Right to Bear Arms

Due to the recent circumstances, our country has yet again been faced with the question of gun control. This question has been posed several times to our great nation seemingly without a response. Is it too difficult to answer, or are we avoiding this issue in its entirety? It is believed that a movement toward either side of this highly controversial argument would do nothing but tear our country apart. This is what is holding us back from making any progress. Under current circumstances, I believe that additional regulations should be put on firearms in order to prevent those with wicked intentions from obtaining such weapons.

The fact of the matter is that a vast majority of violent crimes are committed using firearms. According to a study conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 67% of murders committed in the United States in 2008 were with the use of firearms. This number alone shows that people whom should not have access to guns have been able to get ahold of them. Under minimum state requirements, all that is needed to purchase a weapon is the presentation of photo-identification. In another study conducted by the Government Accountability office, undercover federal agents were able to purchase firearms using bogus IDs with a 100% success rate. This study shows the ease in which criminals can illegally obtain firearms. With minimum requirements to get weapons, minimal effort must be put in by criminals to illegally obtain them. The fact that those who are declared by a court as mentally unstable are even able to just walk into a store and purchase a gun is just appalling. Had there been restrictions against this, shootings such as the incident with Gabrielle Giffords would have never occurred.

Those who oppose gun control defend the right to bear arms vigorously. The main focus of their argument is that it is a constitutional right to own weapons and that the government does not have the right to hinder it. These same people are unable to recognize that times have changed. Everyone must understand that there are also people out there who intend to purchase firearms only with the intentions to harm others. Of course the idea for many is to protect themselves with their firearms. According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, in 2007 there were 613 fatal and 5,045 non-fatal accidents with firearms. Though this number is relatively low, it is still representative of the dangers that firearms can create. Those who stand for the right to bear arms need to be responsible human beings in order to prevent the accidents and violence due to firearms that our country faces.

What gun control intends to do is not to take everyone’s guns away, like many believe to be true, but to make it more difficult for those to obtain firearms who cannot handle them responsibly. This motive should be common with those who support gun rights, as they too want to prevent violence against their families and the people around them. Though this is an uphill battle, as our country has been avoiding this issue for too long, we must put a stop to the violence. I implore you to please send letters to both your state senator and state representative asking them to follow through on instating additional gun control laws. In the time of crisis that we are faced with, our country needs it now more than ever.