Mohammed 1
Moe Mohammed
English 100
Brianna Whitehall
May 2, 2019
Gun Control in the United States
“Gun control” is a term that is used to refer to legal measures that are intended to restrict
or prevent the use and possession of guns, specifically firearms. In many developed countries,
the issue of gun control is not a matter of controversy because it is strict and hence
uncontroversial. In the United States, however, the issue of gun control is a political and a
controversial issue since some people feel that it is an infringement of their liberty while others
think that it is necessary for the general public safety. In the US, the issue mostly arises after a
major mass shooting. Since 2000 and 2014, there has been over 126 mass shooting witnessed
(Spitzer 102). There is nowhere else globally where the issue of gun control is more
controversial that it is in the United States. In the USA, possession of a gun is protected
constitutionally and at the same time, mass murders and other murders committed using guns are
very common. For this reason, the question of whether more laws on gun control should be
enacted has been a significant debate in the country. The opponents of passing more laws on gun
control argue that enacting more laws would infringe their right to own guns which are protected
by the Second Amendment. They argue that guns are necessary for self-defense and that owning
guns deter crime (Spitzer 114). This argument is not true because the guns that are possessed by
civilians are hardly utilized for self-defense. Also, it is unlikely for armed civilians to stop
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crimes. Possession and use of guns without strict regulations compromises public safety, and
hence more laws on gun control should be enacted.
In the United States, in every 100 people, there are 120.5 guns, and it has the highest per
capita number and total in the world (Goodman and Bethany 67). The gun culture in the United
States in part stems from the Second Amendment, frontier expansion, revolutionary roots, and
colonial history. The supporters of more gun control argue that more gun control laws would
reduce crime hence eliminating the need for civilians to defend themselves and also it would
save lives.
The country leads in the rate of homicide committed by firearm among the developed
countries. Between the year 1999 and the year 2013, the number of gun deaths recorded was
approximately 464,033, 58.2 percent of them being suicides, followed by homicides with a
percentage of 37.7%, and 2.2% were unintentional deaths (Wozniak 255). Americans who go to
emergency rooms daily with gunshots are around 200 Americans. This number of deaths caused
by guns can be reduced through the implementation of gun identification requirements and
background checks. Implementing laws on gun licensing can reduce these deaths. More firearm
homicides have been witnessed in places where there are stand-your-ground laws and right-tocarry laws (Goodman and Bethany 67). Enactment of stricter gun control would reduce the
number of murders recorded in the United States. Creating a barrier to access to firearms through
state regulation can also reduce suicides that are gun-related.
The debate on gun control in the United States mainly raises from the interpretation of
the US constitution, the Second Amendment. The 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,
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shall not be infringed.” The opponents of stricter gun control argue that individual gun
ownership is protected by the Second Amendment and more stringent laws would be an
infringement to their right. However, what the opponents don’t understand is that the amendment
is a limited right. There are prohibitions on carrying guns in sensitive places like government
buildings, and schools, possession of firearms by the mentally ill and felons, and there are laws
that impose qualifications and conditions on commercial sales of firearms. These are
longstanding prohibitions and laws. Many court cases in the past with claims that a law or a
government action violates the Second Amendment failed. Therefore, the Amendment is a
limited right.
More laws on gun control are necessary to protect women from stalkers and domestic
abusers. In the United States, every day there are cases of women murdered with guns. The risk
of a woman being killed increases when there is a gun in the household during the domestic
dispute. The availability of a firearm is likely to make conflict more violent. The number of
women murdered with guns by their intimate partners has been increasing. Studies show that
American women are more likely to be victims of gun violence than in other countries. Some of
the mass shootings result from domestic violence. For instance, the mass shooting at a Seal
Beach hair salon in 2011. It was reported that it resulted from a custody battle between the
shooter and an ex-wife. In many states in the US, convicted domestic abusers and convicted
stalkers are not banned from owning guns and relinquishing the guns they own. Therefore, more
strict laws need to be enacted on possession and use of firearms for they will protect women
from stalkers and domestic abusers. It will reduce the rate of gun violence generally.
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The opponents of stricter gun control argue that stricter gun control laws would deny
people their right to self-defense and hence deny them a sense of feeling safe. According to
them, people use guns for self-defense since it is impossible for police to protect all people all
the time. It is true that civilians can use the guns they possess to protect themselves when need
be. But in reality, how many times do civilians use the guns they possess for self-defense? They
rarely use the guns in self-defense. Only a few cases of homicides in the past have been justified
as self-defense. It is unlikely that armed civilians will stop crimes. Instead, armed civilians are
more likely to create more dangerous situations, like making mass shootings to be more deadly.
Of the mass shooting experienced between the year 1982 and the year 2012, none was stopped
by a civilian. In most cases, the average gun owners are not trained on how to deal with
situations that are life-threatening or in law enforcement. Therefore, in the case of a threat, more
guns only make the situation more dangerous and volatile.
According to PIRE (Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation), gun-related violence
cost everyone in the United States approximately $564 and $5.5 billion to the government in
2010 in lost tax revenue (Spitzer 205). These expenses go in areas like court costs, Medicaid and
Medicare costs, mental healthcare, processing of insurance claims, medic response, and law
enforcement. Americans who go to emergency rooms daily with gunshots are around 200
Americas, and hence taxpayers are left with the responsibility to pay most of these bills through
Medicaid programs among other programs. Therefore, enactment of more gun control laws can
reduce some societal costs which are linked to gun violence.
