Passing gun control legislation that creates a universal background check and gun database system as well as passing mental health legislation that improves the health care system’s protocols and policies for assisting people with mental health disorders and that enacts counseling programs in communities and schools will decrease the likelihood of mass shootings in schools. The United States is bitterly divided. Issues of great concern, such as the rise of mass shootings, are partisanized. Both sides of the debate will not comprise or listen to what their opponents have to say. Groups from both sides can only agree that one innocent life taken from gun violence is one too many.
The law is never something to take lightly especially when the specific law is set in place to prevent the loss of human life. Gun control laws have a basis set by the federal government and are expanded upon by each individual state as they deem fit. Federal gun laws and state gun laws have their similarities and differences, but both are set in place as a barrier of protection against those who could cause bodily harm to others if equipped with such power that a gun holds. The U.S federal Government has its own set of regulations concerning firearms and the state of California builds upon them to create a stronger gun policy, meaning both sets of codes and regulations have similarities and differences, but no matter the differences, these laws are set in place to prevent massacres like the Las Vegas, Nevada shooting, and while California gun laws are built upon federal laws, they can be improved for a safer more controlled environment. Federal gun laws are the foundation for state laws and the building blocks for more advanced restrictions set by individual
Stricter Gun Control Laws: A Safer Society The debate over gun control has been a longstanding issue in the United States. With the rising number of mass shootings and gun violence, stricter gun control laws have become a topic of discussion. The question remains, would stricter gun control laws be better for society? This essay will argue that stricter gun control laws would indeed be better for society.
The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution reads: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. "(www.law.cornell.edu). This document was written in 1775 and ratified in 1787, and from that day the amendment still stands. So, in a constructivist point of view is there still a need for a well regulated militia in the United States or is the second amendment outdated and should be trimmed with the new fabric of America? My personal opinion on the matter is with the new age of America becoming more hostile every day, there will be always a need for a milita.
This blog, is based on Evan Defilippis overview on the pros and cons of gun control. Defilippis develops well written and clear visual arguments on both sides of the issue. For example, he states “The main point of this argument is that criminals do not follow laws; therefore laws restricting gun ownership and types of guns would only hurt those who follow them.” “Gun control laws only help criminals, criminals do not play by the law. That is why we need to punish criminals, not law-abiding citizens by disarming them.
1st Amendment: The First Amendment of the United States Constitution states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridg-ing the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” In short, this amendment prohibits the establishment of a state religion, protects freedom of the press and speech, and protects the right to assemble and petition the government. The establishment clause enforces the separation of church and state and prohibits the government from restricting a citizen’s religious practices and forbids the government from forcing religion onto its citizens.
Currently, in 2017, there have been 51 mass shootings, in which four on more individuals were harmed and or killed by individual with firearms, in the US (Gun Violence Archive, 2017). Yet the National Rifle Association (NRA), which is pro-gun and 2nd Amendment, has push and lobbied vigorously against firearm regulation. The NRA has had a strong showing in congressional support for many years and have always used the constitution as the base of their debate against advocacy groups like the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence and the Brady Campaign who want stricter national regulation and enforcement of firearms. This debate seems meaningless if citizens are prone to violence by those given access to the means of their destructive acts. Our nation has experienced major loss from mass shooting incidents, we should not fear losing our constitutional right to firearms but instead fight to have it benefit us all in a safe effective
The regulations of guns in the USA has been a hot topic in the GOP debates this election year. Gun Control seems always to come up in conversation when it is time to elect our next president or when a tragic event involving guns occurs. Regulations of guns in the USA has been around since the early 1900s, and is ever changing to this day. There are both Pros and Cons to Gun control laws. Also many factors on why there are different laws on guns in different parts of the country.
“There’s also the slippery slope argument. It preys on people’s fears that the government will turn into a dictatorship or completely ban guns… The Founders of our country wanted the people to be able to protect themselves from over powerful governments.” - Is it time to pass tough gun control laws? By McClathy Tribune.
Throughout history, especially recently, the question of whether gun control violates the 2nd Amendment has been a question which many people claim they know the answer to, but it may not be that transparent. I believe gun control is constitutional, and it deters crime and makes society safer, meaning I side with the pro-gun control ideas. Within the topic of gun control, there are many factors in which people must take into consideration when proposing an answer such as whether it deters crime, what the economic impact is, and what should be changed. NEW PARAGRAPH... Gun control can date way back, but what really made it controversial was the court case of Heller vs DC in 2008.
Lott continues on to mention that Even after accounting for factors such as law enforcement, poverty, and demographics, each percentage point increase in gun ownership produces a four percent drop in violent crime. Backing the claim that, “States with higher gun ownership rates have much lower crime rate” (Lott 29). Lott also mentions that Countries with the strictest gun control laws tend to have the highest homicide rate. This once again shows a correlation between a higher gun ownership rate and a lower violence rate. Mauser and Kates also support Lotts claims by explaining, “Where firearms are most dense violent crime rates are the lowest, and where guns are least dense violent crime rates are the highest” (Kates, Mauser 649).
According to a poll by CNN, forty-nine percent of Americans support stricter gun control, while fifty percent oppose. With the question of gun control constantly brought up with well thought out arguments from both sides, the topic has become one of the most controversial issues in American Society today. Before delving into this issue, a person must understand what the current regulations on firearms are. The highest law in the land, the United States Constitution, made the original laws on gun control as stated in the second amendment.
Gun control may seem great but the more you look into it the more it seems pointless. Gun control is pointless due to the fact that criminals will always find a way around the law. Countless times around the world they have attempted gun control with no success. This is because criminals don't follow the law therefore the responsible gun owners are getting screwed over. Gun control may seem like a good idea but if we look at history it doesn't really work that well.
Gun Control does not need to be more enforced than it already is. Gun control has nothing to do with how criminals kill people, as most guns are bought illegally or smuggled in. Even if there is more gun control, people will still find ways to get and buy guns. According to CDC.Gov, in 2014, there were 2.5 million deaths in the U.S, and only 13,000 of those deaths were gun-related.
"’Make no mistake -- they 're coming for our guns. And we freedom-loving gun lovers are totally defenseless! Other than, you know, the guns’ -Stephen Colbert” (Kurtzman 1). There are as many people who advocate for pro gun laws as the people who are opposed, which is the reason why gun control has become one of the most controversial topics as of right now. America is truly split between those who advocate for gun control and those who are opposed.