Gun Control Is Fair and Necessary
Since the days of the pioneers of the United States, firearms have
been part of the American tradition as protection and a means of hunting or
sport. As we near the end of the 20th century the use of guns has changed
significantly. Because of fast and steady increase in crime and the fight
for the right to own a hand gun, the introduction of legislation for gun
control, to try to reduce the crime in the United States, has been a hotly
debated issue in recent years.
Although many people feel that gun control violates the right of
the people, given in the second amendment "the right to bear arms",
controlling distribution and sales and the registration of guns and gun
owners is necessary because of the homicide rate involving guns and the
violence by criminals using guns.
Many people feel that gun control violates the right of the people
given in the second amendment the right "to bear arms". Opponents of gun
control, including the National Rifle Association, better known as the NRA,
argue that the "right To bear arms" is guaranteed in the second amendment
of the Constitution of the United States of America and licensing
restrictions penalize law-abiding citizens while in no way preventing
criminal use of handguns. It is also argued that by making it difficult
for guns to be bought and registered for the American public there is a
threat to the personal safety of American families everywhere.
However controlling the sale and distribution of firearms is
necessary because of the homicide rate involving guns. In 1988 there were
9000 handgun related murders in America. Metropolitan centers and some
suburban communities of America are setting new records for homicides by
handguns. Larger Metropolitan centers have ten times the murder rate of
all Western Europe. For example in Washington,D.C. there was an estimated
400 homicides including guns.
In addition gun control has been seen as necessary because of the
violence by criminals using guns. Gun control is wrapped in a series of
social issues such as crime and drugs. Guns have become closely linked to
drugs and murder in the public mind. Drug dealing and high tech weaponry
have escalated the warfare in cities between long established loosely knit
gangs. Predominantly guns of crime are used by gang members. Many police
officers are killed every year due to drug and gang related incidents
involving guns. For example in 1988 on February 26 rookie New York City
police officer Edward Byre was sitting alone in his police car guarding the
house of a drug trial witness in South Jamaica, Queens where he was shot
four times in the head and killed.
In conclusion there are valid reasons for why certain people feel
that gun control is unfair. People against gun control feel that it is a
violation of the Constitution to control the sale and distribution and the
registration of guns and gun owners. But it is necessary for there to be
certain limits on the way that firearms are handled in this country because
of the homicide rate involving guns and because of the violence created by
criminals using guns. If gun control legislation were to go through there
would be a significant decline in gun related crimes and fatalities.Partner sites: Pitbull dog, Study Spanish in Ecuador, and Free Essays and Term Papers