Introduction
Owning a gun and protection from crime are issues that bring a lot of controversy in the elite world of thought. It is correct and at the same time wrong to conclude that, the growth of the number of citizens possessing firearms is instrumental to the reduction of crime rates in the nation. This is an idea that has been in debate for many years without the possibility to having the right colors on the topic. The rates of criminal record a reduced amount of crime as the people with the ideas of crime fear the encounter of a permitted gun holder who will defend their lives with the weapon on the other hand the same licensed gun holder are likely not to be carrying their guns in the event of an attack. Consequently, the women holding guns become more empowered by the fact that they can maintain themselves if attacked. According to Lott the increase in the gun permits reduces crime by 3%, rape by 2% and a decline of 82%on multiple- victim shooting incidents (Jacobs 98). This debate is going to tackle the different sides of holding a gun and crime reduction in the outcome.
Background
Crime in the country has been a critical discipline and ways to hold the vice have always been visited by the many researches. To reach an answer to crime is an issue the government has always put into consideration. Gun ownership always spikes a double-edged argument on both safety and crime reduction. The debate on more guns less crime is geared into the discovery of the best solutions and if owning of guns reduces the affinity of the crime rate in the country. The safety of the citizens is the main event where the people examine gun ownership and crime rates. In a significant thesis made in 1997, Lott and Mustard oversaw the agenda for many successive datasets on the issue of guns on misdemeanor in America by creating a substantial dataset of crime transversely all U.S. counties from 1977 through 1992 (Jacobs 56). By accrual of a powerful statistical case, that state laws giving citizens the right to carry hidden handguns had reduced crime. The first paper was followed a year later by an even more accomplished and sustained dispute to the same effect in a book solely authored by John Lott entitled “More Guns, Less Crime”. The book has sparked heated academic responses where talented students are presenting their sides of the view on the issue. Due to these academic debates, the academy of sciences has set up a panel to investigate the numerous studies on the subject.
Thesis
Although there are numerous conflicting studies on the gun effect on crime the possession of concealed handguns by permitting citizens make a big impact in crime reduction and the frustration of unexpected attacks on the citizens. The debate will give the sides to both the increase in ownership of handguns and the effects of the risks in the handgun ownership.
How more guns reduce crime
More guns may decrease the event of an attack from an assailant due to the perception of the encounter with an armed victim. If one looks into the Lott argument on the guns and crime the reduction in crime rates is very technical and needs more understanding either way. Crime reduces with the increase of various factors like the economy and stability of the job market. However, the increase in the number of persons having a handgun reduces the crime through perception alone (Donohue III 400). The possession of a gun is a lucrative way to bring down the crime rates in the by making the people who want to perpetrate any crime wonder if the victim they would attack is carrying a gun and how they would react when they feel threatened. Therefore the possessions of handguns have the ability to increase the reduction of crime and arrests in the event of self defense by injuring the assailant and calling for police service. There has been a record low on offense after the increase in the gun ownership in the nation.
According to the FBI, the rates of murder in Chicago Washington DC reduces with the lift on gun bans. FBI statistics give information that the decrease of violent crimes has been on a 37 year low. Consequently, the national rifle association (NRA) one of the most powerful lobbies in the U.S took note of decrease in crime after the number of privately owned guns. If guns are not the statistics driver of the crime in the U.S, they have a significant effect on the consequences of the crime rates around the nation (Donohue III 400).
Difference in states that incorporated the gun permissions
There was a significant change in the states that lifts the ban gun ownership where there is a decrease in both rape and murder incidents. This gives the evidence that the handguns do change the outcome of crime in the country. With the increase in the carry laws the police have an easy time to conduct their patrols as they know the masses are capable to hold of the assailants before they reach the area where the offense is in progress. This makes the attackers think twice in engaging in the crime with armed citizens. 18 years of statistics give the reason to believe that the states where there is the carry bill in place there is reduced rates of crime. The victim who is in possession of a gun can easily plan on the exit strategy for they know where the weapon is concealed and in the end save them leaving the attacker in shock (Helland and Alexander 7). The fact that the sale of guns is restricted to the people with criminal records make the possession of the guns effective for the people who feel vulnerable have the weapons to save them from the attack episodes.
