The Gun Control in the USA - Assignment Example

The assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and etc in the year 1960 develop issues related to gun control and the element of guns and arms become a subject of passion and controversy (Roleff, 2007). Different people have different opinions about the issue of gun control and many individuals consider it as a criminal issue however different people consider as a right issue. Responsible citizens can manage this issue but if it is not managed properly then it can create numerous problems for that individual and for the society Different laws regarding arms and ammunition have been initiated by the government since 1934 and these laws and regulations are for the firearms and their ammunition.

The biggest advantage of gun control is that it curbs the access of arms by criminals, juveniles and other high-risk individuals. Individuals believe that federal measures are the most important element of reducing the availability of guns and it can easily stop crimes. Similarly, the registration of guns and the registrations of arms dealers can reduce the element of violence in our society (Roleff, 2007). This won't incur any social costs and no constitutional barriers are present. However, certain opponents of the gun control believed that federal policies keep the arms out of the hands of high risks persons but they create burdens for law-abiding citizens (Almanac of Policy Issues, 2009).

There are two major federal statutes that are related to gun control. These two acts are the National Firearms Act of 1934 and the Gun Control Act of 1968. A transfer tax was imposed on machine guns and short-barreled guns in the Act of 1934. However, the Act of 1968 prohibits mail-order sales and interstate sales of guns and arms. Similarly, sales to minors and certain penalties and licensing requirements for manufacturers, dealers and importers were imposed. However, in June 2008 made a landmark ruling regarding arms and the Supreme Court upholds the right of individuals to bear arms for hunting and for the purpose of self-defense (Awesome Library, 2009).

Certain statistics and figures are used in the gun control debate and statisticians suggest that the numbers of homicides with firearm persons are increasing and the figure has risen to 173%. However, from 1985 to 1993 the figure decreased by 47% and in the year 1999, this figure decreased to 22%. The advocates of gun control argue on the point that the availability of guns to injury and mortality rates comes from the study of domestic violence. The advocates of firearms believe that because homeowners possess a risk of a home invasion that is the reason why they acquire arms and these guns and arms are for their security.

However, the researcher analyzed that the risk of homicide is higher in these homes because individuals have easy access to guns and no one is present to stop them. A number of individuals believe that sensible gun control is beneficial for society and all the guns and owners of these guns should be registered. The Bullets of these guns should have serial numbers so that it becomes quite easy to trace a crime.