Gun Control
...f United States suffer each and every day at the hand of someone wielding a gun. School shootings are occurring more and more often. Disturbingly tragic incidents, such as the Columbine massacre in 1999, have added fuel to the control issues in Congress. Those pushing better gun control want stronger gun laws and are lobbying for child safety locks and more in depth background checks. Of all murder victims in the United States in 2003 (14,408 people) were killed with firearms (Disaster). The recent rise in crime, shootings in schools, and other gun violence, have made it clear that it is important that our Nation take a closer look at out present firearm control laws – even if it means gun activists will complain that their rights are being taken away. Our nation’s safety is at stake. Guns in the hands of responsible citizens is not a problem, the problem is the increasing number of fatalities in our country. Our society has passed laws regulating the ownership and use of firearms, and more legislation is being introduced. We already have many laws regulating ownership of firearms and their use, but obviously more are needed. Although a lot of people feel that gun control violates their rights, controlling distribution, sales, and the registration of guns is necessary because of the ever-rising homicide rate involving guns. “People kill people, guns don’t kill people.” We hear this all of the time from those that oppose gun control. This saying is not entirely correct. Sure, many killings and injuries occur without guns, but guns certainly can make it easier. Remember October 2002, the Beltway shootings in Washington? These couldn’t have happened without a gun. How many presidents could not have been assassinated? This does not mean that we should completely get rid of firearms; the government should look at the problem realistically, and come up with a plan that actually works. Lately gun control lobbyists have been trying to get specific types of ammunition and guns banned for civilian use. “Assault weapons” and “cop killer bullets” should be banned from the public. For example, I don’t think a hunter is going to use an M-16 (Automatic rifle) to kill deer. Now days you will find these types of weapons used by criminals and gang members because they cause a lot more destruction and inflict a lot more fear in their victims. They are not used for self-defense or hunting. "Since the crime bill (Assault Weapons Ban) was enacted, 19 of the deadliest assault weapons are harder to find on the streets. We will never know how many tragedies we've avoided because of these efforts." (Lester 64). What are “cop killer bullets”? They are bullets that are so powerful they can go right through Kevlar vests, used by the police. You used to be able to buy these bullets right from your local gun dealer, until they passed a particular bill. The bill outlawed any bullet that could go through police armor. The final, approved version of the bill (H.R. 3121 passed in 1996) prohibited the sale of armor piercing ammunition [which may be used in a handgun] other than to law enforcement and the military. (Kates 89) Many reforms and restrictions must be made toward gun control to protect the law-abiding citizens of this country. It is obviously a difficult task, but greater strides must be made in gun control legislation to protect those that try and uphold the law. Firearms must be kept out of the hands those that would break...