Gun Control and Second Amendment Issues, Essay Example

Introduction

The implication of gun control is the policies or the regulations that govern manufacturing, engagement in trade, possession, transferring, use or even modification of firearms. These policies are valid depending on the country with some having extremely strict rules, such as U.K., while other are less strict. In the U.S for example, these the limitation on gun possession depends on particular state. According to supporters of gun control, there are widespread dangers that are associated with gun ownership. On the other hand, the opponents do not attribute any reduction in murder cases, suicide or injuries arising from guns to restrictions in gun ownership. Opponents also cite violation of personal liberties if gun control measures are put in place.

Thesis statement

Gun control is a potential deterrent for crime. Regulation of gun possession will lead to lesser crime incidences, easy access to guns increases the chances of killings.

Debates touching on the issues of gun control are associated with a high degree of polarization. United States citizens are heavily divided in a similar manner as their politicians who continuously debate serious measures for gun control. Majority of people in the inner cities of the country encounter endless threats that are associated with gun violence. In some states, war on guns has become important than war on drugs with some people claiming that gun ownership is imperative for survival. ”Allowing untrained people to carry guns puts others at risk and it can result in self-inflicting injuries both by suicide and unintentional incidents” (Kohler, 2007).

The discussions and debate on the issue of gun violence and the availability of firearms have been ongoing since 1990s with a common feature concerning the rights to the possession of firearms as is evident in second amendment of American constitution, coupled with the necessity for the state to give service to the citizens and also avert crime together with deaths.

The proponents of gun control claim that lack of restrictions to the rights of gun control hinders the efforts of the government in the fulfillment of its duty in the sense of offering security to the citizens. The proponents claim that possession of fire arms is important in self defense, activities of sporting as well as hunting. They however point out that, guns should be restricted in terms of ownership because criminals are not supposed to access any guns for security reasons and for the sake of having safer communities. “Gun violence in the US kills more than 30,000 and injures approximately 70,000 each year” (Kohler, 2007). The argument of the advocates for the ownership of guns by citizens who abide by the law is that crime can be reduced significantly. However, unresolved debate looms, concerning the relationship of gun ownership and the level of crime. Some studies conducted failed to provide sufficient evidence for the determination of the efficacy of the firearm regulations or even some laws taken in combination concerning the outcome of violence.

The process of making the relevant legislations on guns in America is hampered by constitutional interpretation by the judiciary. There are two important pieces of legislations that are looked upon by the judiciary in this respect. The first one the Second Amendment of 1789 and the second one is the Fourteenth Amendment of 1868. Relying on these two rules in the constitution allows the citizens to be in possession of fire arms to serve the purpose of self defense.

Public policy discussions concerning the violence that are attributed to guns do not lack elements of deaths that are attributed to ownership of guns. These cover such areas as homicides, unpremeditated and suicide. The debates also covers aspects of the impacts allied to the ownership of guns, criminal as well as legal, on the outcomes of gun violence.

Available statistics indicates that, for every 100, 000 people, 3 people were involved in unpremeditated homicide in America in 2009 (Kohler, 2007). If this statics were to be compared with figures in a country where possession of guns is prohibited, there is a great disparity. For example, in United Kingdom, the figure was found to be close to 40 times lower being only 0.07. America has been ranked at position 28 globally in terms of gun homicide cases (GunCite, 2007).

The people who have expressed deep sympathy and concern to the issue of increased gun violence related cases in America relative to other developed nations propose stricter restrictions for the rights of ownership of guns as the best approach towards eradication of violence. On the other hand, there are those who stand by the 2^nd Amendment to the US constitution in support of possession of guns by individuals (GunCite, 2007). The most important point to them is that the constitution restricts infringements of the rights of people in the possession of guns.

There is a general disagreement among the advocates of gun control and gun rights in gun politics. The debate on the role played by guns in crime is ongoing. According to the arguments of supporters of gun rights, if the citizens are appropriately armed, then prevention of crime is a possibility. They continue to argue that, illegalizing the ownership of guns will result to high levels of crime rates because the citizens are exposed to the brutality of criminals who own illegitimate guns in defiance to the law. They postulate the need for self defense among the people and leave the police with the role of apprehending culprits of burglary as well as violent crimes. They continue to suggest that, most of the criminals are shot by citizens who carry private legal guns just as the police do. According to the believe of some organizations however, ownership of guns is a catalyst for increased crimes and can only be associated with negative outcomes.

Since violent criminals are committed to ownership of guns, restricting ownership of guns is not likey to be effective in reduction of crime rates. A gun at the hands of mentally ill person, dejected individual or a bullied school pupil is likely to cause mass casualties. Legalization of guns is likely to give greater access of guns to children who are likely to commit deadly accidents. Gun ownership registration must therefore be regulated so that the rates of deaths and violent crimes can be reduced. Children are involved in a number of senseless accidents which can be blamed on the carelessness of their parents with regard to access to guns (Elder, 2007). Even with gun rights accepted, the process of gun ownership must be accorded background check together with a compulsory time period of waiting which will facilitate deterrence to criminals as well as potential tragedies.

Irrespective of whether gun ownership is legal or not, criminals will always access guns very easily and this poses a situation of defenselessness to the citizens. It is therefore important that the citizens are equipped with the right knowledge involving guns ownership which will most likely reduce the rates of crime. A total ban on guns will most likely lead to the proliferation of black market which will only benefit the criminal and leave the citizens at the mercy of the criminals. It is therefore important to balance between gun control and infringement of personal rights.

Works cited

Elder, Laurence A. “Do ‘Gun-Free’ Zones Encourage School Shootings?” Yahoo! Inc 2007. 21 Oct. 2007.

GunCite: Gun Control and Second Amendment Issues: 30 Sept. 2007. GunCite. 21 Oct. 2007.

Kohler, Judith. “2 killed at mission center hours before church attack.” The Charlotte Observer 10 Dec. 2007