Should America Have Stronger Gun Control Laws - Literature review Example

Freedom's Consequence Thesis It is the right of every American to bear arms and to defend themselves when the time is needed. For many American's, their constitutional right to own a gun, has saved their lives and the lives of others when faced with a threatening situation. America's founding fathers realized just how important it was for the citizens of their new country to have the right to defend themselves. Today many Americans feel that the founding fathers idea, while wise at the time, has become a problem in today's modern age. Many believe that guns create more problems than they solve, and that abolishing the Second Amendment would make America a safer place for all citizens. Unfortunately many forget the main reason the amendment was created and the necessity for citizens to have a way to stand up to and protect themselves from their government in case it turns against them. The right to bear arms is essential to living in a free country. If the citizens give up their rights to own firearms they, to a certain degree, are giving up their freedom. As part of living in a democracy citizens must ensure that their government is putting the needs of the people first. It is the citizen's responsibility to defend their freedoms, and when worst comes to worst, to revolt against an overbearing government. Therefore, the decision to give up the right to bear arms should only be considered after deep scrutiny and a full understanding of the consequences, with a possible loss of one's freedom as a result. According to George Mason, one of the coauthors of the Second Amendment, "To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them" (W.A.T.E.R. 44). This sentiment is shared by many American citizens, especially with those who are members of the National Rifle Association. While widely recognized today as a major political force and as America's foremost defender of Second Amendment rights, the NRA has, "Since its inception, been the premier firearms education organization in the world" (NRA.org). Members of the NRA help to educate citizens on the proper use of firearms whether it is for sport or for protection. The idea that without guns people will be unprotected comes from the revolutionary war in which America was created. Despite the needs and wants of the American settlers, the British government insisted that its laws and ways of life continued to be followed even though they knew that they were not in their citizen's best interests. In order to escape the over bearing and corrupt British government the American settlers had no choice but to revolt. They needed guns in order to stand up to the British and to defend their rights as citizens and human beings. "One of the democratic rights of the United States, the Second Amendment to the Constitution gives the people the right to bear arms. However, there is a greater right: "the right of human dignity that gives all men the right to defend themselves," (W.A.T.E.R. 44). Many citizens share in Black Panther cofounder Huey P. Newton's thoughts believing that without guns they are giving up their freedom and in turn everything that their country stands for. History only strengthens this fear as citizens look to the past to learn that they must be responsible for their own lives. For example many look back to slavery and see that without a way to defend oneself anyone can become a slave, or the Nazi concentrations camps were guns were taken out of the hands of the people and they were left with no way to fight back. Newton says, "If the guns are taken out of the hands of the people and only the pigs have guns, then it's off to the concentration camps, the gas chambers or whatever the fascists in America come up with" (W.A.T.E.R. 44). For gun supporters and members of the NRA it is often hard to understand the opposing opinions of citizens who side with anti gun groups. "The National Rifle Association people are quite right to be suspicious of the designs of the gun controllers. It is absolutely true that there are people around who, if they had the power, would gladly disarm every American household" (Buckley 62). 2. Anti-thesis The NRA stands in direct opposition to many citizens who believe that guns have no place in America. These anti guns groups believe that guns cause more harm than they do good. Many Americans see the violence and pain that guns can cause and feel that the country would be a better place if firearms were more closely monitored or done away with altogether. In the essay Guns Truth and Medicine, Doctor Jacob Deakins tells the story "about a foreign exchange student who mistakenly approached the incorrect house when trying to find a high school party, and was shot by a frightened homeowner" (Deakins 58). This story along with those that tell of gang violence, robberies, and countless other meaningless crimes make it easy to understand how some citizens interpret guns to mean nothing more than death. The assertion that "gun ownership and gun violence rise and fall together," (Wintmute 1421) is widely believed by anti gun groups and concerned citizens across America. While some think that guns should be outlawed all together, many more believe that stronger limits and regulations should be placed on those wanting to purchase and own a gun. Those in favor of gun control argue that the only reason states are not stricter on the sale and ownership of guns is because members of the NRA and other gun-rights groups contribute more money to the government. "Gun-rights groups contributed nearly 14 times as much as gun-control groups in the 2004 election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics" (Sullivan 47). Gun control supporters stress that just because someone has more money doesn't mean that their ideas are any better than someone else's. Despite their hardships gun control groups continue to fight against the harmful effects of guns by passing laws that "target high volume gun traffickers, ensure that gun owners who aren't trained well will not misuse their firearms, and that children cannot have access" (Stone 2366). The Democratic Party makes up most of the supporters for gun control. Since most democrats come from the working class, where lives can be harder and government support is favored, it is easy to see that these people see the harmfulness of guns in more ways than the upper class Republican Party whose members make up most of the gun rights groups including the NRA. "Democrats are more likely to experience the affects of gun violence in their lifetime" (W.A.T. E.R. 47). Living in more densely populated cities where gun violence is used in robberies, violent crimes, and