Gun Control by Kristine G. and Tom

"All of a sudden I'm in front of some man. No he's a youngin but he's got a gun in his hand. He looks fifteen, he looks frantic, no he looks afraid. Immediately apprehensive til I heard him say "Do you want this It's not mine I promise. I found it on my block in between a couple garages. Didn't wanna leave it for a child to stumble over, I don't even know how to hold it." It was a thirty eight, the poor man's machete. Held it in my hand, thinking damn man it's heavier then expected. Wedged it behind my belt buckle, knowing that its evil, even thought that I could smell trouble. The extra strength felt weak, but over there on the corner saw what I needed and proceeded to cross the street. Put the heat in the mail box to lose it. Figured that the post office knows whats best to do with it."

-Always coming back home to you/ Atmosphere

Gun control is a highly debated issue. Should America tighten the laws concerning firearms? Many believe so, saying that tighter gun control will lower street crimes and even accidental injury. On the other side of the debate, many believe that the laws concerning firearms is strict enough and any tighter regulations will make it harder to acquire a gun, violating the Second Ammendment, our right to bear arms.

Tighter gun legislation could mean less crime, especially if the amount of guns in America is reduced. They argue less guns mean less violence. The leading advocate in restricting gun laws is the Brady Campaign, they believe the laws in place now make it too easy for dangerous people to get a hold of firearms. Their main focus is to make America a safer place. But would tighter gun control really make america a safer place? There is already a market for guns purchased under the table, just walk into the ghetto, guns will always be around. But restricting control can lead to less accidental deaths in the home and even suicides. Studies show that keeping a gun in a home raises the risk of homicide, with statistics saying Higher gun ownership puts both men and women at a higher risk for homicide, particularly gun homicide (Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Injury Control Research Center, 2009). They also argue that guns in the home are more likey to be used in a homicide, suicide, or accidental injury instead of actual self defense.

But what about our right to bear arms? We as Americans have have the right to self defense. The National Rifle Association believe that stricter laws will violate our rights and they argue that guns have actually decreased deaths. They argue that firearms are used for protection more often than they are used to commit violent crimes. Criminologist Gary Kleck analyzed National Crime Victimization Surveys and concluded, "robbery and assault victims who used a gun to resist were less likely to be attacked or to suffer an injury than those who used any other methods of self-protection or those who did not resist at all." But what if a firearm got into the wrong hands? A child, a dangerous felon, your younger brother or sister?

What do you think? Should we make it harder to obtain guns? Do you believe your rights will be violated if the laws do become stricter? Both sides of the issue need to take into consideration both sides of the argument. Maybe new laws could help reduce violence without violating our right to bear arms. New gun laws could include required gun safety classes not for just the person obtaining the gun, but for the family. Or maybe not allow guns in households with children. We as American's need to decide on what we think is a happy medium.

http://www.bradycampaign.org/
http://www.nraila.org/