‘Instructor’s Name’
‘Subject’
Gun control vs. gun right
“We have to try and stop this. It will be a long journey involving the personal choices of individuals and families, public discussions, mental health reforms, a change in the culture – you name it.”
“I want people to be afraid of the fact that this could happen to them. But it’s real. It doesn’t have to be understood to be real.”
The above words were uttered by Peter Rodger, father of Elliot Rodger, who killed six people in Santa Barbara, and Peter Lanza, father of the Sandy Hook killer Adam Lanza, respectively. There are many such voices, which are calling vehemently for action in the front of gun control. Though we can point out to many reasons such as mental health treatment access, influence of video games, improper parenting, and prescription drug overuse o these mass shootings, at the centre of all such incidents lies the big question of the whether the gun laws of this country are adequate enough.
Gun control, like marijuana and abortion issues, is one of those topics, which have been the subject of political and academic discussions for many years now. The unfortunate fact is that when tragic incidents, such as those happened in Sandy hook and Santa Barbara, occur, then this topic is in every discussion forum, and once the dust settles the topic is shelved. Vociferous supporters and critics can be found for both sides of the view in the gun debate. The gun law supporters blame the lack of stricter control in distribution of arms to be a major reason for violence. The Gun right activists argue that the second amendment gives them the right to own a gun, and taking guns out of the streets would not stop crimes. In between these two extreme stands, we should find a rational ground to debate the issue of gun violence.
America is a nation obsessed with guns. Guns are an integral part of the American way of life, and throughout the American history, there has always been a pride associated with gun ownership. The television shows and movies portray aptly the love and affection Americans have for their firearms. The second amendment of the constitution is interpreted in different ways by both the left and the right wing, but mostly it is agreed that this clause grants a fundamental right to the citizens to own and use a firearm. The main argument of the gun rights advocates, therefore, is that it the basic right of the American citizen to have access to a firearm, and any stricter norms to purchase a gun would violate this clause.
The gun right activists make a compelling argument about the security, carrying a gun, can give its owner. In a world filled with violence and thugs, it is imperative that a person is equipped with the means to protect himself. Calling 911 and waiting the authorities to respond, is a time consuming job, and within those few minutes/seconds, any amount of damage could happen. So, the gun rights proponents such as the NRA (National Rifle Association) advise that, people should be encouraged to purchase guns. There are many open carry gun rallies taking place across the country, through which the gun right activists are showcasing their strong opinions. Some even come to these rallies taking their children with them to prove their point.
John Lott, in his book “More guns, less Crime”, delineates that when people carry guns and use it in defense, they seldom fire a shot. The sight of the weapon is enough to make the criminal back away from the scene. He argues that, a section of media for the sake of sensationalism exaggerates the role of guns in crimes. There is merit in this argument, considering, for example, if one of the teachers in the Sandy Hook school had had a weapon, maybe he could have saved life of, if not all, at least some of the children. Also, a criminal uses any weapon to perform the crime and taking away guns would not stop him from performing it. Elliot Rodger murdered three of his victims (his roommates) using a knife, so he would have committed the crime with or without guns.
An armed citizenry, according to this faction, are a collective defense system against tyranny. The American Revolution was possible because the citizens were armed and ready, to overthrow a government which deterred their freedom. The crime rates in the United States, they argue, is far less than the European nations, which have stricter gun laws. When adults possess firearm, they can protect others from armed criminals. Mexico‘s stricter gun laws are supposed to prevent the drug traffickers, but they have failed to do so. The NRA argues that criminals would find a way to get their hands on weapons even if there are stricter laws. But stricter regulations and tedious procedures may put off a law abiding citizen from buying a weapon, which may hamper his chances of protecting himself and others when faced with an armed criminal.
On the other hand, whilst a gun in the hands of the Sandy Hook teachers might have saved lives, if the killer did not have a gun, in the first place, the crime would not have taken place at all. This is the essence of the argument of the gun control faction. Gun control advocates argue that there should be stricter laws to govern the firearm sales so that guns do not land in the hands of criminals and mentally challenged persons. Many researches demonstrate that when the rate of gun ownership in an area increases, most often than not, homicide rates increases. An ordinary crime can result in life losses when accompanied with a gun.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon argues that stricter laws of Mexico are rendered ineffective because of the lax-laws of the United States. When guns are available without proper control, there are increased chances of accidental shooting. A 2005 study shows that, close to 1.7 million American children live in a house which has a loaded firearm. More than 50% of the suicides that take place in the US are through guns. Unlike other modes of suicides, such as drug overdose, gun suicide hardly gives the person a second chance. Depression and dejection combined with a firearm can make people take impulsive decisions, and the teenagers are particularly vulnerable to this threat. The case of Elliot Rodger, the Santa Barbara shooter, is a perfect example to this point.
Organizations such as Moms Demand Action are taking many initiatives, to spread awareness about accidental shootings. According to their official website, almost hundred children were victims of accidental shooting in between December 2012 and December 2013. Some people have gone to the extreme of calling Nancy Lanza, who taught Adam Lanza to shoot despite his mental instability, the main perpetrator of the Sandy hook massacre rather than its victim. Searching her house after the shootings, the officials found a check signed for her son for a Christmas gift; it was designated to buy a CZ 83 pistol. The official report on the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School throws light on how she, herself a gun enthusiast, enabled her troubled son to perform the crime by encouraging his interest in guns.
In conclusion, it might be said that though the constitutional rights guarantee the citizens the right to possess a firearm, having the power to do a thing does not mean it should be done without taking proper precautions to avoid its negative consequences. If a little compromise in personal freedom and a little more effort can prevent the loss of young lives and brilliant minds, like those in Sandy hook and Santa Barbara, then the citizens should willingly take that step. Yes, we Americans are enthusiastic about our firearms, but the Government should not do the mistake of Nancy Lanza - encouraging the ones under their protection to pursue an interest, which might in the end destroy them and others around them.
Works Cited
Dizard, Jan E., Robert M. Muth and Stephen P. Andrews. Guns in America: A Reader. New York: NYU Press, 1999. Print.
Doeden, Matt. Gun Control: Preventing Violence or Crushing Constitutional Rights? Minneapolis: Twenty-First Century Books, 2011. Print.
Duggan, Mark. "More Guns, More Crime." Journal of Political Economy Vol. 109, No. 5 (2001): 1086-1114 . Web.
Lanza, Peter. Excerpt: Andrew Solomon’s New Yorker Piece ‘The Reckoning’. 28 June 2014. Web. <http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/06/excerpt-andrew-solomons-new-yorker-piece-the-reckoning/>. 30 June 2014.
Lott, John R. More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws, Third Edition. New York: University of Chicago Press, 2013. Print.
Moms Demand Action. Preventing Child Access to Guns. 2014. Web. <http://www.momsdemandaction.org/. 30 June 2014.
Rodger, Peter. Santa Barbara Shooter’s Father's Open Letter: 'We Have to Stop This'. 27 June 2014. Web. <http://abcnews.go.com/US/santa-barbara-shooters-fathers-open-letter-stop/story?id=24319895>. 30 June 2014.
The Washingtonpost. Ruth Marcus: Nancy Lanza, a mother tragic and infuriating. 26 November 2013. Web. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ruth-marcus-nancy-lanza-a-mother-tragic-and-infuriating/2013/11/26/30efee1c-56cb-11e3-835d-e7173847c7cc_story.html. 30 June 2014.
Wilson, Harry L. Guns, Gun Control, and Elections: The Politics and Policy of Firearms. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield, 2007. Print.
