Gun control controversy is an issue that has been in debate in the American politics. For more than seven decades the gun politics have formed a basis for the reviewing of the US constitution regarding the safety of the citizens. The debate on the gun politics has been the need for restriction as well availability of firearms within the borders of the United States.
The Guns Debate has been characterized by a standoff between a right to own a firearm stated in the second amendment of the US constitution and the obligation that the United States government prevents crimes that are associated with firearms. The right to own a gun by individuals was supported by the fact that a person requires self-defense as long as the firearm is legally owned. However, this right has been misused by some individuals who leading to the need to debate on amendments of the US constitution. For instance there was a killing of more than twenty kindergarten children in Sandy Hook Elementary School by alone gun man among other gun incidences. Such incidences have called the intervention of the president and other stakeholders to curb the gun situation in the United States of America.
The Obama administration, on 16th January 2013 came up with a plan to that will oversee the implementation of stricter gun control rules as well as provided for a larger access to mental health services. This was in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School and other national shooting tragedies. This move therefore called for passing of new laws by the congress and action by the executive without approval by the congress. This move poses questions; would stricter gun control stop the gun killings in the United States? Or would better mental health care improve prevent gun killings? Many believe a better mental health care would reduce the gun killings as compared to stricter gun laws.
In conclusion, The Guns Debate has been characterized by a standoff between a right to own a firearm stated in the second amendment of the US constitution and the obligation that the United States government prevents crimes that are associated with firearms. The Obama administration, on 16th January 2013 came up with a plan to that will oversee the implementation of stricter gun control rules as well as provided for a larger access to mental health services. Whether stricter gun laws or a better mental health care, gun killings should be stopped in the United States.
Work Cited
Guardian Interactive Team. "Gun laws in the US, state by state – interactive." The Guardian [New York] 16 Jan. 2013: n. pag. Print.
