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Gun Control For many years the problem of gun control remains one of the most controversial and debatable points not only because of its legal or political importance, but also due to its exceptional social and emotional background. Nowadays this issue attracted a new huge wave of public attention as a response on recent discussions in the Congress of the USA on the sufficiency of the existing controlling laws and the way we obey them. If to take a look at the statistics, the question of gun control seems really very important. Every year in the United States about 700, 000 crimes are being committed by using firearms, and there are 10 - 12 thousand murders among them, when peoples lives are being taken by shooting with fire weapon. Every day an accident related with gun becomes a reason of death of a dozen of American teenagers.
Annually about 150 American children under 15 die for the same reason, more than 1, 500 are being injured just accidentally! Now there is some statistics on gun control legislation. Almost every second American family keeps guns at home. 48 states allow legal buying and keeping guns, and in 43 of those states no special registration or certificate for that will be asked. In 5 of those states guns can be bought even by children, without any authorization of the adults. Only 4 states of the USA have legal limitations on the amount of guns allowed to be bought at once; some permit buying one handgun per month, in order to control illegal sells. But, of course, guns are not being used only with bad purposes: people carry guns in order to protect themselves from possible danger and to feel safer; besides, guns can be used for hunting, for sports or other entertaining activity.
That is why keeping guns does not seem as something strictly negative for everybody, so there are people, who support strict gun control policy and think that it is necessary for reducing the amount of crimes and violence, and people, who are against it, who argue that gun control limits the rights of Americans. As a rule it is not easy to find own position among the issues of this endless public investigation of the problems of gun control. And in order to come to own conclusion and to define own attitude on this point, it is necessary for everybody to learn and think over the major arguments, the most considerable pros and cons, which are being suggested by supporters and opponents of legislative gun control. It is common to think that guns are the most popular weapons of crimes, so it seems to be a central reason to strictly limit and control their manufacturing and distribution. But at the same time it is obvious that not guns, but criminals are the key objects in committing of crimes, and frequently they are armed not just only with guns. Guns may serve also as weapons of protection or threatening, so it may seem to be better to keep charged and loaded firearms at home for own safety in case if a robbery or other crime attempts will take place.
But on the other hand, ready and charged guns can be accidentally misused, especially in moments of rage or anger, and harm or injure close people at home. Accidental shooting becomes really a very considerable problem and takes numerous lives; thats why in case of keeping of ready guns at home, it is vital to make all members of family familiar with the rules of gun safety. But accidents connected with shooting may happen not only indoors, if people have opportunity to buy and keep guns freely, it can be a real danger to be killed by an easy-tempered person right on the streets after any sort of a quarrel or misunderstanding. Therefore it seems logical to allow carrying guns and firearms only to the military and police officers. But, surprisingly, in average, gun owners proved to be very responsible and stable, especially in self-defense. The states, which do not impose restrictions on carrying and using handguns and firearms, have much better statistic on accidents and crimes.
Besides, if to talk about policemen and other security officials, there are a lot of incidents of terrible murders of close people or even suspects by police officers, also a number of them were caught on illegal selling of their firearms. There is also such an opinion, that in some particular cases of a robbery or an attack, it would be better for own safety not to use loaded guns, not to show resistance and to obey calmly, so own life will be saved. To get some help and protection it is supposed to be better to call 911 and ask for professional assistance in looking for and catching the robbers. But, actually, it is much more effective and secure to welcome a robber with a gun, and than inform the police.
According to the research of National Institute for Justice, 60 % of potential robbers or criminals would not mess with a potential victim with a firearm, because criminals are likely to be afraid more to be killed at the place, than to be taken to police. Also, 74 % of criminals would not even make attempts to enter the houses when people are home, because it is one more huge danger of being shot. Some radical gun control supporters actively criticize the existing legislative base on this point, they insist on withdrawal of the Second Amendment, which protects the right of American people to bear and use weapons, including firearms, and also to adopt more and more laws, limiting gun possession, carrying and using, that, according to their opinion, will obviously result in decreasing of crime level. Opposite point is that, in fact, the very right of keeping guns is not a subject of the Second Amendment; it is a part of the Bill of Rights, the right of American freedom.
