Should There be Stricter Gun Control Laws?

Liz Kelly

ENGL 102-057

Rogerian Argument Essay

16 March 2013

Should there be Stricter Gun Control Laws?

            The present gun control debate is a major topic at both a political and social level.  The resulting outcome of this current debate will affect almost everyone.  Gun owners and those who do not own guns across the nation all have passionate opinions as to the future of gun control in the United States.  Recently, there have been many rallies and marches from both sides of the debate, standing up for what they believe should be done or left alone.  Some call for stricter gun control laws while others declare that it is our right as citizens to bear arms and that this right is protected under the second amendment.  However, there must be stricter gun laws enacted in order to help ensure the safety of citizens of the United States.

            The current gun control laws must be revised in order to keep up with advances in firearms technology.  The right to bear arms as protected under the Second Amendment states, “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed” ("Second Amendment-U.S. Constitution").  However, this amendment was written over 200 years ago and gun technology has changed drastically since the time this document was written.  There were no assault rifles present when the Second Amendment was ratified.  Allowing average citizens to stock up on their own arsenal is just asking for trouble.  There needs to be stricter regulations on the amount of ammunition and number of guns an individual may possess.  No one should be allowed to possess an unlimited amount of ammunition and weapons; it is too great of a risk factor.  Roughly 16,272 murders were committed in the United States during 2008.  Of these, about 10,886 or 67% were committed with firearms ("Gun Control"). 

            There also needs to be deeper background checks on individuals who wish to own a gun where not only the criminal record, but a full psychological or mental health examination is done as well.  Dispersing a weapon of any kind to an individual who has not been fully checked out is simply not good practice.  Based on survey data from the United States Department of Justice, roughly 5,340,000 violent crimes were committed in the United States during 2008 (“Gun Control”). These include simple/aggravated assaults, robberies, sexual assaults, rapes, and murders.  Of these, about 436,000 or 8% were committed by offenders visibly armed with a gun (“Gun Control”).  There should be stronger government regulations and local law enforcement regulations once the gun is in possession as well.  For example, there should be check-ups to make sure the gun is being stored securely in a safe and that the gun license has not expired.  Having a longer waiting period for purchasing a gun is also a good idea to discourage anyone from just buying a gun without a solid purpose.  To make the entire process of gun control more organized as well as easier there should be universal gun laws throughout the states.  If all of the states could get on the same page it would certainly increase efficiency of managing firearms. 

            Texas provides excellent an excellent example of how gun laws need to be improved.  For example, in Texas there is no waiting period for purchasing a firearm nor is there a state registration of firearms (“Texas Gun Laws”).  Since there is no state registration of firearms, there is no requirement to transfer the firearm in the name of the owner if they were to pass on the weapon to someone else.  With proper licensing (Concealed Handgun License) an individual may carry a pistol or revolver on them as long as it remains concealed (“Texas Gun Laws”).  Long guns (rifles / shotguns) do not have to be concealed, but must be carried in a manner not calculated to cause alarm, and these do not require a license (“Texas Gun Laws”).  However, what one individual may find alarming, another may not, which makes this law subjective.  With the passage of the Motorist Protection Act an individual may now readily carry handguns, loaded and within reach, as long as they conceal the firearm (“Texas Gun Laws”). Again, long guns do not have to be concealed and may be loaded and within reach (“Texas Gun Laws”).  Also in Texas, machine guns are legal (“Texas Gun Laws”).  Texas abides by Federal law which at this time has no restrictions on so-called "assault weapons" such as semi-auto AR15, FAL, G3 / HK91 rifles (“Texas Gun Laws”).  There is no limitation on magazines in the state of Texas either (“Texas Gun Laws”).    Massachusetts has stricter gun laws, however, there are still several areas where these laws can be improved.  An FID card permits the purchase, possession and carrying of non-large capacity rifles, shotguns and ammunition only (“MassWildlife”). The fee for an FID card is $100.00 for people over eighteen years old and only $25 for minors (“MassWildlife”). Applicants must be at least eighteen years old and may be as young as fifteen to seventeen years old with parental consent (“MassWildlife”). This ID card is valid for 6 years (“MassWildlife”).  First time FID applicants must have completed a MA Certified Firearms Safety Course or a Basic Hunter Education Course (“MassWildlife”).  However, to renew their license after six years an individual is not required to take the course again (“MassWildlife”).

 

Fig. 1. This image shows one of the many passionate protesters advocating for stricter gun laws (“Universal Hub”).

