Jacob Stewart

Christie Bogle
English 1010
April 30, 2015
Gun Debate
One of the most debated subjects in America is the issue of gun control vs. gun rights.
This issue affects everyone living here, not just those whom have strong views on the subject,
because such strong emotions are associated with it. Many simply just do not want to answer or
are undecided. Some believe that much stricter regulations and laws are needed to prevent
unsavory persons from purchasing guns. Others believe that any further legislation restricting
purchases of guns may hinder or even take away rights given by the Second Amendment. And
still others believe that a combination of implementing stricter laws while preserving existing
Second Amendment rights is needed. Each of these viewpoints will be discussed in detail.
Sadly, many people do not have enough information to construct an informed opinion
concerning guns. According to a poll of over 1,000 adults nationwide conducted January 7th
through January 10th, 2013, over 5% of those polled did not have enough information or were
unsure when asked their opinions about the nations laws or policies on guns (Guns, 2015).
Considering the wealth of information available at the fingertips of the public, that number is
somewhat shocking.
When people see or hear about tragedies like what happened in places like Newton and
Columbine, many feel the need to place the blame on someone or something; feel the need to do
something. Guns are targeted with that blame because of the devastation they can cause when in
the wrong hands. Guns and Crime magazine states in one of their articles that the U.S. has the
highest rate of firearm deaths among 25 high-income nations ("Stronger Gun Control Laws Will
Save Lives.", 2012). In order to keep guns out of wrong hands, implementing much stricter gun
control laws seems like the ideal solution. Not only would it limit the number of guns falling into

the wrong hands, but it would also give a sense of accomplishment by doing something.
However, this solution does raise the question; how effective would it be?
Other countries with varying gun laws may give a clearer indication. Seventeen
Industrialized European Nations had their criminal victimization numbers gathered by the Dutch
Ministry of Justice in 2001. They concluded that, Many of the countries with the strictest gun
control have the highest rates of violent crime. Australia and England, which have virtually
banned gun ownership, have the highest rates of robbery, sexual assault, and assault with force of
the top 17 industrialized countries. (Guns in Other Countries, 2013). This seems to indicate
that severely strict gun laws are counter-productive. With change being demanded, the first
difficulty is to define what exactly can be changed and how productive it will be.
Many people believe that any change whatsoever to the existing gun control laws would
limit and/or take away rights given by the Second Amendment; that more laws would only cause
issues for the law-abiding citizens, because the high-risk individuals acquire guns outside the
law anyway. They think that further legislation will only succeed in disarming the citizens, not in
making it safer for the public. David Lampo, publications director at the Cato Institute, uses
Israel and Switzerland as an example. Both countries allow its citizens easy access to guns, yet
both countries have low homicide rates, despite comparable gun ownership to the United States.
In his words, there is simply no correlation between gun control laws and murder or suicide
rates across a wide spectrum on nations and cultures (Lampo, 2000). Finding a solution does
not seem to be any nearer affixing to one extreme or the other. Some think that one may be found
by combining aspects from both extremes though.
Some think that by implementing stricter guidelines for gun purchases but not limiting
the type of gun sold any more than existing legislation, is the most accommodating route to take.
By adding more regulations (like longer wait times for background checks) it satisfies the gun
control advocates. By leaving the current regulations in place concerning the type of guns able to

be purchased, it would satisfy the gun rights advocates. Both sides would not get exactly what
they want, but it may be a compromise both could learn to live with, at least for a time until a
better resolution is found.
While changes for purchasing guns may help in the future, new guns being sold are not
the only ones used in crimes. In 2012 Americans owned more than 270 million guns, new and
used. Of those, nearly 400,000 were used in a crime; 70,000 resulted in injury; and 30,000
resulted in death ("Stronger Gun Control Laws Will Save Lives.", 2012). This means that of all
the guns in America in 2012, 0.15% were used in any sort of crime, 0.03% resulted in injury, and
<0.01% resulted in death.
By looking at the numbers alone, it could be argued that the problem isnt that bad.
However, realizing that those numbers represent actual human livesbrothers, sisters, fathers,
mothers, sons, and daughtersis a sobering thought indeed. That sentiment is exactly why gun
control is such a highly-debated subject with so many perspectives ranging from remaining
unsure, advocating for gun control, defending gun rights, or an inclination to meet in the middle.

Works Cited
"Guns." Guns. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.
http://www.pollingreport.com/guns.htm
"Guns in Other Countries." Gun Facts, 17 Sept. 2013. Web. 26 Apr. 2015.
http://www.gunfacts.info/gun-control-myths/guns-in-other-countries/#note-99-43
Lampo, David. "Gun Control: Myths and Realities." Cato Institute, 13 May 2000. Web. 14 Apr.
2015.
http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/gun-control-myths-realities
"Stronger Gun Control Laws Will Save Lives." Guns and Crime. Ed. Christine Watkins. Detroit:
Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Rpt. from "Ten Myths About Gun Violence in
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