Should Handguns Be Restricted?

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The fact that purchasing a firearm in some states involves many regulations and requirements, but purchasing ammunition does not even require an age limit is egregious in my opinion. I believe that remarkable types of ammunition, such as armor-piercing rounds, should not be available to the common people. Ammunition like this was made specifically to penetrate or do more damage, inferring that the people purchasing it intend to do more harm. Thus, special types of ammunition should be restricted, allowed only to those licensed and permitted to use such things. In the U.S., “many armor-piercing bullets used in handguns are illegal under the Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act. But rifle bullets have long been exempt” (BBC). It is confusing why one is the handgun variant is illegal while the assault rifle variant is not, but this is most likely due to Congress who “focused on handguns because they were, and still are, used in the majority of firearm-related crimes” (Mak, A). It is perplexing …show more content…

An argument can be made that activities or tasks like hunting or practicing shooting require more ammunition, but there are ways around this. Hunters should require a license or permit to own larger firearms, and target practice can be done at shooting ranges, which provide ammunition. Pro-gun advocates often argue that harsher laws and bans on specific weapons or ammunition infringe upon the second amendment, which is one of their basic rights as a citizen. My interpretation is that the right to bear arms allows the people to own weapons for defense, but this does not mean they can own entire arsenals of weaponry. High powered weapons like assault rifles and shotguns are not necessary to satisfy the people’s right to weapons for defense. Handguns are more than capable, less dangerous, and easier for the government to

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