Control is an essential function in every aspect of life; nothing functions appropriately without limitations and boundaries. Despite this, the possession of guns and their uses is vital and necessary. Gun control has become a global human right issue that is shroud with a lot of debate and controversy. According to the National Rifle Association (2020), it states that gun control laws do not reduce violent crimes because it is individuals who kill, and not guns. While gun laws and policies regulate the manufacture, sale, and possession of firearms, infringement occurs in the second amendment on the right to keep and bear arms when the imposition of gun control happens. Due to this, there needs to be a reduced gun control legislation or no change in the existing gun control laws in the United States.
Americans own more firearms, and Americans in more states can lawfully carry a concealed firearm than they could decades ago, but crime rates have fallen significantly. In the year 2018, the violent crime rate fell to the 2nd lowest total rate since 1971, while the murder rate was half of what it was in the 1980s (National Rifle Association, 2020). Even though the number of violent crimes is reducing, the right to carry has been on an all-time high. These statistics show that despite the increase of firearms, there is a significant downward trajectory in crime rates (National Rifle Association, 2020). Therefore, there is no direct correlation between violent crimes and firearms ownership.
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The second amendment states that every American has a right to keep and bear arms, and no infringement of this right should occur. Due to this, every state allows residents to carry a concealed firearm lawfully. The National Rifle Association (2020) shows that the 42 right-to-carry states have seen more than 18.6 million people hold permits and are law-abiding. The research also states that three in ten Americans legally possess a gun with protection and their right to feel safe being the main reason. Others said that they own guns for sports shooting, hunting, their jobs, and for collection (National Rifle Association, 2020). This data is a clear indication that all lawful citizens have a right to own a gun and that they are exercising their right to do so.
As depicted by Jeff Cooper in his book Art of the Riffle , he posits that “the rifle itself has no moral stature since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil. While the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles” (Cooper, 2020). This argument shows that guns do not control themselves; instead, humans do. Individuals with ill intentions or those who wish to harm and kill others misuse the right to carry firearms (National Rifle Association, 2020). Consequently, these individuals who want to commit crimes will still do so despite gun control or not. This is because they can acquire firearms illegally and would rarely do so with registered guns.
In conclusion, it is safe to state that evil people with evil intentions commit crimes, and gun control plays no part in reducing violent crimes. As statistics prove, there has been a decrease in crimes despite the increase of firearm ownership in the country. The right to own and carry a gun is a constitutional right that lawful citizens can exercise and practice in the United States. Rather than gun control, the imposition of harsher sentences on citizens who use guns to commit offences is recommended, and a significant reduction in crime will be witnessed.
References
Cooper, J. (2020). The Art of the Rifle . New Jersey: BookBaby
National Rifle Association. (2020). Gun ownership and crime trends. NRA-ILA. Retrieved 12 September 2020, from https://www.nraila.org/get-the-facts/crime-criminal-justice/
