Second Amendment and Guns Control
Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Guns Control
The controversial debate of the second amendment and gun rights was started after the federal appeals court of the US ruled against the gun control laws. The gun control laws, had been existent for the past year, and it barred almost everybody in Washington DC from owning a gun. This was after six residents from Washington DC went to court to challenge the law, stating that they wanted to own and keep guns in order to protect themselves from any attacks. Writers who offer constitutional law assignment help at Edudorm essay writing service notes that the move by the court therefore led to the second amendment of the guns control laws. According to the opponents of the second amendment, the second amendment seeks to allow all individuals the rights to own and have firearms in their homes. On the other hand, according to its supporters, the amendment only embodies a set of rights of the country, to maintain security thus protecting its citizens from any militias. This paper is therefore going to look at the pros and cons of the second amendment guns control, before coming up with an argument in support of the amendment.
The second amendment benefits the citizens of the US either positively or negatively, depending on what one wants to do with a gun (Bettivia, 28). In the past, the constitution allowed people to own guns, thus they could be able to safeguard their lives. In addition, they could also be able to go hunting, a thing which was practiced for a very long period of time. This is however not the case currently, since after the implementation of the gun laws, it became very hard for most people to be able to go hunting, since they could not be allowed to own guns. This move, therefore discontinued hunting, a thing which was passed from one generation to another (Sidlow, 13). The youths cannot therefore be able to go hunting as their fathers used to do in the past. Hunting in the past was used as a means of educating and making people to think critically, in order to be able to aim and shoot a target animal. Instead of hunting, the youths are currently addicted to the social media, thus they cannot be able to think critically (Lott, 54).
Pros of the Second Amendment
A reduction in the chances of criminal attacks
According to recent research, it was discovered that 55% of criminals retreat when people pull out their guns. This therefore means that, most criminals are very afraid of indulging in a fight particularly with a person who has a weapon. Experts who offer law assignment help services at Edudorm essay writing service indicates that, in addition, robbery with violence victims who had guns and used them to protect themselves, were unlikely to be attacked or otherwise suffer from any injuries (Bettivia, 29). On the other hand, if a person uses a stick or a stone to protect himself or herself, then he or she is likely to be hurt since most criminals tend to harm victims who do not have weapons which match their own. Victims with poor weapons are most likely to suffer severe injuries which sometimes might become fatal (Sidlow, 14).
Reduction in Crime Rates
According to research conducted in the year 1998, it was evident that allowing individuals to own guns drastically reduces the rates of crime (Sidlow, 14). This is because, in states where individuals were allowed to own guns, there was an 8.5% reduction in the number of homicides, 5% reduction in rape incidents, and 3% reduction in robbery rates (Bettivia, 29). This research consequently showed how effective it is to allow people to own guns. Most criminals will therefore be afraid of attacking people, due to the fear of becoming victims.
Creates security and safety
Most people feel safer when having a gun, than when not owning one, this is especially when they live or stay in areas which are prone to crime (Sidlow, 15). Moreover, criminals’ moves cannot be predicted, since criminals move from one area to another without warning, they can therefore attack a person either at work or at home (Lott, 55). Tutors who offer law essay help at Edudorm essay writing service acknowledges that it is therefore essential to own a gun, as a means of self-defence. In addition, it feels safer to own a gun, since a person feels secure and protected, and he or she can be able to protect himself or herself in case of an attack (Bettivia, 29).
It Gives People the Right to Own Guns
Even when laws do not allow people to own guns, criminals have ways of purchasing and owning guns, thus making individuals to be vulnerable to any attacks (Stevens, 65). Moreover, criminals carry guns with the intent of attacking and harming people in order to get what they want. The second amendment, therefore allows all individuals to own guns, hence being equally armed as criminals (Bettivia, 29). This is therefore advantageous to individuals since they can be able to protect themselves. In addition, allowing individuals to own guns, seeks to further weaken the powers that criminals have over individuals. Individuals can therefore be able to protect themselves fully, hence living peacefully (Sidlow, 15).
Cons of the Second Amendment
There is an increased risk in gun-related incidents
A recent study showed that a person carrying a gun is most likely to be shot during and in case of an attack (Stevens, 66). This does not therefore mean that a person owning a gun cannot be able to use it for self-defence purposes. This is however so if a person does not have proper knowledge of how to use a gun, he or she is therefore very likely to be shot by a criminal during an attack. Guns can only be of help to the user, if he or she has proper knowledge on how to use it (Barbour, Christine, & Gerald, 42).
