Essay On Gun Control

Should the United States take a different approach to gun control?

Balancing rights with safety in the millennium

Introduction

Gun control continues to be an issue in the United States. Since the onset of Independence from British rule in 1776, the United States of America has sought solutions to gun control in an effort to serve and protect the rights of its people. The debate continues into the twentieth century challenging law makers with the task of writing laws that will protect citizens’ collective rights and civic safety. The debate is at the heart of American rights and public safety. The challenge for lawmakers is to construct laws that balance rights and safety. Should the United States take a different approach to gun control?

Significance

The rise of gun related fatalities and killing sprees in the millennium has pushed the debate of gun control beyond courtrooms into the health care community to identify solutions to what has now become a concern for public health. In the same way, “Gun advocates hold that current gun control laws have not historically protected the public from threats of gun killings but instead have prevented law-abiding citizens from self-protection” (Washington 2012). Admittedly both sides of the debate are dissatisfied with current gun laws because the laws have not protected rights or kept citizen

Oppositional stakeholders include national groups such as the National Rifle Association, Handgun Club of America and Gun Owners Action League. The National Rifle Association is the more recognizable oppositional party to gun control. Oppositional groups believe the Second Amendment grants Americans the rights to bear arms. These groups are made up of gun enthusiast including sportsman and collectors. “Opponents of comprehensive gun-control laws view the Second Amendment as a constitutional guarantee of the right of American’s to own guns” (Buckley 1). Opponents believe that the Second Amendment is straight