Monday, March 28, 2011

Pros and cons of gun control: Part I

Gun control debates could very well be the most heated issue of our lifetime. The battle has been on-going and isn't anywhere near being over. Both sides of the plain, gun control and pro-gun advocates are very passionate about their causes and beliefs. This makes it difficult to approach the issue with reason. Gun control is an issue that every American should be aware of. The people we elect into office directly affect our lives. Nowhere else could that be more pronounced than when it comes to gun control.

It is simply reasonable to assume that tighter control of gun laws would lead to less shootings. By constricting use, you cut down on gun crime. At the same time, tighter gun control laws might actually lead to more crime. For the most part, firearms cause more harm than good. Yet, numerous crimes are prevented by guns. Potential criminals are scared away from home invasions and other types of crime, simply by the threat of a gun. To eliminate that threat and tightly control gun use could therefore inevitably lead to more crime.

The second amendment guarantees the right to bear arms. The Bill of Rights is an almost-sacred document to Americans. No legislation should have the power to take that away. At the same time, the type of arms you have the right to bear should be negotiable. However, gun control activists believe that adding stipulations to gun ownership is not a restriction of a citizen's rights. Preventing gun owners from buying especially dangerous firearms, such as deadly assault rifles, is not unconstitutional. Neither is using the law to ensure that only law abiding citizens are able to obtain guns.

Sources:

Gun Owners Foundation. (2004). "Gun Control Fact Sheet 2004."

Burnett, D. (2011). "Who is the armed citizen?"
NRA Publications. America's First Freedom.

Dotree, P. (2009). Pros and cons of Gun Control in the U.S.
http://www.edubook.com/pros-and-cons-of-gun-control-in-the-us/19117/

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