Gun Control Is Long Overdue By Jacqueline Collins

The correlation of firearm ownership and gun homicides is evident around the world “across 26 high-income nations” with strong, statistical significance (Hemenway & Miller para.

The AP “Gov.” class at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is familiar with the debate; before they were even born, the big money - gun debate had already been in full swing. Discussions leading to debates on the local, county, state and federal level about gun control, highlighting the influence wrought by big money had many voices, but little impact on either issue. One voice can engage the public and bring forth change; that voice is Emma Gonzalez. On a day reserved for flowers, candy, sentiments of love and affection, the actions of one person changed lives and the day forever; from those actions were born a resolve and a voice.

Gun control endangers American’s constitutional right to bear arms. Politicians and civilians alike mistakenly think that revoking our constitutional right to keep and bear arms will ensure the end of gun violence in our country. Taking away our guns by criminalizing the purchase or ownership of guns will not keep weapons out of the hands of violent criminals. If we criminalize guns the violent gun-slinging criminals we worry about would continue to purchase them illegally through the black market. Marginalizing our right to bear arms endangers civilians due to the fact that those laws only affect law abiding citizens, rendering them defenseless.

The first ten amendments of the United States Constitution are called the Bill of Rights. These ten particular rights or amendments guarantee freedom for every individual. It protects rights such as the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, the freedom of assembly and the right to petition. The second amendment of the Bill of Rights also protects the right to keep and bear arms. It states the following "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.”

Gun control is a hot debated issue in America 's society right now on the heels of the Florida school shooting. Doing a quick Google search of recent tragedies, the first result displays over ten school shootings within the last twelve months. While there is no shortage of tragedy and carnage in the wake of gun violence there is no reason to ban guns all together. The arguments for more stringent laws, gun free zones, and stating that guns are evil have logic behind them, but the rationale behind the counter arguments have just as much if not more validity. Congress immediately begun to spur and feed of the masses going to social media calling for action to bring about more laws regulating gun sales and ownership.

The Benefits of Strict Gun Control According to Hobbes Mass shootings and deaths from gun violence have become almost an epidemic in the United States. It seems as though every few weeks or months there is news of another horrific shooting claiming the lives of unsuspecting Americans. And there are many more shooting deaths that don’t make the national news that are just as pressing in the lives and mentalities of our people. With the increasing impact that gun violence is having on the fabric of our society, it is crucial now more than ever that our government takes action to protect its citizens from harm. That action must come in the form of stricter gun regulations.

The mass shooting invigorated the discussions around gun control legislation. The victims’ family and friends, who are deeply traumatized, blame the Congress for inaction to prevent shootings. Along with the gun control proponents, they started the “never again” movement to express their deep sorrow and continue to strive for stricter gun control. Understandably, friends and families of

Gun Control in America 33,000 people are killed in gun related incidents, in United States of America alone every year (The Second Amendment Guaranteed a Civic Right to Be Part of the State Militia). This is a very staggering statistic knowing that the U.S. is only one country out of the 195 countries in the world today. This is due to several reasons. Shootings are becoming more and more common, guns are getting easier and easier to find, but most of all, the second amendment has reigned supreme in gun laws ever since the founding of America in 1776. Some believe that this is a terrible amendment to have our country live by, this group supports enforcing gun laws or even abolishing guns all together.

Guns need to be strictly controlled to fulfill the promise that was made to all of us, protection under all

Strict regulations and limitations have been pursued already and clearly do not suffice. Statics brought to attention by gun control opponents, show that gun control laws have done little to reduce crime rates. Several restrictions have been made on certain guns, considered as overly dangerous, though in the hands of an unstable criminal even a legal hunting gun can be deadly. Countless restrictions have been made, however people have still found ways around them. If people are unstable and determined enough, they will find a gun, regardless of the restrictions or regulations.

Some disagree and think stricter laws will not help, like the article titled “The Case Against Banning Guns” by Shiha Dalmai. According to that article we should be “... focusing less on preemptively thwarting prospective attackers and instead boosting the defense capacities of prospective victims.” I disagree. We cannot fight gun violence with more gun violence.

The use of and the owning of guns is a very hot and debated topic in society today. For many, this is a life and death debate due to the recent and numerous school shootings. These school shootings have caused an outcry for more gun control, specifically in relation to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Despite these calls, increased gun control is not the answer. Most gun owners’ use their guns responsibly and for good purposes.

It has become the norm in the Chicagoland area to hear about the daily senseless deaths due to gun violence. I often think about how gun violence is heavily embedded within the American society and how it is desensitizing the next generation. The consequences that arise from such tragedies has contributed to the build-up of security in public areas nationwide, yet does not fortify the laws to prevent such unnecessary actions from occurring again. Unfortunately, Chicago is not the only city with this problem as there have been major incidents over the past few years in the United States where shootings occurred in public locations, such as schools, military bases, and malls.

Eliot Spitzer, a former governor of New York, once said “Yes, people pull the trigger - but guns are the instrument of death. Gun control is necessary, and delay means more death and horror”. Gun control is needed in our society because many deaths in America are caused by guns. Having gun control would prevent many deaths and make America a safer place because it could also help to lower crime rates. Gun control laws should be passed to reduce gun deaths, getting rid of gun culture, and help lower the crime rate.

While those in favor of gun control work hard to push their agenda, it is clear that America has far more citizens who favor gun rights over gun control. In order to get what they want, control supporters are going to need to get a big jump on gun supporters for house seats. Some of the control supporters have even begun to turn their head and give up on their arguments. The ones who were once completely against guns, have now begun to say that “there is a time and place for everything” (Elliot and Frizell, The New Politics of Gun Control). The motto in New Hampshire is “Live Free or Die”.