Argumentative Essay On Guns Violence: Is Carrying Concealed Guns The Solution

With the killings that occurred in the United States involving guns and victimizing mostly students and innocent bystanders, I have been asking myself whether my belief in the ultimate goodness of humanity is being threatened by a morally declining society or I am just being too naive about the realities of life and the human race. I find this issue troubling because this is not the society I know America is made of. America is a free country that believes in democracy. Although we are a melting pot of different cultures, beliefs, religion, and values, we, as a nation, deplore senseless killings. Yet, it is exactly what happened in the recent years when students were meaninglessly killed in the Virginia Tech mass murders, the Columbine massacre, and the Sandy Hook episode. I grew up in an environment where guns and violence are not the norm, thus, I find the recent events that transpired quite alarming. Thus, I have to ask if issues on mental behavior, morality decline, or media influence govern this country.
On the other hand, could guns violence stem from a declining moral society that only thinks of how one will live through the day without regard to other people's lives? Morality is a tough subject to tackle because we are all guided by different morals and values, such that what I might consider immoral may not incite the same feelings for another individual, and vice versa. In addition, because morality deals with what is good and what is bad, who am I to dictate and differentiate between goodness and evil when people have their own minds to process what they observe around them? I may strongly oppose carrying of guns in public places, but can I blame individuals who only want to protect themselves when a violent situation occurs?
Guns violence seems to be very much a part of our consciousness now. As news about massacres and aggressions involving the use of guns increase, I begin to question the role of media in all these incidences. Is media unconsciously feeding our minds with notions of violence by reporting these incidences and coming up with long stories about the perpetrators? Does it seem like media is glorifying the person behind the killings such that it arouses too much interest to the point that others contemplating to do the same gruesome killings become inspired by it? How about the role of video games in the whole equation? Do video game ideas come from what media portrays how life is now?
Because schools have fallen victim to violent shootings primarily because they are gun-free zones, a number of concerned citizens believe that carrying concealed guns in campus is a solution to protect schoolchildren from gun-crazed individuals. This has become one of the most controversial issues that America has faced considering the strong stance of two opposing groups, with one supporting the idea and the other against the proposed solution. While many states are in the process of coming up with bills that would allow selected teachers and students to carry weapons, it makes me think and assess my own views about whether carrying concealed weapons is indeed the solution to guns violence.
Personally, I am against this proposed solution because I do not see the point of wielding a gun against another when in the same situation. Is arming college students and kindergarten teachers really the answer to keeping our children safe at school? I think there are other options available that must be explored first before drastic measures are implemented. Because too much emphasis is placed on the use of guns as the main cause of violent behaviors, shouldn't we also consider what psychological effects it has on individuals? What could have pushed the individuals to turn their backs against their families and friends and shoot at unsuspecting victims? Was it because they were seeking attention or crying for help? Was it because of extreme anger? If selected teachers and students were allowed to carry guns, would it not lead to more guns violence? How would it affect an individual's morality? Would it not inflame further harm towards other innocent beings?
While it is true that man's instinct would be to fight back and avenge the victims, guns carry with them a sense of false power that could result to more harm. Who will decide whether an individual is fit to carry a gun even with a license? What kinds of training will the government provide these select individuals? What is the assurance that these people will work alongside the more professional law enforcers?
With this solution, I think the more the government will infuse the idea that when someone hurts another individual, it is all right to instill the same level of hurt and pain to the instigator, such that anyone carrying a gun can be stopped using another gun.
My stand on whether guns violence can be resolved by allowing students and school personnel to carry guns is "No". I believe that this is a mental problem. Society, especially the government, must address this epidemic. Guns violence is a result of factors such as mental problems, breakdown in morality, and media glorification. By educating the youth about the ill effects of gun violence on families and society, the changing behavioral effects it brings to individuals, and illusions of power it gives the carrier, the youths will understand the negative and harmful outcome it brings. What pushes an individual to hurt or kill another person depends on the perpetuator's motivations. The more an individual observes that gun violence is part of one's environment, it then becomes normal to that individual. Nevertheless, believing that "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" is not a good basis of living one's life, then eliminating the use of guns for revenge can help establish peace and harmony in communities. Therefore, carrying concealed guns as a way to protect one's self and others from harm is not the solution to guns violence, but understanding the various factors that push one to commit a crime is as well as acting towards those factors.