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Guns: Right, Protection, or Deadly?

1/31/2011

4 Comments

 

AT THE END OF THIS ENTRY IS A POLL; WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THE ISSUE OF GUN CONTROL?
It's been a while, but I finally have an issue that I think is worth debating. Actually, this issue has been worth debating for several years now; and every time there is a violent crime, this issue is revisited: gun control. The recent shooting in Arizona of State Representative Gabby Giffords is the most recent catalyst for this discussion. First, I will freely admit that I am not against guns. Neither am I a gun advocate. I am for the responsible use of firearms. As Americans, we have a right to own and carry guns, and far be it from me to go against that right. 

As I said, owning and using guns is an American right. The Second Amendment in our Constitution tells us that we can own and carry guns. Not to sound like a flag-touting Conservative, but quite frankly, anyone who says that we shouldn't be allowed to own/carry guns is going against one of our fundamental rights as Americans. It would be the same as saying that we shouldn't have freedom of speech because some people get offended. So as far as gun wielding as a right, I couldn't agree more. 

Protection is perhaps the most popular reason for owning a gun, especially if you live in a location with a high crime rate. According to www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp, "there are roughly 300 million firearms owned by civilians in the United States as of 2010. Of these, about 100 million are handguns." Crime and self-defense go hand in hand, and the numbers speak more clearly than I ever could.

"Roughly 16,272 murders were committed in the United States during 2008. Of these, about 10,886 or 67% were committed with firearms."

"A 1982 survey of male felons in 11 state prisons dispersed across the U.S. found:
        • 34% had been "scared off, shot at, wounded, or captured by an armed victim"
        • 40% had decided not to commit a crime because they "knew or believed that the  

           victim was carrying a gun"
        • 69% personally knew other criminals who had been "scared off, shot at,  

           wounded, or captured by an armed victim"
(http://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp)

So yes, a gun can be very useful in scaring off a potential attacker or robber. In fact, according to gunowners.org/fso404.htm, "as many as 200,000 women use a gun every year to defend themselves against sexual abuse." Guns are definitely a crime deterrant, in many cases. 

The fact remains, however, that guns are used to kill people. There's no getting around this fact. Many people think that if guns were outlawed, there would be fewer deaths. This might very well be true. But I disagree. If guns are outlawed, besides stepping on our toes and violating a Constitutional right, there would only be the same number of deaths; maybe even more. People wouldn't stop killing others; they'd merely find different ways to kill them. In all likelihood, there would be an increase in the number of fatal stabbings. The one thing that would most likely decrease as a result of a gun ban would be suicides. Approximately 55% of suicides involve a firearm. And suicide attempts are more likely to be successful with a gun as opposed to pills or other methods (gunowners.org/fs404.htm). 

Still, I fully subscribe to the adage: "Guns don't kill people. People kill people." Guns don't suddenly decide, "Ooh, I guess I'll go out and shoot a few people today!" Instead, it is the person holding that gun who decides to pull the trigger and hurt or kill someone. I don't profess to have a plan as to how to delicately reduce the number of violent deaths and mass shootings like those in Arizona, Columbine, and Virginia Tech. But the issue at stake is not how to eliminate guns. It's more about how to keep guns out of the hands of the wrong people. 

There's not much we can do about illegal guns that isn't already being done. There will always be a population that goes against the laws, and the best we can do is create  deterrents and warnings. But for those who are willing to legally purchase a gun, I propose the following:

1) A mandatory psychological evaluation. People who have a history of depression or other mental illness/instability should not be allowed to have guns, for their own safety and the safety of those around them. Prior suicide attempts or suicidal thought would also prevent them from purchasing a gun.

2) A complete background check. If they have any type of felony/criminal record - especially violent crimes - they cannot be trusted with a gun. I would also suggest going one step farther and investigating their public writings. All too often, in the aftermath of mass shootings or violent incidents, the culprit's writing are discovered, and usually reveal warning signs of violence. 

