The Pros And Cons Of Gun Control

Gun Control may be a hot topic today, but the concept of it has been around since the late 1700s. The dictionary definition of gun control is “the regulation of the selling, owning, and use of guns” (Merriam–Webster, 2015). “Gun control is a broad term that covers any sort of restriction on what kinds of firearms can be sold and bought, who can possess or sell them, where and how they can be stored or carried, what duties a seller has to vet a buyer, and what obligations both the buyer and the seller have to report transactions to the government” (PÉrez-peÑa, 2015). The actual definition of gun control is often skewed, depending on which side of the political spectrum you identify with. The left side, also known as liberals, often push for

There may not be a straightforward answer. When the Second Amendment was ratified, the United States did not actually have an army. They relied on militias created by the state’s to serve as the nation’s defense. Also, the Founding Fathers did not realize the amount of firepower rifles would eventually have. “While the Founding Fathers may have supported the ownership of slow, expensive powder-loaded rifles, it's doubtful that they would have been able to conceive of shotguns, assault rifles, handguns, and other contemporary weaponry” (Head, n.d.). But, it is hard to believe Founding Fathers would have wanted to keep guns away from citizens. “A clear majority of the Founding Fathers unquestionably believed in a universal right to bear arms” (Head, n.d.). “The individual rights interpretation reflects the view of the majority of Americans, and more clearly reflects the philosophical underpinnings provided by the Founding Fathers, but the civilian militia interpretation reflects the views of the Supreme Court and seems to be a more precise reading of the text of the Second Amendment” (Head, n.d.). Because the Constitution is a living document, it allows us it interpret the Second Amendment

Immediately after mass shootings, people often tend to blame guns. They call for stricter gun regulations and more gun control. After many major shootings, some lawmakers propose bills to make it more difficult to obtain guns. But in reality, little has actually been done in legally. After the Charleston church shooting in 2015, Democrats proposed closing what became known as the “Charleston loophole,” which “allows federally licensed firearms dealers to proceed with a sale if the FBI doesn’t complete a background check in three days” (USA Today, n.d.). Because of this loophole, the shooter was able to legally acquire a gun even though he had a criminal record. The bill was not passed and the loophole still exists. Another bill that was proposed was called the“no-fly, no buy” legislation. If this bill was passed, it would “prevent or delay individuals on the terror watch list from purchasing firearms” (USA Today, n.d.). After the Las Vegas shooting in 2017, President Donald Trump and lawmakers from both political parties proposed banning “bump stocks,” a type of device that uses the recoil of a semi-automatic gun to fire shots rapidly to simulate the ability of a fully automatic gun. This bill is still pending in 2018. Changes in gun policy don’t necessarily have to come from the government to make an impact. Two major companies have changed their gun policies. “Walmart and Dick’s