Background Checks Essay

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Maine should require background checks prior to the sale or transfer of firearms between individuals not licensed as firearms dealers. Requiring background checks will save thousands if not millions of lives each day. Police chiefs have proposed that this law should most definitely be passed. Weapons such as guns require large amounts of responsibility and there is no reason why people’s files shouldn’t be checked before purchasing these deadly weapons.
One reason why background checks should be required is because police chiefs from across the United States have called for background checks. "This is a no-brainer, this is the simplest thing in the world," Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said. "It troubles me all the time." If …show more content…

It’s not hurting anyone and it’s motive is to keep people safe. Since 1998 the system has prevented over 5,500 gun sales to felons, people with mental illnesses, and other dangerous people in Maine. The problem is, this is a fairly new law meaning not too long ago there were almost four times as many murders yearly than there are now. Over half of Maine’s murders involved domestic violence and the majority of those were committed with a gun. Although Maine is known to have a low crime rate, that doesn’t stop people from purchasing guns and using them against people from all around the world. This law isn’t just about keeping people in Maine safe, it expands to the rest of the country as well. Everyone does not necessarily agree with this decision. Some say that requiring background checks wastes innocent people’s time for no reason. This is a very weak argument because if we as a country can’t contribute a little extra time to keep others safe, we are in serious trouble. Others say that background checks are pointless because it will not stop all crimes from happening. People are aware that guns are not the only weapon used for death but it is definitely one of the most commonly used weapons and by requiring background checks we will be saving millions of lives nationwide. By requiring background checks, lives will be saved, and threats will be minimized. Passing this law will be so much better for this

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