Gun Control Issues in the United States - Research Paper Example

Gun Control Issues in the United States Citizens are allowed to carry guns as keeping arms is considered a right of people for personal safety. Gun control debate is not easy to tackle with as both sides of the battle are strong at their part to argue for and against gun control. In the United States, this issue has been a conflict between the public safety and personal freedom. Owing guns had not been restricted for about 160 years for the second amendment which assures that the people have the right to hold guns. Later on, people realized the horrible consequences of holding a gun and the debate began to this right in year 1934. The national firearms act was the first act that restricted the rights to own guns. The guns were then provided to the people after complete background checking and assuring as if they really needed the gun for a fair use. Federal act of gun control was introduced in 1968, and as per this act, each gun is provided with a unique serial number that is held by the gun buyer. 1990s’ amendment then proscribes the criminals to become a gun owner and makes it essential to check the criminal record of buyer during the sales time. Gun control opponents argue that people bearing handguns are able to defend themselves from criminal offense assuring personal safety. Whereas, the advocates of gun control suggest that increase in crime rates is an outcome of widespread ownership of gun and ultimately bring negative consequences both in terms of private and public (Gun Control Debate 2011). This paper depicts both the arguments for and against gun control and proposes some ways the issue can be resolved. Since it gun control debate is greatly considered to be a political issue, this paper also highlights the laws and acts from the state government’s point of view to prevent serious harms resulted from gun ownership. Since 1934, various federal laws have been acted out to promote federal regulation of firearms and ammunition, the constitutionality and efficacy of which is continued to be a strong debate. Gun control proponents argue that laws and regulation to control gun ownership and holding can prohibit convicted felons, mentally challenged and other individuals who are not safe to the society to misuse guns to create harm. The advocates of gun control also suggest that accessibility of guns to these high-risk individuals can successfully be reduced by only the federal regulations and policies for gun usage. Some people even sought for extensive modifications in gun control policy such as non-police handgun possession and the registration of all firearm owners or firearms should be prohibited almost exclusively. For this prohibitive act regarding firearms, they insist that such regulation is not barred by constitution and it does not incur any substantial social costs. Some proponents do not consider such strict policies rather they go for moderate policy alternatives such as the ones which would not hinder legitimate possession and transfer of firearms. The opponents to such federal policies have much stronger arguments. They refuse to accept that federal regulation can prevent firearms access by high-risk persons. They argue against the gun control acts indicating that such controls often disturb law observant citizens by creating burdens on them. Some people consider these policies as a violation of constitutional rights catered by the Second Amendment. They even give reasons for their opposition to gun control by demonstrating that they consider the widespread possession of gun as one of the best impediments to criminal offences and to likely despotism as well, whether through the use of guns by gangs or by government. Some opponents may also criticize the impression of enhancing federal powers as opposed to state and police forces (Gun Control 2002). Gun control had been considered a prominent issue neither in the 2004 Presidential campaign nor in the 2008 campaign. 3% of people of the United States considered "gun control" to be a significantly major issue but the ratio of these people has now declined to 1% only. In general, very few Americans are now in support of gun control. Though the general public is less concerned about the issue, but it is still a major issue of concern for politicians. Gun control is considered to be a subject of federal, state and also local legislation like many other prospects and facets of public policy in the United States. Many opponents of the issue in gun control debate are impassioned and enthusiastic about their right to unrestricted gun possession. These individuals may even make voting decisions based solely on this issue. The Second Amendment provides citizen of the United States the right to own firearms which is affirmed by the 2008 Democratic Platform, but the platform also holds the prolongation of prohibition of weapon which can cause aggressive assault and bans the gun show by the citizens. While the Republican Platform strongly supports the right to own and keep guns and defends the June 2008 Supreme Court decision which is in affirmation of the right. It can be inferred that Democrats overwhelmingly are in support of gun control measures and policies, and the Republicans are divided on the issue and some Republicans even do not affirm gun control proposals at all. Up till now, the White House has not initiated any legislation on gun control issues. Keeping in mind the increasing crime rates, gun control should be supported by congress to an extent that does not violate the right of public to own weapons for their safety. Trigger lock background checks requirement at gun shows are good options along with raising the age limit to hold guns to prohibit misuses of weapons. In 1999, voting for the regulation of gun shows and specifically trigger locks was narrowly attempted by the Senate, but the White House had not taken any action with respect to either proposal. Again in April 2004, the Senate voting for handgun locks was undertaken but this time too the House did not consider the proposal so the issue has not lately been upraised. On the contrary, gun control regulation advocates bear the defensive attitude because gun rights have been increased rather than restrained by more recent Congressional votes (Gun Control Policy Issues 2009). Several gun control-related proposals had been presented in Possible Issues for the Congress, for instance, background checks requirement at gun shows, firearm safety trigger locks requirement, decrease the use of assault firearms and handguns, etc. One of those proposals was approved by the committee members. The measure included the requirement of increasing federal and state records that are appropriate to regulating firearms possession and transfer eligibility which can only be made approachable through the National Criminal Instant Background Check System (NICS). The performance and validity of NICS was challenged as an emerging issue in such circumstances when proposals involving the requirement of background checks for weapons transfers at gun shows by people without licenses, were a big concern. In addition to this measure, the White House narrowly voted out a discharge petition on another measure which would provide relief to definite qualified former and current law enforcement officers from state laws who prohibited concealed containing of weapons. The other proposals for prohibiting dire use of weapons that can cause fear, dread or terror, should be encouraged by Congress. Congress attempts to undertake such measures as Congress stated in Gun Control Act of 1968 that the assistance of federal, state, and local law enforcement in the current campaign to cut down crime and violence to a greater extent is the purpose of federal firearm regulation. It is also stated in the same act that the regulation does not aim to place any unneeded, unjustified, or undue loads on law observant citizens, and citizens have the right to the legitimate acquisition, ownership, or usage of weapons for personal protection, trapshooting, target shooting, hunting, or any other legitimate activity (Gun Control 2002). Most of the people assume that there are two options regarding the gun control that are either to oppose or to support gun control. But in reality there is a range of alternatives. The people who defend holding guns and are against the abolishment and extensive restrictions have issues of violation of ‘‘serious right to bear arms,’’ while the people who are in support of far-flung abolishment and more significant restrictions are considered to be ‘‘gun control advocates.’’ (LaFollette 2000). To solve the gun control issue, the main reason of gun usage in society should be considered as the use of weapons has been increased due to the menace to the society from people who are provoked by any kind of depression or bad circumstances in their lives, those who suffer from mental illness and drug addicted children and adults. Despite the fact that using gun has many benefits, it can cause extremely harmful situations in the society even a threat to social security if the gun is held by a wrong hand. Each and every citizen of the world is responsible for settling this issue by deciding what use the gun should be put to, so that can brought good to the society rather than causing harm to it (Gun Control Debate 2011). "We challenge the culture of violence when we ourselves act in the certainty that violence is no longer acceptable, that it's tired and outdated no matter how many cling to it in the stubborn belief that it still works and that it's still valid." - Gerard Vanderhaar Works Cited “Gun Control” Almanac of Policy Issues 2002. [Available Online] cited 8 Dec 2011 from: “Gun Control Debate” WordPress & Green Park 2 by Cordobo 2011. [Available Online] cited 8 Dec 2011 from: “Gun Control Policy Issues” New Batch 2009. [Available Online] cited 9 Dec 2011 from: LaFollette, Hugh. “Gun Control” The University of Chicago 2000. cited 9 Dec 2011 from: Read More