Gun control has always been a controversial topic in US history as Americans debate the extent to which guns should be restricted. In 1791, the Bill of Rights was passed, and one aspect of it was the Second Amendment, which granted Americans' rights to possess guns and use it in cases of self-defense. It was only until about 150 years later when there started to be slight changes in terms of the ownership of guns.
In 1934, President Franklin Roosevelt passed the National Firearms Act, which was targeted towards reducing the amount of gang crimes and deaths resulting from the use of guns. However, after Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy were all assassinated, there became increased support towards gun control. The events led to the passage of the Gun Control Act of 1968, which allowed government to regulate the firearms industry. In 1986, however, the Firearms Owners Protection Act aimed towards protecting the rights of gun owners by limiting regulations. Following this, there have been increased change and debate over whether to regulate guns more strictly or to support the protection of the Second Amendment.
Today, proponents of gun control primarily argue for greater restriction on guns by the government to ensure safety for Americans. One argument that they make is that most gun-related deaths are the result of gun suicides. Meanwhile, very few people (0.79% of crime victims) actually used guns for self-defense. In addition to this, supporters also argue how guns are often stolen by burglars, which leads to more guns under the possession of criminals. Overall, proponents are more Liberal and Democratic as they advocate for reform and greater government regulation.
On the other hand, opponents of gun control often favor a more Conservative and Republican perspective. They believe in protecting the rights of citizens and do not want for drastic changes to be made by the government. A primary argument made by opponents is that gun control laws hurt the rights of gun owners. Many Americans enjoy hunting and using guns as a sport, but with gun control, it would infringe upon the rights granted to them from the Second Amendment. Furthermore, another argument made is that gun control does not decrease the number of crimes committed. While there was a ban on assault weapons, the murder rates did not decrease significantly between 1980 and 2009.
Altogether, both sides provide convincing arguments in terms of the debate over gun control, and it is important to take into account the perspectives of all people. This way there will not be massive opposition from one side. As America is a very diverse country with people of strongly opposing political views, supporting only on party may produce negative consequences. However, it is also important to note that bipartisanship may also lead to conflicts as it is difficult for people to settle on something that is in the middle.
Sources:
https://gun-control.procon.org/
http://time.com/5169210/us-gun-control-laws-history-timeline/
This is a super interesting synopsis of the gun control debate over the years. I would say that the gun debate has been a fixture in American politics ever since the Second Amendment's inception. Recently, there have been many new policy proposals with the many mass shootings and police shootings in America. A new American Journal of Public Health survey found that over 80% of gun owners are in favor of universal background checks and 50% of gun owners are in favor of an age requirement of 21 to purchase a hand gun. Even though this subject has been a talking point for so long, much of its support is divided by partisan lines, proving to be very difficult to pass legislation.
ReplyDeleteSource:https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/05/17/gun-owners-support-a-wide-range-of-gun-control-measures-johns-hopkins-study-finds/?utm_term=.5277415c5bf3
Great Post. Guns and Gun Control is obviously one of the most important debates facing our nation today. We can look no further then the rally that we held at our school. However, I think that one thing people that live on the Coasts need to do is to better understand what guns mean to the people that live in the Heartland of America. Guns in the middle part of our country is a heritage- it is something that is passed down from generation to generation. It is a farther-son type of deal. When you take away the guns you destroy a culture. Unfortunately, I feel many people fail to understand that. That being said, I do believe that there is a place for common sense Gun Reform and our nation needs to have that debate.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Kevin. I found it interesting that while the Second Amendment and other gun legislation were passed to provide citizens the right to self-defense, most people use guns for other purposes. In fact, according to safehome, the majority of firearm deaths are caused by suicide and homicide, not self-defense. While there are other factors that affect these statistics, this still demonstrates how guns are a major issue in America. In the recent decade, as mass shootings have become more common, guns have become a hot topic in politics. Regardless of their personal beliefs, these politicians cannot ignore these statistics and illustrate the weight impact of guns in America.
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