Besides, many years ago it was very easy to get a gun, and there were no forms, licenses, certificates or waiting periods, and at the same time the amount of committed crimes was noticeably smaller. As to total prohibition of using firearms in any cases, there is one demonstrative example. About 10 years ago in some states of the USA such sort of crime as car-jacking started developing at a fearful rate. And the decision has been made by the authorities to legalize the right of using of deadly force to eliminate the danger.
Policemen got authorization to kill the criminals at once at the place for such a crime, and very soon the rate of car-jacking started decreasing drastically. So, obviously, numerous prohibiting laws and amendments will not serve for reducing of the amount of crimes and violence, because they wont neutralize criminals. If total prohibition will not work, may be it would make sense to limit and control the sales of firearms, other hand weapons and ammunition, to require special registration and license for everybody who wants to buy and carry guns. But in real in some states such laws and regulations are already in force, but they are hardly efficient and are mostly limiting nothing more but personal and social liberties, especially for those people, who need to use guns in their professional activities, like sportsmen, hunters, etc. All the sorts of guns and firearms may also seem very dangerous and lethal because of their imperfections and faults in manufacturing.
Guns manufacturers and sellers are frequently blamed in lack of responsibility for their business, for bringing death, and also for playing with peoples emotions and fears with the aim of marketing of their goods. But in this situation guns are not only objects, which can be specified with such features, there is a great deal of dangerous things, like machinery, knives, nails, chemicals, etc. , which may seriously harm and injure people provided they are misused. Apart of all above mentioned, also such features of the guns as accuracy, size, quality, price, etc. also subject to detailed examination. For example, many people claim for banning the cheap guns, because they are mostly inaccurate and can be seriously harmful. But on the other hand, expensive guns are typically too very powerful and precise to be used for self-defense by usual people, besides they are hardly affordable by people, who may really need protection.
Actually, expensive guns can be very good to secure peace at home, because they are precise and reliable, but at the same time that accuracy and reliability may serve fatal in the hands of a criminal. Also it is supposed that guns for self-protection of usual people must not be very complicated and sophisticated, it must have no big capacity and be easily handled. But that handling must be enough protective and the guns must not become lethal toys of children. Besides, sophisticated and powerful guns are considered to be only available for police, security officers and other professionals, but frequently it is much harder for a person to resist a robbery or an attack, because usually they happen in darkness and in a lonely place. Certainly, security specialists always must be very well armed, but, as they are professionals, they frequently work in groups, supported with mobile connection and excellent transportation means, so they have really good backups and protection. There are numerous other points, which are under debates recently, like playing with taxes in order to tighten gun control legislation, hunting and eliminating illegal gun sellers and their clients, lowering suicide rates with the help of firearms restrictions, and many more.
But the objective question, which requires to be answered in order to understand problems of gun control, is: if we do not trust people with guns, why do we expect them to obey gun restricting rules? Thus, there are some really opposing viewpoints on the issues of gun control, and it is up to an individual to make a decision, what really makes sense in such public discussion. Probably, the most acceptable way is to carry out some means of controlling guns and firearms possessing and keeping, but such means firmly must not be radical and drastic, they must not make anybody feel oppressed. Maybe, more precise, but fast and clear procedures of receiving of license for bearing guns can be a good solution, because it will more or less filter people, who want to have guns, and not allow the weapons to come into the hands of suspicious, doubtful or mentally not healthy individuals. In any way, controversy of the point of gun control requires some considerable attention of American authorities in particular and American society in general.
Bibliography: Gun Control in the United States." A Comparative Survey of State Firearm Laws. Apr. , 2000. Open Society Institute. Feb. 16, 2005 < web publications / gun report 20000401 /GunReportChart 1. pdf > Korea, D. B.
Trust in People: the Case against Gun Control." July 11, 1998. CATO Institute. Feb. 16, 2005 < web > Lamp, D. Gun Control: Myths and Realities." May 13, 2000.
CATO University. Feb. 16, 2005 < web > Statistics on Gun Control" 2002. Speak Out Foundation. Feb. 16, 2005 < web >
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Research essay sample on Gun Control Legislation Carry Guns