May Lead to Increased Instances of Crime
As contradicting as this may seem, but according to recent research, it was evident that the rates of robbery, crime, rape and violence increased when individuals were allowed to own guns (Lott, 55). The risks of committing suicide also increased, this is because out of the 53% of the suicide attempts that occurred in the country, they involved a firearm. This is therefore the reason as to why the opponents of the second amendment believe that the amendment will not reduce but it will increase the rates of crime (Barbour, Christine, & Gerald, 42).
It makes People to Feel Less at Ease.
When people carry and show off their guns publicly, then it makes those who do not own guns to feel insecure (Lott, 55). Individuals should not therefore be allowed to show off their guns in public, since this may affect the security of other individuals. Guns should only be drawn or shown off in instances of danger, or when a person is using it to defend himself or herself. If the issue of carrying guns in public is not looked at carefully, then it is likely to spark very many problems (Barbour, Christine, & Gerald, 45).
According to the above pros and cons of the second amendment, it is very evident that individuals should be allowed to own guns (Lott, 55). This is basically because the government cannot be able to protect each and every individual in the country. It is therefore required of individuals to be able to look for alternative ways of protecting themselves in case of an attack. Authors who offer legal case study help at Edudorm essay writing service points that, for instance, on February, a man walked into a bar in Kansas City, where he shot and killed two Iranian nationals, who were in the US for education purposes (Stevens, 66). If people had guns in this scenario, then they could be able to shoot and kill the suspect before he could have even tried to kill the two Iranian nationals. Moreover, the attack also shows how a country cannot be able to protect each and every citizen, even though it has the best security systems and technics. People need therefore be allowed to own guns in order to protect themselves against any forms of harm (Barbour, Christine, & Gerald, 45).
Crime rates, and rape are likely to reduce if people are allowed to own guns. This is basically because, when people are allowed to own guns, then they can be able to protect themselves, either through harming the attacker or even killing them (Lott, 56). Incidents of rape are usually on the rise simply because victims do not have proper ways of protecting themselves (Stevens, 66). For instance, if a lady is stopped on a highway by criminals, then she is forced to pull over, if the lady does not have a gun, then the criminals are likely to overpower her, hence executing the evil act easily (Barbour, Christine, & Gerald, 45).
When individuals are allowed to own guns, then this becomes disadvantageous to criminals, since individuals will be able to match criminals’ weapons (Lott, 56). This will therefore see most criminals opting to quit indulging in criminal activities, since they might not know the type of weapon that the person they want to attack possesses. This will therefore improve security in the country, since most people will not indulge in criminal activities. On the other hand, mass murders will also reduce, since people will be able to protect themselves in case, they are threatened by a gun (Barbour, Christine, & Gerald, 45).
Youths will also be allowed to go hunting, where they will be able to learn a lot of things, which include thinking critically and thinking of the consequences of something before doing it (Barbour, Christine, & Gerald, 45). Through applying what they learn while hunting, youths can be able to stay away from evil acts such as abusing drugs, indulging in sexual activities and using obscene language over the social media (Lott, 56). The second amendment therefore seeks to ensure that people live peacefully without the fear of being attacked (Stevens, 66).
Conclusion
The second amendment will benefit the US as a whole, since the country will be able to safeguard the lives of its citizens. Moreover, the amendment will allow people to be able to undertake activities which were banned such as hunting, hence making the youths to stay away from evil activities. In addition, mass killings in the country will also reduce since most people will be able to defend themselves in case of an attack. Crime rates will fall thus allowing the country to invest in other areas other than in securing its citizens. In as much as allowing individuals to own guns will benefit the country positively, people should proper knowledge on how to use firearms in order to use them effectively.
Works Cited
Bettivia, Rhiannon. The Middle Schoolers’ Database: 75 Current Controversies for Debaters. New York: International Debate Education Association, 2011. Print.
Barbour, Christine, and Gerald C. Wright. Keeping the Republic: Power and Citizenship in American Politics. 2014. Print.
Sidlow, Edward. Govt3. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.
Lott, John R. The War on Guns: Arming Yourself against Gun Control Lies., 2016. Internet resource.
Valdez, Angela. Gun Control. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2003. Internet resource.
Stevens, John P. Six Amendments: How and Why We Should Change the Constitution., 2014. Print.