Frequently, guns that are legally owned are stolen by criminals and used for criminal
activities. Most of the guns that are utilized in criminal acts get into circulation through an initial
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legal purchase. There have been reports of firearms being stolen from homes in the US during
car thefts and burglary among other property crimes. Guns are products that can easily be stolen
and sold fast at a price that is lower than the buying price and hence the availability of more guns
can be a stimulus to theft and burglary. Even though the gun owner would carry the gun and not
use it for any criminal activity, it is not the same case for a criminal who steals the weapon.
Countries that have more strict laws on gun control have reported lower suicide and gun
homicide rates compared to the United States. For countries like Finland and Switzerland, gun
owners must pass background checks including criminal and mental records and must acquire
licenses, among other requirements and restrictions. The suicide and gun homicide rates in these
countries are very low compared to the rates in the United States of America. This is an
indication that enacting more strict laws on gun possession and use can reduce the rates of
suicides and gun homicides in the United States of America. Also, it would reduce the number of
unintentional gun deaths.
Conclusion
With the high number of mass shootings, suicides, and homicides among other gunrelated deaths, the issue of gun control is a matter that should be taken seriously and a solution
sought. The currently divide on the debate should be settled by carefully analyzing the pro and
cons of gun control. Both sides of the debate have their valid reasons for their support or
objection of more gun control laws. However, a solution should be sought, considering the
general well-being of all Americans. Stricter gun laws will reduce crime hence eliminating the
need for civilians to defend themselves and also it will save lives. It will reduce the number of
murders recorded in the United States. Other advantages include protecting women from stalkers
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and domestic abusers, reduce some societal costs which are linked to gun violence, and reduce
gun theft. Because of these reasons, more laws on gun control should be enacted.
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Works Cited
Spitzer, Robert J. Politics of gun control. Routledge, 2015.
Goodman, Simon, and Bethany Perry. "The American Gun Control Debate: A discursive
analysis." Discourse, Peace, and Conflict. Springer, Cham, 2018. 67-82.
Wozniak, Kevin H. "Public opinion about gun control post–Sandy Hook." Criminal justice
policy review 28.3 (2017): 255-278.
the issue of gun control is not a matter of controversy because it is strict and hence
uncontroversial. In the United States, however, the issue of gun control is a political and a
controversial issue since some people feel that it is an infringement of their liberty while others
think that it is necessary for the general public safety. In the US, the issue mostly arises after a
major mass shooting. Since 2000 and 2014, there has been over 126 mass shooting witnessed
Bri Whitehall
shootings
(Spitzer 102). There is nowhere else globally where the issue of gun control is more
controversial that it is in the United States. In the USA, possession of a gun is protected
Bri Whitehall
to?
constitutionally and at the same time, mass murders and other murders committed using guns are
Bri Whitehall
very common. For this reason, the question of whether more laws on gun control should be
than it is..
enacted has been a significant debate in the country. The opponents of passing more laws on gun
control argue that enacting more laws would infringe their right to own guns which are protected
by the Second Amendment. They argue that guns are necessary for self-defense and that owning
In the United States, in every 100 people, there are 120.5 guns, and it has the highest per
Bri Whitehall
This could be the hook and part of
your intro
capita number and total in the world (Goodman and Bethany 67). The gun culture in the United
States in part stems from the Second Amendment, frontier expansion, revolutionary roots, and
colonial history. The supporters of more gun control argue that more gun control laws would
reduce crime hence eliminating the need for civilians to defend themselves and also it would
save lives.
The country leads in the rate of homicide committed by firearm among the developed
Bri Whitehall
The United States leads in...
countries. Between the year 1999 and the year 2013, the number
gun deaths recorded was
approximately 464,033, 58.2 percent of them being suicides, followed by homicides with a
percentage of 37.7%, and 2.2% were unintentional deaths (Wozniak 255). Americans who go to
Bri Whitehall
Make sure to introduce all sources
before you use them
emergency rooms daily with gunshots are around 200 Americans. This number of deaths caused
by guns can be reduced through the implementation of gun identification requirements and
background checks. Implementing laws on gun licensing can reduce these deaths. More firearm
homicides have been witnessed in places where there are stand-your-ground laws and right-to-
carry laws (Goodman and Bethany 67). Enactment of stricter gun control would reduce the
number of murders recorded in the United States. Creating a barrier to access to firearms through
state regulation can also reduce suicides that are gun-related.
According to PIRE (Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation), gun-related violence
cost everyone in the United States approximately $564 and $5.5 billion to the government in
2010 in lost tax revenue (Spitzer 205). These expenses go in areas like court costs, Medicaid and
Medicare costs, mental healthcare, processing of insurance claims, medic response, and law
enforcement. Americans who go to emergency rooms daily with gunshots are around 200
Americas, and hence taxpayers are left with the responsibility to pay most of these bills through
Medicaid programs among other programs. Therefore, enactment of more gun control laws can
reduce some societal costs which are linked to gun violence.
Bri Whitehall
this concept should be introduced in
your topic sentence of this
paragraph
Frequently, guns that are legally owned are stolen by criminals and used for criminal
activities. Most of the guns that are utilized in criminal acts get into circulation through an initial
Purchase answer to see full
attachment