Essay, Research Paper: Gun Control

Gun Control: What Is It?
One of the most hotly debated topics today is gun control. But what exactly is gun control? Is it making it so hard to own that it takes away from the game or leaves someone in fear of not being able to protect themselves? Could it be that it is there to protect the innocent from being gunned down by a lunatic? All these are good questions and that is why the topic is hard to define, both sides have their own feelings on the issue and it is hard to find a happy medium between the two, but one must try. Gun control doesn’t have to be taking guns away or making them harder to get as much as controlling them and enforcing the laws that are already in effect.
There are many different viewpoints on the issue of gun control. My personal viewpoint is that all citizens have the right to bear arms. If all of the laws were enforced that have passed legislation we would not need new laws making it harder for those that use firearms for sport and protection. The NRA(National Rifle Association) feels the same way. They feel that legislation would infringe on the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. They also believe that gun control is not making it harder to get guns by certain measures but by enforcing laws that are already in effect. They also say that only those laws would affect citizens that use their firearms legally because the people that commit crimes would get guns another way. People that are pro-gun control believe that gun control is to put stricter laws into effect making it harder to get a hold of guns. They believe that the age for purchasing a gun should be changed from eighteen to twenty one.
Whatever the definition given by the various pro and anti gun controllers might be there are certain laws that help define gun control. In many states there are laws that allow citizens to carry concealed handguns. One of the largest states to enact this law is Texas and many citizens indicated they would carry a concealed hand weapon because they felt it was needed for self-defense (Goldman 121). There are also laws in many states that put a hold on weapons sold to do a background check. In the case of gun shows the waiting period would outlast the show itself. There are also laws being pressed to limit buyers to a limit of one handgun per month.
So you have the opinions and you have the laws but the truest definition itself comes from the Bill of Rights, more specifically the second amendment. The hot constitutional question however is whether the Second Amendment protects states or individuals. The second amendment clearly secures a “right of the people”. As defined in the constitution itself, “ A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” States from New Hampshire to Kentucky all have laws that were passed entitling citizens to their right to carry weapons in times of defense whether for that of the state, country, or for personal protection.
So now you’ve heard all the sides; personal, pro, anti, and legal arguments, there are many ways to see gun control. From stopping or trying to slow down sales to just getting “tough” and enforcing the laws already in effect gun control is a hot topic.
However the best definition to interpret gun control is, enforcing the laws we already have in effect while also considering some new laws to protect us against the crime of America. We need to try to slow handguns down just stop the gun involved crimes by cracking down and enforcing the law. This may not be a happy medium to either side but it is the way that gun control is being defined at this point in time. Letting it be legal to carry a concealed weapon or firearm but also having certain laws for a waiting period and background check so that firearms don’t end up in the wrong hands.


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