooperman, ABC) Other strategies for controlling guns require the licensing of guns or waiting periods before purchasing a gun. These strategies are designed to allow time for law enforcement officials to make sure that a buyer is not prohibited from owning a gun. (Sanchez, pg. A 01) Some U. S.
states have adopted laws based on these strategies, and in 1993, after a seven-year battle, the U. S. Congress passed the Brady Bill, named after former White House press secretary James Brady. Brady and his wife, Sarah, became proponents of gun control after Brady was shot and seriously wounded during a 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. (Wouters, pt. 2) The Brady Law, which went into effect in 1994, provides a five-day waiting period to allow local law enforcement officials to make sure the purchaser is qualified to own a handgun. (Zimring, 1197) The law also established a $ 200 federal firearm license fee and a $ 90 annual license renewal fee. People who oppose such licensing and waiting periods argue that legitimate gun owners must pay the cost of the procedures and bear the inconvenience of waiting periods. (Wouters, pt. 1) Both sides have an arguable cause. The solution to this problem may never be found.
If something is not done soon, then what is to come. Will there be too strict laws on firearms or will the government be lenient to legitimate gun owners. That is still the argument at hand. Bibliography Cooperman, Jacki. Old Gun Debate Gets New Spin.
News Report. ABC. 15 Jan. 1999 This news report talked about the constitution and why people should have guns vs. why people should not own guns. Sanchez, Rene. Gun Control Sweeps the State. Washington Post. 23 Oct. 1999, pg A 01 This article talks about new laws proposed by congress on gun control and the reaction of the public.
Wouters, Jorgan. The Land of Guns and Death. Armed in America, ABC. 19 June, 1998 This television broadcast relays information on the topic of Americas gun control laws compared to those of foreign countries. Wouters, Jorgan.
Natural Born Killers. Armed in America, ABC. 25 June, 1998 This is the second part to the news series. It discusses the increase of crimes with guns and what can be done about it. Zimring, Franklin E. Gun Control.
Encarta Encyclopedia. 1197 (1993 - 1997). CD Rom. June 1998 The point of this article is to define gun control based on what the law says. Gun Control Vs.
The Right to Bear Arms Arguably one of Americas most controversial topics
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Research essay sample on Gun Control Laws Law Abiding Citizens
