Gun Control

Jeffrey Snyder and Douglas Weil argue the advantages and disadvantages of the role guns play in crime. Snyder describes how if people are allowed to carry a gun then they can protect themselves from burglaries, rapes, and even save their own life. However, Weil argues that disputes between citizens can result in an increase of deaths when guns are available. So, do guns save lives? Or are guns merely a danger, doing nothing but taking lives and ruining the nation? Although guns do take lives, they also account for a high percentage in the decrease of crimes and play a major role in self-defense for many people.

The concealed-carry law is a very popular law in the U.S. which makes it possible for a private citizen to legally carry a concealed weapon in a public place. The citizen may carry a handgun or other weapon either on them or in close proximity to them. However, for a citizen to be able to carry a concealed weapon they must first obtain a permit issued to them by the government. In order to obtain a permit the citizen must provide specified, objective licensing criteria. The permit will be issued to any adult state resident who has not been convicted of a felony, has no history of drug or alcohol abuse, has no history of mental illness, and has not committed any violent misdemeanor within the last three to five years. Most states also require the citizen to have taken a firearm safety course (Snyder 33).

There are many advantages that come out of the concealed-carry law. Criminals look for unarmed, easy victims when they are planning and attack, but if the criminal is aware of the possibility of the fact that their target might be carrying a gun, their chances of attacking that person greatly decreases(Snyder 35). Not only that, but if the criminal did attack a citizen carrying a weapon, that citizen would have a chance to defend him or herself and most likely either scare off the criminal or save their own life. "Convicted American felons reveal in surveys that they are much more worried about armed victims than about running into the police" (Lott 271). It also appears that the law helps women more than it helps men. "An additional woman carrying a concealed handgun reduces the murder rate for women by about three to four times more than an additional armed man reduces the murder rate for men" (Lott). You can also see in many surveys that one of the largest decreases in crime due to the concealed-carry law is rape. There are also surveys that show that police officers believe that law-abiding citizens should be able to purchase guns for self-defense. They believe that everyday citizens should be able to carry a concealed weapon if they feel they need protection (Lott 277).

Many people concentrate on all of the good things that will out of gun control, and how the nation would be so much better if there weren't guns, but they never take the time to realize the downside of gun control, and all the bad things that could happen without guns. Many believe that if guns are removed from the hands of the citizens then crimes will greatly decrease, this is not true. If someone wants commit a crime or commit suicide, they can find many other alternatives other than a gun to use that can be even more dangerous. Take suicide for example, there are many substitute methods for killing oneself that could endanger many others in ways that shootings do not. Such as purposely crashing ones car, throwing oneself in front of a train, or jumping off a building (Lott 274). People who intend to kill are not deterred by gun laws. This is also why places such as schools and malls, which are gun-free zones, in reality are actually free-crime zones. Criminals are attracted to these types of places because they know that nobody will be armed and it will be an easy attack (Stossel). So how do we expect to be protected against such criminals? Can we rely on the police? The answer is no. Citizens cannot rely on the police to always be at the scene of a crime when it occurs or in time to protect them. Criminals choose the time and place of their attack, and they are going to make sure that the police are not around when it happens. Department of Justice statistics reveal that the police can get to the scene of a crime in five minutes only 28% of the time (Snyder 35). The armed resistance to criminal violence is very common and occurs about two million times each year (Lund 142). So, in the words of John Stossel, "Want a handgun or a phone?"

Many people use the Second Amendment to argue the constitutionality of gun control. Some think that the courts are violating the Second Amendment by interpreting it as states' rights and not individual rights (Lund 138). The Second Amendment protects a "right of the people," meaning individual rights, not states' rights. Most people think the text of the Second Amendment is more directed towards the militia, and not individual rights, but the people and the militia are two very different things and the government has no right to disarm citizens in order to regulate the militia (Lund 139). Now, on the other side of the situation, there is also an interesting argument on how the Second Amendment is limited to maintaining effective state militia and is not talking about each individual. Charles Blek believes that, "the Second Amendment does not guarantee any individual the unconditional right to own a handgun or to bear arms" (Blek 121). The Second Amendment does have limitations just as the First Amendment does. For example, even though the First Amendment gives us the right of freedom of speech, we are not allowed to yell "fire" in a crowded area when none exists (Blek 121). Therefore, "The Second Amendment is completely compatible with responsible gun laws" (Blek 122). So, since we fail to recognize how lethal firearms actually are, we must limit them through legislation (Blek 123).

