The gun debate issue is a controversial topic in the United States with the last school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Many people do not know what an effective legislative response to something like this, and that is where the debate comes in. Some offer bans on certain weapons and even an all out gun ban, while others offer stricter background checks or armed guards on campus. However, no matter what belief a person has, right now the Second Amendment is a right of all United States Citizens and it is a important component for the protection of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
The sole purpose of a gun is to do damage and all guns have the potential to do damage. This fact however, does not mean that they are inherently bad.
…show more content…
The court case, however, did not state whether or not private citizens have the right to own weapons. The argument on whether private citizens can own firearms or just a regulated militia has been decided in the courts recently with the 2008 Supreme Court Case, District of Columbia v. Heller. The court decision ruled, “The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home” (District of Columbia v. Heller, 2008) With this simple ruling, it has been decided that the Second Amendment protects the individual right to own a …show more content…
Because of this it is important to make well thought, researched, and intelligent decisions when putting in legislation to limit it. Statistically, guns have been proven to protect and defend law abiding citizens while deterring criminals from committing crimes against them. They are vital for the protection of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
References
Check, T. (2015). Is the right to bear arms an example of "unpopular constitutionalism"? comparing modern and historical opinions on the Second Amendment. Faulkner Law
Review, 6(2), 283+.
Coulter, A. (2007). Let's Make America a 'Sad-Free Zone’. Human Events, 63(6).
Denning, B. P., & Reynolds, G. H. (2002, Spring). Telling Miller's tale. Law and Contemporary
Problems, 65(2), 113+.
District of Columbia v. Heller, U.S (2008).
Kleck, G., & Gertz, M. (1998). Carrying guns for protection: results from the National
Self-Defense Survey. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 35(2), 193+.
Murphy, S., Xu, J., Kochanek, K., Curtain, S., & Arias, E. (2015, November). Deaths: Final data for 2015. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 66(6), 13.
Plassmann, F., & Whitley, J. (2003, April). Confirming "more guns, less crime". Stanford Law
Review, 55(4), 1313+.
United States v. Miller, U.S