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Luke LaBrasca

McLaughlin

English 12

18 March 2019

The Fake Gun Problem

Gun Control is one of the most controversial debates in America. Statistics show that

gun control did not and will never work. Of the guns used in the United States 39.2% were used

by criminals and were acquired illegally (Alters). Also another 33.8% were acquired from

friends or family, so stronger gun laws will not stop the use of guns used illegally (Alters).

Since 1995, the amount of guns used in crime has gone down in the United States

(Alters). In fact the year 2000 was the lowest rated year in gun violence since 1966 (Alters).

Regardless of the decrease in gun violence, the public will only continue to hear how dangerous

guns are to society.

The Constitution states that guns can be used for a check on tyranny (Winters). There was

a gun ban in effect from 1994 to 2003, this ban did nothing to help a decrease in gun violence

(Gillespie). The type of guns banned were not used in most shootings (5/5)

The Second Amendment of the Constitution allows for American citizens to own guns.

Guns are used so that people can defend themselves. Taking away a citizen’s gun rights is taking

away a person's constitutional right. In 2008, the supreme court case ​Columbia v Heller ​ sided

with the second amendment that people have the right to own guns. Since that time, this ruling

has been used by the NRA to help over turn many big gun lawsuits.
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In 1934 is when the U.S. Government first imposed gun regulations, starting with the ban

on machine guns. Then, in 1968, the Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) was passed and

gave gun owners more protection from those strict gun laws. Lastly in 1993, background checks

became a requirement for people purchasing a gun. Aside from background checks, there has

also been an increase of police presence over the years which has led to the decrease in gun

violence.

The fact that guns laws do not work has been proven by multiple studies. For example,

the rate of homicides have gone down since 1995 and 2000 had the lowest amount of homicides

since 1966. There has also been a drop of gun crimes since the amount of concealed weapons

people carry has increased. These numbers show that even though gun ownership has increased

gun violence has decreased. Also guns laws will not work because most of the guns criminals

obtain are not bought in gun stores, they are purchased on the black market or stolen from gun

owners. Only three percent of the guns used in crimes are bought legally. Banning will not

decrease crime; this has been proven in cities where guns have been banned. Extreme gun

control is irresponsible, and a violation of the second amendment (“Gun control isn’t the

Answer”).

Many advocates of gun control argue stricter gun laws will work because of greater

technology of guns. Secondly, advocates relate the drop in gun crime due to the fall of the crack

epidemic. Also the fact that guns are used in ¾ of the homicides in the US is another point that

they will use but it is necessary to remember that over 30,000 of these guns were acquired

illegally in the year of 2013. The use of guns in suicides is another big problem but the bigger

problem here is the fact that people are killing themselves. (“Gun Control/ Gun Rights”).
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Gun laws do not work. Because gun crime have decreased, it is safe to say that gun

ownership is not the cause. Gun bans are proven to be a failure because criminals will always be

able to find guns on the Black Market. Gun rights will continue to face harsh backlash from

people who do not understand their value. Creating stricter gun laws would be irresponsible and

a violation of every American citizen’s constitutional rights.

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Works Cited

Alters, Sandra M. “Firearms and Crime.” ​Gun Control​: ​Restricting Rights or Protecting People?,​

2011 ed., Gale, 2011. Information Plus Reference Series. ​Opposing Viewpoints in Context​,

https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ191930105/OVIC?u=pl2127&sid=OVIC

&xid=4fb73aa2. Accessed 26 Feb. 2019.

Gillespie, Nick “Gun Control isn't the Answer.” ​Daily Beast​, The Daily Beast Company LLC, 14

June. 1016, https://www.thedailybeast.com/gun-control-isnt-the-answer. Accessed 26 Feb

2019.

“Control/Gun Rights." ​UXL Protests, Riots, and Rebellions​: ​Civil Unrest in the Modern World​,

edited by Tracey Vasil Biscontini, vol. 2, UXL, 2018, pp. 233-262. ​Opposing Viewpoints in

Context,​ https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/

CX3662400016/OVIC?u=pl2127&sid=OVIC&xid=014177ca. Accessed 26 Feb. 2019.

“Right to Bear Arms.” ​Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection,​ Gale, 2017. ​Opposing

Viewpoints in Context​, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/.

PC3010999251/OVIC?u=pl2127&sid=OVIC&xid=2e1564a5. Accessed 26 Feb. 2019.

Winters, Robert. ​The Right to to Bear Arms​, Publisher, 2006.

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