In recent years, the right to bear arms has become a very controversial topic in the United States. Gun incidents have become all too common and have had tragic consequences. Our right as citizens of the United States to bear arms was originally put into place so that a newly freed nation could protect itself from those who wish to take away our freedom. Today, the numerous acts of senseless violence committed with guns is overwhelming. There is a significant lack of rights given to those people who have been harmed or killed by a senseless gun shooting, in which the right to bear arms is hurting them rather than helping them. In Miami, I witnessed an unnecessary shooting between two people under the influence and it made me think of what it takes to acquire a gun in the United States and what the ramifications are to possessing one. Is our right to bear arms becoming a right that does more damage than good for the people of the United States?
Obtaining and carrying a gun are too easy to do, “it is, indeed, easier to buy a gun than it is to buy Sudafed or a beer” (Anderson 3). Legally speaking, there are two ways to obtain a gun, if a background check is passed by the buyer, the buyer may purchase a gun from a firearms dealer or purchase a gun from a private seller. According to a debate topic on gun rights, some say that not carrying a gun in the United States is more unsafe than it would be to carry a gun (Debate 1-4). Those opposed, argue that there is no need for any citizen to carry a gun unless required by profession (Debate 1-4). Because it has become so easy to obtain a firearm in the United States, it has put the lives of many civilians at risk. Gun rights is a constitutional right established in the United States which has brought up numerous debates on gun rights and the laws that surround them.
Research done by James Agresti in 2010 on gun statistics states that the percentage of households within the United States owning guns is 40-45%, individuals owning a gun is 30-34%, and individuals owning a handgun is 17-19% (Agresti and Smith 12). According to federal law, anyone over the age of 21 may purchase a gun with these exceptions: anyone currently under indictment for a crime punishable by more than one year in prison, a fugitive, controlled substance abusers, anyone who has been designated with a mental disability, a person in the United States illegally, anyone who has been dishonorably discharged from the military, anyone that gave up his citizenship, anyone who has a domestic violence injunction issue by a court of law, and anyone that has been found guilty of domestic violence (Simpson 3). US citizens must abide by these rules, as they are put in place to protect the general public. Simpson’s article has made it clear that not everyone has the right to bear arms, however there are clearly far more individuals with firearms in their homes than what a survey could record.
Illegally acquiring firearms brings up an entirely new problem in the United States. Illegal gun trafficking affects Americans because of the amount of gun deaths recorded in this country.
The national gun victim’s organization released a report of the number of people killed daily in the United States. The report states, “guns are used to kill more than 80 people, injure almost 300 more, and commit approximately 3,000 crimes” (Illegal Gun Trafficking 1). The report also states that 60% of the guns recovered in crimes were sold illegally (Illegal Gun Trafficking 1). However, knowing these statistics, the other 40% of gun crimes committed by legally obtained firearms is also a big number to consider.
There are dangers that come with carrying a gun. In some Latin American countries, they have made strict rules about firearm possession that did not seem to have a great effect on the gun violence taking place or did it deter people from owning a firearm (Cawley 8). In the United States, our gun laws seem to have a similar outcome. Since the election of President Obama in 2008, he made a campaign promise to enact stronger gun control. After the elections, many Americans began to buy guns. According to Barrett, “President Obama occasionally murmurs about gun control, he has done nothing to make it more difficult to lawfully acquire or carry firearms”(7). Due to internal politics, the government is not taking any action towards implementing stricter gun control.
Valeria Sanchez, an opinion on Elder’s page, stated briefly that to not be allowed to carry guns in the United States would not reduce crime rates or make guns more accessible, it will increase crime rates. They should make a mental analysis test prior to the purchase of a firearm, and also handguns should only be sold to people who have a “stable state of mind” (Elder). Nick Liu has also expressed his opinion on Elder’s page, saying that guns should not be banned, however the government should be watching gun carriers and before they sell the guns, they have to trust those who are buying them (Elder). Cain Sanchez thinks that no one should carry a gun in the United States except the armed forces, and as much as we regulate the sale of firearms, the crime rate will still increase because there will still be people making a living out of selling guns (Elder). Jeff stated that people who use guns to protect themselves will most likely buy guns from a local dealer and will go through the background check, but if a person seeks to buy a gun to commit a crime, they will most likely buy the gun from a private seller or a criminal (Elder 1). Fred expressed his viewpoint by saying that people who use guns in self-defense should have the right to bear arms, to not only protect themselves from criminals, but also against tyranny in the government (Elder 6).
Crimes are occurring everywhere in high percentages and it seems the government, although the policies are there, does not seem to be addressing the gun violence issues in this country. Illegal guns are committing many crimes relating to gun violence. Being able to possess a gun is a right in the United States and is guaranteed by the Bill of Rights within the US Constitution. Even though there are federal laws prohibiting the sale of illegal firearms and laws prohibiting convicted criminals and those unfit to obtain a gun, there is still a high crime rate in America due to illegal gun possession. The United States needs to be more firm in their actions in controlling illegal firearms and spend more time educating the public on gun control. Learning all possible outcomes about gun rights, which is not a simple topic to come up with a final decision or take a certain stand, and ones viewpoint may vary from another’s because some people need a gun to protect themselves while others live in a safe neighborhood making their decision somewhat biased. Based on the research I have made, I do not support or deny anyone’s right to bear arms and conclude that there are measures that the United States government needs to take to try and decrease the crime rates.
Works Cited
ANDERSON NEEDS TO BE CITED FROM SECOND PARAGRAPH
Agresti, James D., and Ried K. Smith. "Gun Control - Just Facts." Gun Control - Just Facts. Just Facts, 13 Sept. 2010. Web. 5 Oct. 2014.
Barrett, Paul. "Why It's Getting Easier to Carry Guns in the U.S.A." Bloomberg Business Week. Bloomberg, 13 Dec. 2012. Web. 11 Oct. 2014.
Cawley, Marguerite. "Do Stricter Gun Laws Reduce Gun Violence in Latin America?" Do Stricter Gun Laws Reduce Gun Violence in Latin America? Insight Crime, 4 Sept. 2013. Web. 10 Oct. 2014.
DEBATE NEEDS TO BE CITED FROM SECOND PARAGRAPH
Elder, Larry. "Larry Elder: How Often Are Guns Used in Self-defense?" The Orange County Register. Orange County Register, 21 Aug. 2013. Web. 10 Oct. 2014.
“Gun Violence.” "The Relationship between Guns and Violence." Ebscohost. EBSCO, 26 Sept.
2012. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.
“Illegal Gun Trafficking.” "Fact Sheet: Illegal Gun Trafficking Arms Criminals & Youth." Gun Victims Action Council RSS.National Gun Victims, 2013. Web. 10 Oct. 2014.
Simpson, Michael J. "Gun Buying Guide." About. About, 2014. Web. 8 Oct. 2014.
