The Right to Own Guns: A Debate on Gun Ownership and Control Measures

This essay debates the right to own guns in the US, exploring the historical background of the Second Amendment, arguments for and against gun ownership restrictions, and the need for more stringent laws and background checks. It discusses the recent mass shootings and compares gun crime rates in the US to other countries.

Argumentative essay:
The right to Own Guns
Name
Department
University

Introduction
The recent shooting incidents in the US once again have fueled the gun debate
regarding gun ownership and adopting gun control measures. Every American has growing
concerns about safety due to the rise in violence related to the guns. The paper argues the if the
US citizens carry the right to own guns for self-protection and defense or if it is the gun
ownership that is giving rise to the violence.
Historical background
The Second Amendment to the Constitution clearly states that the right to keep arms
cannot be trespassed (1). Still, one needs to give through to the fact that the Constitution segment
was formulated way back in 1791 when the political and social conditions were a lot different
than what they are today. The federal, state and local law officials have worked together to refine
and update the gun laws since 1968. The current laws hold that anyone below the age of 18, any
mentally defective individual or fugitive or an individual convicted of a crime cannot enjoy the
right of owning a gun (1). The most recent and deadly mass shootings in modern US history can
be cited from the Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas, or the school in Parkland, Florida or the
Pulse nightclub in Orlando (2). The recent incidents of sporadic or mass shootings in the US
have raised doubts over the gun laws and if they need to be changed. Doubts and questions are
raised as of when the gun crime rates in the US are compared to Europe, where the civilians do
not own guns, the gun crime rates are significantly lower (1).
The argument supporting gun ownership restrictions
While those few words in the Amendment to the United States Constitution allow the
citizens to own guns, the Constitution does not give weight to the responsible ownership of those
guns. Gun law supporters cite self-defense, but most of the gun owners are not trained

adequately or are not mature enough to handle the guns. When the number of crimes within the
country is compared to the number of violent incidents in the nation due to guns, the numbers
pale in comparison. For example, in 2012, there are 548 fatal shootings, and the 20,666 suicides
due to guns and these numbers are much higher than 8,342 criminal homicides (3). Most of the
suicides take place in the homes, and it is indeed odd to see the gun owners supporting those
weapons for their safety. Statistics show that there have been more than 240 000 deaths from
2000 to 2007 that are linked with guns and firearms (4). Although handguns are the most
common guns seen in the US households, there is a small percentage that own shotguns and
rifles and one certainly does not need those firearms for self-defense (5). Despite an efe4ctive
background check system, there are still gaps and ambiguities in the legal system. A significant
failure is that the private gun sellers do not conduct a background check or are required to do so
(6). Thus, it makes it easier for many ineligible people to go to these private sellers and own a
gun.
The argument against gun ownership restrictions
Supporters of gun ownership see those restrictions as violations of the rights of private
gun ownership that is stated in the Constitution. They feel that a complete ban on gun ownership
can expose many more vulnerable civilians to crime and make them defenseless. They feel that
through education and awareness one can enjoy the advantages of keeping a gun (7). Having a
gun should be respected by the state, and it should be seen as a reasonable mean of self-defense,
and thus one cannot deny the positive aspects of owning a gun. Those who support gun
ownership state that it is not the gun that kills but the intentions behind. Even if the guns are
banned, people will still injure and murder by using other arms such as knives or hammer. As it
is the right of every individual to protect himself, having a gun to do so is no crime. Gun

advocates see nothing wrong in private ownership of a gun (7).
Conclusion
The debate on the gun laws is likely to go on in the coming years. Unless and until those
words in the Constitution get changed, it is not going to be easy to ban gun ownership in the US.
Given a large number of gun ownership in the U.S., those horrific shootings can just take place
anywhere. Based on the above discussions, it is easy to see that the reasons given by the gun
lobbyists are undoubtedly weak, especially when one compares the figures in the surveys and
statistics rated to crimes and violence due to gun ownership. What the country needs is more in-
depth background checks and stringent laws for gun ownership. The objectives should be to
prevent the guns from going to wrong or irresponsible hands. There is evidence that when the US
is compared to other countries regarding gun ownership, the level of crimes is much lower in the
nations with a lower percentage of gun ownership.

Works Cited
1) Hauge, K. A Brief History of the Evolution of Gun Control in the U.S; 2013. The American
Institute for Contemporary German Studies, Available from:
https://www.aicgs.org/2013/01/a-brief-history-of-the-evolution-of-gun-control-in-the-u-s/
2) Fox, K. How US gun culture compares with the world in five charts; 2018. CNN, Available
from: https://q13fox.com/2017/10/04/how-us-gun-culture-compares-with-the-world-in-5-
charts/
3) Martelle, S. Gun and self-defense statistics that might surprise you -- and the NRA; 2015. LA
times, Available from: http://www.latimes.com/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-guns-self-defense-
charleston-20150619-story.html
4) Vernick, Jon S. et al. Changing the Constitutional Landscape for Firearms: The US Supreme
Court’s Recent Second Amendment Decisions. 2011:16(2): 2021–2026.
5) Enten, H. There's a gun for every American. But less than a third own guns;2018. CNN
Politics, Available from: https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/15/politics/guns-dont-know-how-
many-america/index.html
6) Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Background Check Procedures;2018.
Lawcenter. Available from: https://lawcenter.giffords.org/gun-laws/state-law/50-state-
summaries/background-check-procedures-state-by-state/
7) Hsiao, T. Against Gun Bans and Restrictive Licensing, Essays in Philosophy. 2015: 16(2):
180-203.