Untitled Essay, Research Paper
Regulation of guns is a necessary action that needs to be taken in order
to save lives. A good definition of gun control is needed to understand the
sides and issues. Gun control is an effort to stop the rise in violent crime
by strengthening laws on the ownership of firearms. Persons in the group
against gun control believe that gun control is wrong, and that it is a violation
of constitutional rights.
Those in favor of gun control believe that gun control is good, that the
Second Amendment does not apply to regular citizens, and that guns should
be taken out of the hands of criminals. There are several major anti-gun
control groups. These groups include the National Rifle Association (NRA),
and the Gun Owners of America (GOA) . The NRA is a national group dedicated
to the upholding of the Second amendment of the Constitution (See Appendix).
In their magazines, American Hunter and American Rifleman, they say “The
NRA, . . . believes that every law-abiding citizen is entitled to the ownership
and legal use of firearms, . . . ” The NRA does many things to help display
their beliefs and persuade others to their beliefs. This association also
has a strong pull on legislation, because it has many lobbyists and supporters
in government. This group has many members in Congress, and former presidents
George Bush and Ronald Reagan are NRA members. The NRA lobbies for several
types of legislation. For example, the NRA is currently tryingto repeal the
ban on assault weapons. A lot of money is spent each year on legislation
(See Appendix for figures).
The Gun Owners of America is another group that is against gun control. The
GOA preserves and defends the rights of gun owners through legislation. They
publish books, articles, and videos on gun issues and how those issues affect
people. They also conduct seminars for the press and Congress about issues
on the Second Amendment, and gun issues. The GOA opposes bans on semiautomatic
weapons, armor piercing ammunition, and handguns.
There are also many groups that are pro gun control in the United States.
The major group for gun control is Handgun Control, Inc. (HCI), which is
headed by Sarah Brady. Mrs. Brady is the wife of James Brady, who was shot
during an attempt on president Reagan’s life in 1981. Another major group
is the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV), which was formerly known as
the National Coalition to Ban Handguns. The CSGV believes that handguns should
be outlawed completely, with a few exceptions, such as the military, police
and sportsmen who keep their guns locked up together in a gun club.
Some accomplishments of HCI are laws prohibiting the interstate sale of handguns,
and laws prohibiting the sale of “assault weapons.” The main goal of this
organization was to pass the Brady Bill. Some of its other goals are to ban
multiple sales of handguns, to create gun-free zones around all of the schools,
and to establish control over who can manufacture and sell weapons. HCI is
working very hard to achieve these goals.
The CSGV is dedicated to the total removal of guns from the hands of citizens,
with a few exceptions. The CSGV is trying very hard to put gun banning
legislation in the law. They believe that if there are fewer guns out on
the streets, then there will be fewer gun crimes committed.
The anti-gun control people believe in several major ideas. They believe
that the second amendment rights apply only to militia, which they define
as a group such as the National Guard and not regular citizens. These people
also believe that by controlling numbers of guns on the streets gun violence
can be reduced. The national government doing working with the issue of gun
control. There have been several bills passed in the last ten years that
have to do with gun control. First, there was the Gun Control Act of 1986,
which banned all fully-automatic weapons from the hands of citizens. Then
in 1988 there was the Brady Bill, which made a seven-day waiting period mandatory
for all handgun purposes, this law passed the House of Representatives in
1991, but part of it was ruled unconstitutional in 1994. Most recently there
was the ban on assault weapons, which bans the sale and manufacture of what
the government considers assault weapons. Both the NRA and HCI have fought
very hard against one another to pass some bills, and to keep some bills
from becoming law.
Both sides of this argument present very strong cases. They have many facts
and statistics to use as weapons (see Appendix for data of both sides). The
stronger case being presented by the pro-gun control groups. The NRA has
several good points, but HCI has points that are more relevant to the society
we live in. Pro-gun control groups can prove that crime can be reduced with
more gun control laws by showing death statistics in countries with stricter
gun control laws (Figure 1.1). The NRA argues differently, but does not have
the extremely convincing evidence to back their ideas up.
To save more lives from death by firearms, some compromise must be made between
these groups. Losing some time or money to buy a gun could save many lives.
The NRA argues that people areguaranteed the right to own guns in the Second
Amendment (See Appendix for the text of thisamendment), but anti-gun control
groups say that the law applies only to militia, not individuals. Thepro-gun
control groups have the stronger case because they can prove that lives will
be saved. Take away the guns, and there will be no gun violence, it makes
sense.
Appendix
Figure 1.1
Handgun Control, Inc.
“In 1988, handguns killed 7 people in Great Britain, 19 in Sweden, 53 in
Switzerland, 25 in Israel, 13 in Australia, 8 in Canada, and 8,915 in the
United States.”
Figure 1.2
1989 Federal Lobbying Reports
This figure shows the amount of money spent by both pro and anti gun control
groups in 1989
lobbying for legislation
(1st Half Gross Receipts)
Handgun Control, Inc. $3,287,020
National Coalition to Ban Handguns 265,719
ANTI-GUN TOTAL $4,092,739
Citizens for the Right to Keep and
Bear Arms $1,158,572
NRA/Institute for Legislative Action 915,603
Gun Owners of America 361,715
PRO-GUN TOTAL $2,435,890
ANTI-GUN ADVANTAGE $1,656,849
Figure 2.1
The Second Amendment to the Constitution
“A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State,
the right of
the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
Definitions
Ammunition. The shells or cartridges fired from a gun.
Anti-gun control. Favoring no restrictions on the access of law-abiding citizens
to firearm ownership.
Armor-piercing bullets. A type of bullet that can penetrate protective vests
or other gear sometimes worn by law-enforcement officers.
Background check. A type of gun control requiring review of the background
of a potential gun owner to check for a criminal record or history of drug
or alcohol abuse.
Ban. A law or act that prohibits the acquisition or sale of a particular
item, such as a gun.
Firearm. A device for storing, and firing of ammunition.
Fully-automatic weapon. A gun that can fire many rounds with one pull of
the trigger,
such as a machine gun.
Gun-control law. Any law that restricts the ownership or sale of firearms.
Handgun. A short, thick-barreled firearm that can be handheld.
Lobby. An organization that uses its political power to promote causes supported
by its membership.
Militia. 1. As defined by the Constitution it includes all able-bodied men
between 18 and 45 2. Defined by the pro-gun control groups, it means the
members of groups such as
the National Guard and the armed forces
Pro-gun control. Favoring restrictions on the access of citizens to firearm
ownership.
Rifle. A long, thick-barreled firearm with a handle that fits to the shoulder.
Semiautomatic. A firearm with a removable magazine and a trigger that must
be pulled
once to fire each shot.
Endnotes
Works Cited
Alba, John. “Outspoken Lawman.” American Survival Guide Jan. 1996: 88-90.
Gun Control. Ed. Bruno Leone. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 1992.
Little, Christopher. “The Disarming President.” American Survival Guide May
1995: 46-49.
McClure, Sashai A. “An Analysis of Handgun Control, Inc.”;downloaded from
the Combat Arms BBS, Castro Valley, 3-5-96.
Newton, David E. Gun Control: An Issue for the 90’s. Hillside: Enslow Publishers,
Inc., 1992.
Strahinich, Helen. Think About Guns in America. New York: Walker and Company,
1992.
United States.Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.Your Guide to Firearms
R
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