3) Mandatory ethics/responsible gun use classes. This would be similar to driver's education classes. Basically, anyone wishing to purchase a gun would have to attend a series (maybe 3-4 classes) on responsible gun use. An important topic to cover would be how best to keep a gun in the house when there are children around. 

Yes, guns can be deadly. But if the people using the guns use them responsibly and only in self-defense, there is no need to eliminate their use. 
4 Comments
Eddie
2/2/2011 07:09:53 pm

Controlling the distribution of firearms to so-called "qualified" individuals using some of the examples you mentioned seems like a good idea, but in the end it really only keeps the law-abiding citizens in check. Those who already disregard the law are the ones we should be concerned with, as they're more likely to use a gun in a violent crime in the first place. If these individuals cannot attain a gun legally, they will do so by other means. If you head to this website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/guns/more/facts.html you'll find a number of statistics that an investigative news show used in their coverage of gun manufacturers in America and their link to gun violence. You'll notice that during the Clinton era, over 23,000 guns were reported missing or stolen. Seems like a small number, but you'll also notice that just over 20,000 murders were committed in the US the year after these reports were made...that's practically one murder per missing/stolen weapon. Also note that a quarter of the students in LA public schools know how to obtain a gun for a small fee, and half of the people arrested in 1996 claimed it was easy to get an illegal gun. There are people ducking under this control law everyday. And if you'll continue reading the stats, you'll see there's not nearly enough federal agents to enforce gun laws and monitor illegal trafficking (no way the local law enforcement would do it). People DO kill other people, but I believe taking guns away from them will definitely bring down the number of murders. Sure, people would simply find another way to commit murder, but I don't believe the number of fatal stabbings would sky-rocket as a result. Guns have the obvious advantage of long range and power over knives. Take that away, and now your victim has a better chance of defending themselves even if they're unarmed, or at the very least they can escape faster. Guns make it easier to commit crimes; remove the ease factor and criminals will at least think twice before using a weapon on someone.

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Bll
2/6/2011 07:51:57 pm

I suppose it would be a waste of time to mention that the right to bare arms is in the bill of rights. Also since I'm wasting my time anyway I suppose it would also be best to mention that guns have an internal ridge that marks the bullet fired, as a projectile from a certain gun. Removing guns would only lead people to commit random acts of violence with weapons that are much harder to track, like knives becuse unlike the crappy television shows tracking a knife is very difficult to do, and often inaccurate. It's the old saying repeating itself, "If you make it a crime to have a gun, only criminals will have them." The last time America decided to outlaw something that's ingrained in our cultural history we ended up having organized crime, if they outlaw guns we will have organized gun runners. Do I think guns are a terrible thing, yes, I grew up on Batman comics, but should they be outlawed, no. Benjamin Franklin said it himself "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

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Curious Lady link
2/8/2011 05:21:29 pm

Hmm...these are both very valid points. I suppose the point I'd like to make is: If gun control were enforced, what would stop a criminal from obtaining a gun anyway? With a lack of law enforcement officers to monitor the situation, I just don't think that outlawing guns would solve the problem. Regardless of the laws against it, anyone determined and crafty enough could obtain a weapon.

Reply
Kyle.
8/16/2011 05:50:20 pm

"mandatory psychological evaluation" it is on the form. if you answer yes to depression and such and being inthe nut house you do not get a gun.

"A complete background check" the form is double checked by the state police and they search for your records.

"Mandatory ethics/responsible gun use classes" they do :D it is a 15 minute video and at the end you get a licenses. In Maryland anyway. now to Carry a gun legally in a carry conceal you need to take real classes. but for home defense they do tell you the basics.

just clearing some things up :)

But the main problem is illegal and stolen guns. In these cases more and more laws only make legal gun owners criminals. The police enforce gun purchasing laws as it with the forms going to the state police.

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