Many handguns can be easily gotten, which makes it the weapon of choice for people who choose to use them for self-defense. On the other hand, handguns are also the weapon of choice for criminals. Many of the crimes that involve guns are committed with the use of a handgun; this is a serious problem in America today. However, banning handguns fails to protect people because the laws are ineffective, banning handguns prevents people from an effective means of self-defense, and the laws do not solve the real problem, which is the gun owner. In this society obtaining a handgun is fairly simple, so they have become the top choice of weapon for people who choose to use them for self-defense.
To demonstrate whether a person should own a firearm or not, Joe Messerli wrote an article to compare the pros and cons of owning a firearm. In favor of gun control he first, stated that the right to own a gun should be restricted because it would reduce crime. Second, those mental disabled persons, kids who are bullied and aggravated workers could cause a dangerous incident that would not have occurred if gun ownership was restricted. Third, a person who has a gun would be in more danger than a person without one against a criminal. Fourth, suicide and crimes of love or jealousy are more likely to occur easier with a firearm available.
Even though there are many mass shootings in the US, assault weapons are actually not even connected to a significant amount of crime in the US. Assault weapons only many effect mass shootings, and even then not all mass shootings involve assault weapons in the first place. If anything a ban on assault weapons would just lead to a ban on handguns. Trying to get assault weapons banned will just lead to the broader focus which is a ban on handguns, which are more crimes are committed with anyway. Also, you can never really put a stop to psychopaths in the US, people can always find a way to get ahold of dangerous assault weapons.
This shows that while a ban may limit gun violence, perpetrators will find other ways to commit crimes, such as bombings and driving vehicles through crowds. In fact, there was a 89% increase in gun related violence between 1998/1999 to 2008/2009, going from 5,209 gun related offenses to 9,865 over a decade. Another reason that guns should not be banned is that
Zack Storvick 1st Period 1 January 2018 Gun Rights and Gun Control In the United States there shouldn 't be a ban on firearms. Guns should not be taken away from the people. Anti-gun viewers also have valid points such as the mass shootings in our country, but taking away guns would not solve the issues. Gun rights are backed up by the Constitution which is the foundation of our country, gun control wouldn 't stop crime, and the use of background checks plays a vital role when purchasing firearms. The second amendment gives citizens of the United States right to own weapons.
“You can have all the gun control laws in the country, but if you do not enforce them, people are going to find a way to protect themselves. We need to recognize that bad people are doing bad things with these weapons. It 's not the law-abiding citizens. It 's not the person who uses it as a hobby” (Steele). Gun control laws are made to keep people safe, but that does not necessarily mean that they are one-hundred percent effective.
According to “Stronger Gun Control Laws Will Save Lives,” all of the weapons we own are far from keeping us safe. Guns are used to kill more than 30,000 Americans each year and injure approximately 70,000. Guns are also used to commit nearly 400,000 crimes each year. The rate of firearm violence in America far exceeds that of other industrialized nations, where gun ownership is strictly regulated. Although many people own guns for self-protection, studies have repeatedly shown that keeping a gun in the home increases the risk of gun-related death or injury to a person living in the house.
Not only is carrying a handgun a right given to US citizens via the constitution (National archives, n.d.), but it's been shown that states with strict or bands on concealed weapons have higher gun involved murder rates (Gius, 2013). Furthermore, banning concealed weapons can cause rates of murder to rise (Gius, 2013). Having a concealed weapon is a form of defense, and people should have the right to defend themselves in anyway they see fit, which includes areas outside of one's home (Ruebsamen, 2013). Another reason for allowing
Positive Impact of Guns In America Americans have the privilege and the right to purchase and own personal firearms for the means of self defense. Some citizens, however, exploit this right for the sole purpose of harming those around them. Mass shootings are some of the most common and terrifying events that can happen to someone in America today. Despite all the harm that guns cause, they should not be banned because they also have many positive effects for the American people that we would not want to lose. One reason to keep guns in the hands of the people is fairly simple, but its impact is highly underestimated: guns stop criminals and in some cases prevent the crime before it even begins.
Recent studies conducted by the American Social Studies Organization have proved that there is only a 1.6% success rate in civilian interventions in shootouts. Other studies have indicated that gun owners or four times more likely to have their firearm used on them than to use it in self-defense. Despite these statistics gun activists may argue that sufficient precautions are taken before any firearm license is issued to ensure maximum safety. According to Firearms Control Act 60 a competency test, background check, premises inspection and gun safety course must be taken by all applicants to ensure that they are of sound mind and can handle the responsibilities of owning a firearm. All legal firearms must also be kept, unloaded, in a locked safe.