 

              People can benefit from moving toward a stricter gun control position to help prevent tragedies and create a safer environment for everyone.  In 2011 there were 12,664 murders in the US.   Of those, 8,583 were caused by firearms (Klein).  Of the 11 deadliest shootings in the US, six have happened from 2007 onward (Klein). On December 14^th 2012, twenty kindergarten and first grade children as well as six adults were shot and killed at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut ("Sandy Hook Shooting”).  This was the second largest shooting in the history of the United States after Virginia Tech in 2007 (“Sandy Hook Shooting”).  Another recent mass shooting occurred on July 20^th 2012 in Aurora, Colorado during a midnight premiere of the “Dark Knight Rises”.  Twelve people were killed and a total of 58 others were injured. Most of the victims were admitted with gunshot wounds, while some were being treated for injuries sustained during the ensuing chaos.  Eleven people were in critical condition ("Aurora, Colorado Theater Shooting Timeline"). Another tragedy occurred in Carson City, Nevada on September 7^th 2011 (“Gun Violence”).  A man armed with an AK-46 assault rifle shot five uniformed National Guard members eating breakfast at an IHOP restaurant. Four people were killed and eight others were wounded in the attack.  In all of these cases the shooters had no limit as to the type of weapons they used, the amount of ammunition, or quantity of those weapons.  All of their actions prior to the shootings went unnoticed (“Gun Violence”). 

            On the other side of the debate, many argue that gun control laws should be left alone since it is our right to bear arms as citizens of the United States.  Countless numbers of gun owners use these weapons solely for recreational purposes such as hunting or at a shooting range, and they do so legally and safely.  Many citizens also own a gun for the sole means of protecting their home and family.  A 1993 nationwide survey of 4,977 households found that over the previous five years, at least 3.5 percent of households had members who had used a gun for self-protection or for the protection of property at home, work, or elsewhere (“Gun Control”). Applied to the United States population, this amounts to 1,029,615 such incidents per year. This figure excludes all military service, police work, or work as a security guard (“Gun Control”).

            Members in service require these weapons as part of their job and it is their responsibility to ensure that they are storing their weapon safely when not on duty.  Another argument opposing stricter gun laws is that these stricter regulations pose an inconvenience for law abiding citizens.  Why should they have to go through these deep background checks and wait an extensive period of time just to obtain a simple hand gun?  Another leading argument is that stricter gun control laws would in fact make it unsafe for law abiding citizens since they would be defenseless against convicts.  According to this line of thinking, even with stricter gun laws criminals will find a way to get guns anyway illegally.  Based on survey data from a 2000 study published in the Journal of Quantitative Criminology, United States civilians use guns to defend themselves and others from crime at least 989,883 times per year (“Gun Control”).  Many also argue why change the Second Amendment now, when it has worked for the last 200 years?

            Some possible compromises that would benefit both sides of the gun control debate involve not repealing the Second Amendment of the Constitution but revising it, as well as current gun laws, to fit the current circumstances and technology of today.  The right to bear arms should not be taken away from citizens, however, limitations do need to be put in order.  The Obama administration has already begun tackling this problem and there are several proposed Congressional actions that will help in the effort to make America safer.  Criminal background checks will be required for all gun sales, including those by private sellers that are currently exempt (Holyk). Another proposed action is reinstating and strengthening the ban on assault weapons that was in place from 1994 to 2004 (Holyk). Limiting ammunition magazines to 10 rounds and banning the possession of armor-piercing bullets by anyone other than members of the military and law enforcement are also on the table (Holyk). 

            This current control debate is fueled by passionate individuals on both sides of it who will undoubtedly be affected by the resulting outcomes.  As many demand stricter gun control laws, just as many call for the protection of their right to bear arms.  The second amendment does in fact protect our right as citizens of the United States to bear arms, however, current gun control regulations must be stricter in order to keep up with the current technology now readily available to citizens.  Such regulations will create a more organized society as well as help to prevent future tragedies in our country.          

             

           

 

Works Cited

"Aurora, Colorado Theater Shooting Timeline." World News. N.p., 26 Jul 2012. Web. 16 Mar        2013. <http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/world_news&id=8743134>.                 

"Gun Control." Just Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar 2013.      <http://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp>.

"Gun Licensing Requirements." MassWildlife. N.p., 15 Jan 2013. Web. 26 Feb 2013.             <http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/education/hed/hed_gun_laws.htm>.

Holyk, Greg. "Majority Sees Obama’s Gun Control Plan Favorably." abc News. N.p., 24 Jan         2013. Web. 26 Feb 2013. <http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/01/majority- sees-obamas-gun-control-plan-favorably/>.

Klein, Ezra. "Twelve Facts about Guns and Mass Shootings in the United States." Washington     Post 14 Dec 2012, n. pag. Print.   

<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/12/14/nine-facts-about-guns-and-mass-shootings-in-the-united-states/>.

“Man in Car Shot on Stoughton Street.” Universal Hub. N.p., 15 Feb 2013. Web. 21 Mar 2013.             <http://www.universalhub.com/crime/20130215-man-car-shot-stoughton-street.html>.

"Sandy Hook Shooting: What Happened?." CNN. N.p.. Web. 16 Mar 2013.             <http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2012/12/us/sandy-hook-timeline/index.html>.

"Second Amendment-U.S. Constitution." FindLaw. N.p., 28 Jun 2010. Web. 16 Mar 2013.             <http://constitution.findlaw.com/amendment2/amendment.html>.

"The Basics." Texas Gun Laws. N.p.. Web. 26 Feb 2013. <http://www.texasgunlaws.org/>.

"Tragedies." Coalition Against Gun Violence. Squonk Studios, 31 Oct. 2011. Web. 26 Feb.           2013.