Position Against Gun Control, Essay Example

In today’s United States, there are individuals who support gun control and all of the initiatives like restrictions on gun sales and gun shows, safety locks, and the outright banning of handgun sales and ownership. These individuals have strong minds which makes it difficult to change their opinions on gun control. But after reading this essay, it is hoped that these individuals will change their minds about gun control by understanding the facts rather than basing their opinions on untruths.

Overall, these individuals believe that controlling gun sales and banning the personal possession of a handgun are the answers to controlling crime and keeping guns out of the hands of criminals. However, by presenting the facts and solid, common sense viewpoints related to gun control, these individuals will certainly change their opinions.

In a 2002 report to the Congressional Research Service, William Krouse declared that those who favor gun control believe that limiting access to firearms curbs crime and that broad policy changes at the federal level are needed in order to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals. Those who favor gun control measures also believe that a nationwide prohibition against gun ownership would save thousands of innocent lives in the U.S. and that the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that guarantees Americans the right to keep and bear arms is obsolete (Gun Control). However, although these arguments are well intended, they do not reflect the facts and are based mostly on the opinions and viewpoints of those who least understand the simple truth about gun control, being that it does not work in a free society where individuals have the right to choose their own destinies.

Also in this report, Krouse provides some very common sense observations on gun control and those who support more stringent gun laws in the U.S. For example, gun laws “do not accomplish what is intended” because it is nearly impossible to “keep weapons from being acquired by high risk individuals,” due to the number of guns in society. Also, Krouse maintains that “a more stringent federal firearm regulatory system would only create problems for law-abiding citizens” who have no intention of using a gun to commit a crime and that more laws against guns would “threaten citizens’ civil rights and safety” (Gun Control).

One of the most outspoken opponents to gun control is the National Rifle Association which is solidly against any and all forms of gun control, due to arguing that such laws “infringe on the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens.” By using current statistics provided by the U.S. federal government, the NRA clearly shows that gun control and gun bans “have not proved effective in reducing violent crime,” due mostly to the number of guns already available in society. However, since the NRA exists solely to support gun use and gun ownership in the U.S., the opinions of this national organization, composed of millions of gun owners, may be a bit biased.

In order to support what has been discussed so far, here are several known facts about guns and gun control according to John Faversham, a leading opponent to gun control in the U.S.–1), currently, 70 to 80 million Americans own guns; 2), 45% of households in the U.S. contain a gun which translates into a loaded gun in one in every ten households with children; 3), as of January, 2011, 39 states have laws permitting individuals with gun licenses to carry concealed guns in the streets; and 4), most guns used in crimes are stolen, either from homes or gun dealers (11 Facts About Gun Control). Therefore, it is clear that mandating more stringent gun control laws in the U.S. simply will not work as long as Americans are free to choose between what is right and what is wrong and as long as the U.S. Constitution and the Second Amendment remain the law of the land.

Bibliography

11 Facts About Gun Control. Web. 2012. 17 July 2012.

Gun Control vs. Gun Rights. Web. 2012. 17 July 2012.

Krouse, William. Gun Control. Web. 2002. 17 July 2012.