For some time now the question of whether or
not handguns should be legal to all
citizens has
haunted our society. Is it morally right
for anyone to carry a gun and shoot it
when they feel it
to be necessary? Doesn't the second
amendment still hold true today?
These question
are ones that have been thrown back and forth between pro and anti gun
users for some
time and will probably continue for some time longer.
There are people who say handguns in the home
can only cause unneeded
accidents. There have been several incidents where a
child in the household has mistaken
a gun for a toy
and has injured themself or others. Also
there have been occasions where
careless gun
owners have left their guns loaded and someone was shoot accidentally.
Studies show that
four people die each day because of accidental gun fire. Anti-gun users
have pointed out
the fact that states who have relaxed
their gun laws have had an increase
in
homicides. Also the fact that more
people have died from criminal use of guns than
people in the
civil war.
Some feel it is extremely easy for just about
anyone to get access to a handgun.
The laws in some
states don't require a waiting period , several forms of identification, or
even a back round
check. Anti-gun users feel that if handguns are illegal it may not be
impossible for
criminals to obtain them but it would be much more difficult. If that were
true some believe
there will be a drastic decrease in gang violence and armed robbery.
The ultimate argument pro-gun users have is the
second amendment which states
an individuals
right to keep and bear arms. They feel
it is there right to be able to own a
gun to protect
themselves from those who want to cause harm.
If guns were outlawed
and criminals
were still finding a way to access a gun the common citizen would be
helpless against
them.
Pro-gunners are aware of the many accidental
deaths caused by the misuse of guns,
however the fact
remains that a numerous amount of people are killed each day by careless
drivers. They are aware that accidental deaths can be
caused by a variety of different
things, so should
they give up there right to own a gun to protect them if the need arises.
Individuals that
support the second amendment stand by the fact that it is better to have a
gun and not need
it then to need a gun and not have it.
The question of whether or not guns should be
legal is quite a difficult one to
make. There may be a way to find an agreeable middle
point. Perhaps the laws pertaining
to acquiring a
handgun could be changed to be more strict on who they give permits to
carry a gun
to. Getting a permit could require a
full background check and several forms
of
identification. A waiting period of one to three weeks can be required and
inforced.
This could cut
down on the fact that in some states anyone can walk into a gun shop and
give a fake name
and walk out with a gun that day.
Another way to compromise would be
to completely
limit guns to shooting ranges and hunting grounds. That way those who
feel the
compulsion to use guns can be restrained to a location where less accidents can
occur. It is possible to lessen the number of
accidental deaths caused by guns without
banning them completely.
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