Although it has become a very emotive issue in the country, I would like to concur that gun possession is a lawful action which is protected in the constitution of the USA. The Second Amendment to the US Constitution clearly stipulates that individual US citizens are entitled to own guns to use for self-defense. Further, it states that under no circumstances should such a right be violated. This law was affirmed in the landmark ruling of District of Columbia v. Heller in 2008. This implies that it is a legal for the Americans to bear guns. After all, there is no federal law which prohibits them from possessing it (Davidson, 2008).
The possession of guns by individual Americans is assign of liberty which is protected by the constitution. All legible Americans are allowed to rent or borrow fire arms to use for self-defense. This is done because they should be responsible for their personal safety. Even if the government is mandated with the role of protecting its citizens, it is important to acknowledge that each person should be concerned about their own safety. Thus, they are allowed to have guns, but only use them for the right purpose.
However, I would like to support the proposal of introducing stringent gun control acts because it is for the benefit of the Americans. Many people have abused their privileges of owning this gadget in many ways. Instead of using it for the right purpose, they have resorted into unlawful criminal acts. For instance, there have been many cases of indiscriminate gun shooting carried out by gun holders on innocent citizens. These incidences have become so common in the country today. However, the only surprising thing is that such people launch attacks on others without any proper reason. Such unfortunate acts have been committed by people like Jeremy Wade Delle, Gang Lu, and Eric Houston.
A part from attacking other people, many gun users have taken advantage of their position to engage in robbery. The increase in the number of violent gangs may be attributed to an easier access to guns. Therefore, once they acquire these guns, such gangs use them to wreck havoc to the rest of the society. Besides, they use them to kidnap innocent and unarmed unsuspecting citizens who end up being maimed or killed. However, this is not a good use of these guns because it demonstrates that those who are licensed to possess them end up misusing them.
I would like to support the enforcement of strict gun control act because it can help in protecting the rights of children. The laxities in gun control acts have made it possible for even school-going children to get access to them (David, 2005). This has unfortunately fueled childhood violence which has led to the shooting of children in Kelly Elementary School (2010), Ross Elementary School (2011), Normal Community High School (2012) and Sparks Middle School shooting (2013). Childhood shooting has become a very common phenomenon in the history of American society.
Moreover, I would like to argue in favor of strict gun control because the possession of guns has compromised national security. With the increasing rate of international terrorism, the country has become so unsafe to live in. as much as the government is committed to fighting terrorist acts, it has not forgotten domestic terrorists who may be encouraged to join extremist groups such as Al Qaeda to destabilize the country’ s peace . If no stringent measures are put in place, the individual American’s life will be in danger.
Even if it is the right of Americans to have fire arms, I would like to strongly argue that the law should amended to cater for the interests of all the citizens. It is true that possession of fire arms by individual Americans has really compromised national security. This is because many people have put their selfish individual interests primary to nation’s. This action is morally right because it is a utilitarian act which acknowledges the principle of common good (Spitzer, 2000).
In this regard, I would like to disagree with the claim that strict gun control can negatively impact on the country’s economy. Even if the guns have always been manufactured by investors, it is immoral to consider financial gains over people’s lives. Life is very important because without human resources, the state can not exist. Therefore, the law should be enforced because it will protect the lives of all the Americans from the existing security threats. After all, gun production should be strictly regulated and if possible reserved for the government.
In conclusion, I would like to say that gun control is a good idea. The political controversies revolving around it should be eliminated to make sure that it is fully enforced. After all, to me, common good precedes individual rights which must be compromised in such a situation.
Works Cited
David, Dixon. Never Come to Peace Again: Pontiac's Uprising and the Fate of the British Empire in North America. University of Oklahoma Press, 2005. Print.
Davidson, Osha Gray. Under Fire: The NRA and the Battle for Gun Control, 2nd ed. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2008.
Gutmacher, Esq., Jon H. (2006). "Qualifications for Purchasing or Possession of Firearms (Chapter 2)". Florida Firearms Law, Use & Ownership. Warlord Publishing. pp. 25–26.
Spitzer, Robert J. The Politics of Gun Control, 2nd Ed. New York: Chatham House Publishers, 2000. Print.
