Tougher Gun Control Laws
Do We Need Tougher Gun Control Laws? One of the most controversial issues in our society today is the topic of private gun ownership and gun control laws. This controversy has arisen mostly due to the different ways that the second constitutional amendment is interpreted. The amendment states that "a well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right to the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed" (Lott, 2000). On one side of the issue, there are those that believe that the amendment guarantees the right of individuals to possess and carry a wide variety of firearms. On the other side are those that contend that the amendment was only meant to guarantee to States the right to operate militias. One thing that both sides agree upon is that it is up to the Supreme Court to resolve this debate, as it is their responsibility to enforce the U.S. Constitution. Meanwhile, strict gun control laws have been created for the safety of the public. Gun control laws serve their purpose well, and through things such as criminal background checks, training, and permits, they promote responsible gun ownership. Tougher gun control laws are not necessary and would not lead to any intended benefits in society because they only attempt to solve problems that are not being created by the lack thereof. First of all, the assumption that tougher gun control laws will lead to a decrease in crime is just not true. Most criminals that use guns violently are obtaining them illegally. Criminal gun users most commonly get their guns by buying them from friends and other non-registered sources or by theft. In this case, tougher gun control laws are irrelevant will make no difference at all. The only way that tougher gun regulations are likely to succeed in controlling gun violence is if it could effectively restrict these illegal methods of obtaining guns. The gun laws that are in place currently do exactly what they are designed to do. Gun owner
References: Dougherty, Jon. (2001). Exploiting Suicide to Push Gun Control. Retrieved October 23, 2005, from www.worldnetdaily.com. Gold, S. D. (2004). Gun Control. New York: Benchmark Books. Lott, J. R. (2000). More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. McKenna, J.D., George K.I., & Feingold, S Thompson, Sarah. (2001, December 9). Private Gun Ownership Keeps the Criminals in Line Young, Cathy. (2002, March 18).The Bias Against Handguns. The Boston Globe, p. A7.