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

Argumentative essay:
The right to Own Guns
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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