gang activities, many anti gun supporters have seen the devastation and life ruining affects that guns can cause. For many, guns are at the root of the problems because they are both the reason and the solution for the crimes and violence. One concerned citizen quoted in the New York Amsterdam News says, "If we don't take control of our community, we will no longer be in our community" (HCCI 37). One of the most powerful anti gun groups is Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement, Inc. While this group does many things to aid in the improvement of their city, one of their strongest causes is the fight against gun violence and the abolishment of gun selling and ownership. Many members have lost a family member or loved one due to guns and have seen how guns and gun violence have lead to the deterioration of their community and in turn a deterioration of their way of life. One member is quoted as saying, "My son is gone, but I make it my personal responsibility to save a child" (HCCI 37). HCCI and other anti gun groups have begun their own gun buy-back programs in which cash is given to anyone who turns in a gun. 3. Synthesis While both arguments can be considered to be true, it depends on a person's personal background and experience when it comes to their take on guns. Gun violence is a huge issue in America, but it is it truly worth it to abolish guns altogether America was grounded on freedom and its citizens have the right to defend themselves under any circumstance. The question that Americans need to ask themselves is: should they give up guns at the risk of their freedom Just because something is harmful doesn't mean that it should be taken away. For instance, cars can be just as dangerous as guns. Thousands of people die in car crashes every year, but the abolishment of cars has never once been considered. This is because cars, just like guns, grant Americans the freedom that they have fought so hard for. "Most pro-gun groups support youth education programs in gun safety, because they realize this is a far more effective approach" (Deakins 59). When compared to the fear tactics and absolute abolishment that many anti-gun groups try to employ these methods have been proven to be more effective in preventing gun recklessness and violence. Just because pro-gun groups like the NRA support the ownership of guns doesn't mean that they support the use of them without responsibility, training, and expertise. Along with supporting guns when used in sportsmanship such as marksmanship, the NRA also supports guns as a tool for self defense. A perfect example of positive gun use can be seen in the story of the December ninth church shooting in Colorado. In this case a deranged man invaded a church service and opened fire on the congregation. Thankfully a woman present at the service was carrying a gun and skillfully "fired while being fired upon, and once the murderer was wounded he took his own life, likely sparing numerous other innocent lives" (Deakins 59). Positive gun use is often overshadowed by the horrible stories of gun violence and crime, but according to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences "Research failed to identify any evidence that gun control had reduced violent crime, suicide, or gun violence" (Deakins 59). Since 1999 "violent crime is down about twenty five percent, and combined federal, state, and local prosecutions are up significantly "(Stone 2366). These improvements come from a combined effort from both pro-gun and anti-gun groups. While both groups want different things, the American government must come up with compromises that can subdue both sides. For example "The NRA members understand safety, but new laws with thorough background checks are necessary to ensure that criminals and those gun owners who aren't well trained don't misuse firearms or let children have access to them" (Lawrence 9). "The constitutions of most of our states assert that all power is inherent in the people, thatit is their right and duty to be at all times armed," (W.A.T.E.R. 44) said Justice John Cartwright on June 5, 1984. This belief is what has kept the right to bear arms a strong and still relevant right in America even today. True Americans know and realize their desire for freedom, and without the right to bear arms their freedom is not guaranteed. Many once free nations have lost their freedom to larger and more powerful countries because they did not have the firearms to defend themselves against them. In conclusion, in his book Changing Hearts and Minds Barack Obama says, "I believe in tough law enforcement and commonsense gun laws to keep our children safe from an epidemic of violence. But I also believe that when a gangbanger shoots indiscriminately into a crowd because he feels somebody disrespected him, that's not just a government problem it's a moral problem. There's a whole in that young man's heart. Solving problems like this will require changes in government policy, but it will also require a change in hearts and a change in minds" (Obama 41). Change can only come through an understanding of the consequences of one's actions. While mistakes will be occasionally made, these unfortunate mistakes are just part of the consequences that Americans have living in a free country. The freedoms that American's hold so dear would not have been possible if it weren't for their right to own guns. To ensure that their freedoms are never taken away guns are a necessity when it comes to defending the country. These consequences are worth the pain to live in a country where one is free to make their own decisions and to live a happy life. Works Cited 1. Buckley, William F. On the Right. National Review. Vol. 50. Issue 9. May 1998. 62-63. 2. Deakins, Jacob. Guns, Truth, Medicine, and the Constitution. Journal of American Physicians & Surgeons. Vol. 13. Issue 2. Summer 2008. 58-60. 3. HCCI. HCCI and Member Churches Help Stop Violence with God Not Guns Program. New York Amsterdam News. Vol. 99. Issue 45. August 2008. 37. 4. Lawrence, Jill. Dems Back off from Gun Control. USA Today. October 2002. 9-10. 5. Obama, Barack. Changing Hearts and Minds. Time Magazine. Vol. 172. Issue 7. August 2008. 41. 6. NRA.org. Mission Statement. 1/12/2009. 7. Stone, Peter H. In the NRA's Sights. National Journal. Vol. 32. Issue 30. July 2000. 2366. 8. Sullivan, Will. Packing Heat on the Hill. U.S. News & World Report. Vol. 141. Issue 2. July 2006. 47. 9. W.A.T.E.R. Gun Violence Versus the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. New York Amsterdam News. Vol. 99 Issue 47. November 2008. 44 10. Wintmute, Garen J. Arguing from Fear. New England Journal of Medicine. Vol. 358. Issue 14. April 2008. 1421-1424. Read More