Crime reduction due to more guns
With the increase in the guns in the hands of the public, the statistics provide the evidence of reduced incidents of crime. The ownership of guns gives the people power to change the outcomes of their brushes with danger. Reduction of crime is partly made possible by the fact that the states are allowing the citizens acquire handguns to protect them from attackers. Reduced crime means the guns are effective in the reduction of crime in the neighborhoods and the country (Ayres & Donohue III 46).
Counter arguments for more guns less crime
Many of the students have come up with evidence that gives concern that the increase in possession of guns is not the only unit of measure on the crime rates in the nation. This is true since the crime rates change and what changes the crime rates is not the possession of the guns but a series of factors. The increase in jobs and stability of the economy is a factor to consider when it comes to crime. People tend to commit crimes when they feel desperate and have no hope of finding the next meal without crime. Conversely, the citizens who have the concealed weapons give the police a headache to first determine whether the weapons they carry are legitimate and this creates the confusion. It consumes a great deal of time for the police, as they must confirm to allow a suspect to move on. The accidents that come with guns are numerous and the increase in the gun numbers makes the possession a hazard to the welfare of the nation (Reducing Gun Violence in America: Informing Policy with Evidence and Analysis 1898).
Scholars have come to realize that a neophyte who goes to a bar and flashes the commodity as a phallic symbol can own the handguns, which may escalate to an accident that makes them dangerous to the public. In the event of a suspicion, a gun holder might come to a minor conflict that may result to a fatal injury or death if the police mistake the gestures of surrender as aggression (Helland & Alexander 3). The law increases the number of criminals carrying the guns. This is a bad idea since it increases the chances that an assailant is going to fire their weapon to disable or maim a victim. Therefore, the number of murders may escalate if the criminals act upon the shall-issue laws by getting prepared for the event of victims reacting to their attacks. This will force them to shoot faster and a higher threat of holding better weapons to help them escape when in a threatening situation.
The issuance of the gunmen in the population means more guns to the criminals who have the fortune to steal and resell the gas pedal at the fraction of the price even when the owner has permits on a weapon they plan never to use. This will make them vulnerable in the event of a crime where they will discover they cannot protect themselves in the advancement of a crime for they lost their weapons. There are numerous counter arguments to the more guns less crime controversy (Reducing Gun Violence in America: Informing Policy with Evidence and Analysis. 1898).
Conclusion/Discussion
The controversy shows the extents of the promotion of guns in the public hands. There are many benefits and risks in the peace of the people. Despite the many benefits of the citizens having guns to protect their sovereignty there are problems that come with the possession of guns. The ownership of guns should be released to the people with self-control for the safety reasons. More strict rules should be imposed to the states to make sure the issuance of the guns is made in a manner to protect the abuse of the gunmen in the society. As a whole, the guns should be a commodity to protect and not make individuals threatened. The consequences of a threatened person are dire and to avoid the reactions of fear is to limit the possession of guns. Before one can have a gun they should get a three months training on the etiquette of handling the weapon and get acquainted with the power it has. With clear knowledge on the weapon people will have the ability to protect themselves and at the same time make the public environment safe with the increase of weapons.
Works Cited
Helland, Eric, and Alexander Tabarrok. "Using Placebo Laws To Test "More Guns, Less Crime." Advances In Economic Analysis & Policy4.1 (2004): 1-7. Business Source Complete. Web. 24 July 2013.
Ayres, Ian, and John J. Donohue III. "Yet Another Refutation Of The More Guns, Less Crime Hypothesis - With Some Help From Moody And Marvell." Econ Journal Watch 6.1 (2009): 35-59. Business Source Complete. Web. 24 July 2013.
Donohue III, John J. "The Final Bullet In The Body Of The More Guns, Less Crime Hypothesis." Criminology & Public Policy 2.3 (2003): 397-409. Legal Source. Web. 24 July 2013.
Reducing Gun Violence in America: Informing Policy with Evidence and Analysis. (2012 )1898- 1900 Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2013. Print.
Jacobs, James B. Can Gun Control Work?Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. Internet resource.
