Gun Control: Can Two Extremes Meet in the Middle?
Victoria Hanna
Victoria studied English Language and Literature in college.
Gun Violence in the U.S.
Guns are too easy to acquire in today's society. However, that doesn't necessarily mean we ban them all together. There are two opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to guns. Some of you believe it is our God-given right to own them, and some of you believe they are terrible weapons of mass destruction.
What if there was a way to meet in the middle with the entire gun control issue? What if everyone could be happy with one overall decision? Unfortunately, not everyone can be happy with one decision if it doesn't benefit them all the way around. But this article is going to talk about how we could resolve the gun control issue facing our society.
The Main Argument
The main argument when it comes to the gun control debate is "People with mental illnesses can get guns too easily." Increasing how difficult it is to buy a gun is the first step to a more controlled society without infringing on the Second Amendment right to own a firearm. Here are some ideas to help make the process a bit more strenuous, but within reasonable groundings.
Stronger background checks. If we were to increase the sensitivity on background checks, it is more likely that it will be harder for people with "expired" records that show violent crimes to buy a gun.
Counseling sessions. Each person who is wanting to buy a gun should have to attend 3 counseling sessions, all with a different specialist, at their own expense. This will help to determine if the person is mentally sound and stable enough to own a gun.
Written test. Every individual should have to take a written test to own a gun. The questions should ask when it is appropriate to use a gun, when is something considered gun violence, etc. This will help the state determine if the person is knowledgeable enough of the laws to own a gun.
Shooting course. Everyone who is applying to own a gun should have to take a "Shooter's Ed Course". Something similar to Driver's Ed. This will teach people the importance of gun safety.
During the American Colonial Era, concern with excessive alcohol consumption began. Fines were issued to citizens for drunken behaviors and distributing alcohol without a license. Eventually prohibition, the banning of alcohol, was set in lawful place. Between the 13 years of 1920 and 1933, the knowledge of how to make your own alcohol became more widespread. And since it was illegal, the government was unable to tax the sales.
Now, we have a different situation with the same problem. If we were to ban guns, the people breaking the law would find ways to get ahold of them. Not only that, but people will find ways to make guns and sell them to the ones who are already breaking the law. Just like prohibition, people today will find ways to get what they want. Correctional facilities can't afford to house more than the intended number of criminals, and not all criminals are caught.
Think of it this way: Criminals will have guns no matter what. Would you rather have some means of protection when someone breaks into your house, or would you rather lay there, defenseless, begging for your life until the police arrive? That's if you can even call them.
It's Not a Weapon of Mass Destruction
People die every day due to gun violence, but that does not mean everyone who owns a gun is bad. Not everyone uses their gun as a weapon of mass destruction. Some just keep them in their safes for a means of protection against a home invasion. Some people who own guns don't even hunt. Between the years of 1993 and 2013, statistics show that gun violence dropped from 7 homicides for every 100,000 people to 3.6 homicides for every 100,000 people. That is nearly a 50 percent decrease.
Guns are not weapons of mass destruction. It's our minds and our actions that destruct things. Guns are inanimate objects—accessories to our misdeeds. I don't think banning guns will solve anything, but it will create turmoil. However, I don't think it is difficult enough to possess firearms. My proposal is not to ban guns, but to make it harder to acquire them.
I, personally, don't want to have to give up my right to own a gun just so people can break the law and get something illegally that was originally a right.
What's Your Stance?
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