With that being said, there are many anti-gun believers who express how more guns will lead to more crimes. Bringing back the topic of the concealed-carry law, many others explains how many states are making it too easy for citizens to obtain a concealed-carry license and how concealed weapons will not protect a citizen. Dangerous and poorly-trained people are easily obtaining concealed-carry licenses due to the states weakening the concealed-carry laws. Even though there is a background check required for all applicants who wish to obtain a license, and even though those background checks screen out people with violent criminal histories, it does not screen out all criminals or people with bad tempers or bad judgment. In these states, hundreds of licensees have committed crimes both before and after they obtained their licenses (Weil 40). "Guns alone account for more than twice as much homicide in the United States as all other means combined" (Zimring 283). Not only that, but you also have to take into consideration all the times guns are used in attacks when death is not the outcome. Guns are the most dangerous instrument that can be used in a violent attack. Due to the higher impact of bullets, the longer range of firearms and the fact that you can execute multiple attacks with a gun increases the chance of death in an attack (Zimring 288). So, without a gun, sniper incidents, many assassination attempts, and drive-by shootings would be practically impossible (Zimring 290). Even though there is no way to completely eliminate crime, there are many gun control laws and measures that can help reduce crime. One of these is to disrupt the illegal trafficking and distribution of guns (Weil). If the government could do this it would put a major dent in the crime rate. Since many criminals can't legally buy guns, they have to get them illegally, but if they can't get a gun, it greatly reduces the chance of them committing a crime. Another way the government can reduce crime is to place higher taxes on guns. This would make guns too expensive to buy for many delinquent youths and lower income criminals (Donohue). Many found that one of the most effective ways of reducing crime without actually limiting gun control was to increase the consequences of those who commit a gun-related crime. One way would be to increase prison sentences. Criminals would be less likely to commit a crime using a gun if they knew that they could get twice the normal sentence if they got caught. For lesser crimes, increased fines, longer terms of probation, and more hours of community service could also reduce the chances of a criminal committing a gun crime (Donohue).

Even though it is obvious that guns do contribute to violence, it is also proven that in many instances, guns do save lives. There is proof from twenty-five states that the concealed-carrying of handguns is very effective (Snyder 38). It would be impossible to ever eliminate guns completely and no matter what, gun violence will always exist. "It is true that the right of the people to bear arms does have its costs and benefits. But it is also true that the framers of our Constitution rightly calculated that the benefits outweigh the costs" (Lund 143). So finally, even though some gun control laws and measures are proven effective, it is proven that the right for people to bear arms, along with the concealed-carry law, is more effective and should be used throughout the nation.

Work Cited

Blek, Charles L. Jr. "The Second Amendment Allows for Gun Control Regulations." CurrentControversies: Guns and Violence. Ed. Laura K. Egendorf. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2005. 120-123.

Donohue, John J. "Tough Target." American Prospect. 16 Dec. 2002: 35. 06 Nov. 2008. .

Lott, John R. Jr. "Do More Guns Lead to Less Crime? Yes." Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Crime and Criminology. Ed. Thomas J. Hickey. 7^th ed. Dubuque, Iowa: McGraw- Hill, 2006. 268-281.

Lott, John R Jr. "More Guns, Less Violent Crime." American Rifleman. 01 Jan. 1997: 26. 06 Nov. 2008. .

Lund, Nelson. "Some Gun Control Regulations Are Unconstitutional." Current Controversies: Guns and Violence. Ed. Laura K. Egendorf. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2005. 136-143.

Snyder, Jeffrey R. "Allowing People to Carry Concealed Handguns Reduces Violent Crime." Opposing Viewpoints in Social Issues. Ed. William Dudley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 2000. 32-38.

Stossel, John. "Gun Control Puts People at Risk." Human Events. 10 Mar. 2008: 21. 06 Nov. 2008. .

Weil, Douglas. "Gun Control Laws Can Reduce Crime." World & I. 01 Feb. 1997: 300. 21 Sep. 2008. .

Weil, Douglas, and Bill Kolender. "Allowing People to Carry Concealed Handguns Will Increase Violent Crime." Opposing Viewpoints in Social Issues. Ed. William Dudley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 2000. 39-43.

Zimring, Franklin E. and Gordon Hawkins. "Do More Guns Lead to Less Crime? No." Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Crime and Criminology. Ed. Thomas J. Hickey. 7^th ed. Dubuque, Iowa: McGraw-Hill, 2006. 282-296.