Introduction
According to the research conducted by university of Washington in 2017, it was revealed that, on a daily basis, close to three million Americans move around with loaded handguns (Anestis, 2018). Most of the individuals in this bracket said the major reason for carrying guns was purely for protection purposes. The researchers stated that they found it important to study the carrying of guns because over 90% of homicide cases in the United States are committed using guns (Anestis, 2018). Even so, most of the people studied had permits to carry the guns around. In the United States, gun laws vary among states, with each handling permits, sales, carrying and self-defense laws differently (Anestis, 2018). Although the federal law allows persons above the age of 18 to possess guns, the impacts on the society are far-reaching (Anestis, 2018). In 2018 alone, there have shootings in eight schools, all which have left people injured and others dead (Anestis, 2018). Considering the law in the US permits gun carrying, this study delves on the pros and cons of that act, while comparing with South Korea that is illegal to carry a gun.
Pros of Carrying a Gun
In the United States, carrying a gun offers people a sense of security. Pew Research Center revealed that, 48% of people who carry guns revealed they do so for protection purposes (Anestis, 2018). Gun owners feel that, it hands them a chance to fight in the event they are attacked. The mere fact of carrying a gun keeps the criminals away, because they fear being shot. Evidently, the research by Pew Research Center also revealed that, close to two million people carrying guns revealed that at some point, they have used it for self-defense (Anestis, 2018). However, according to David Hemenway, the lead researcher in Harvard University analysis conducted on use of gun for self defense, most average individuals have slim chances of using a gun to defend themselves (Anestis, 2018). In any case, carrying it around exposes them to more danger.
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Carrying a gun helps in boosting both mental and physical well being of an individual. Individuals who own and carry guns around take pride in it and as such, they do take such responsibility lightly. They have taken time to educate themselves how to carry and use the firearm (Anestis, 2018). By carrying the gun around, individuals feel confident, and they don’t have to feel insecure, which sometimes is mentally draining. Most people in the United States who carry guns enjoy real and lasting benefits that are evident on their overall well-being. In the same vein, carrying a firearm instills discipline in an individual. The mental and physical discipline that comes with owning a gun ensures that one remains calm (Lott, 2013).
The act of carrying a gun helps in deterring crime. A close look at the 2 nd amendment of indicates that individuals in the United States have the right of owning guns as a way of deterring crime. According to John Lot analysis in 2000, statistics indicated that, in states where people were allowed to carry guns, rapes, murder and other forms of assaults reduced by 8.5%, 5% and 7% (Anestis, 2018). Even so, a section of lawmakers observe that, in the same way carrying of guns deter crime, they can lead to increased crime.
Proponents supporting the carrying of guns have always argued that, it prevents mass shootings. According to them, the growing trend of mass shooting would only be quelled if people were allowed to carry guns to defend themselves. In the same vein, they have supported the idea of school administrators being allowed to carry firearms to ensure they protect school property in case of an attack (Lott, 2013). In their argument, people will shun the idea of conducting mass shooting, for the fear of being overpowered by the firepower from the masses. In the event citizens are in a position to pin down the mentally unstable individuals who end up killing innocent people without any reason, the problem will be solved amicably. In 2017, mass shooting incidence was witnessed in Las Vegas, when Stephen Paddock started shooting aimlessly, an incidence that left 58 dead and 851 injured (Anestis, 2018). For that reason, gun carrying in the United States will provide solution to the rampant security threat of mass shooting.
Cons of Carrying a Gun
Although carrying guns in the United States is allowed and comes with numerous benefits, it equally has its disadvantages.
The law that allows people to carry guns can only be effective if only law-abiding and responsible individuals carry the firearms. However, as is often the case, people hardly follow the law religiously, in all circumstances (Lott, 2013). People with criminal and malicious intentions will bend the law and carry guns for the wrong reasons. In most states where gun crimes have occurred, it is because people are permitted to carry guns. For instance, in the state of Florida, 128, 216 and 1400 persons with permissions to carry guns have active domestic violence injunctions, outstanding warrants, and felony respectively (Anestis, 2018). By passing a law permitting people to carry guns, criminals are being encouraged to have firearms too. In most cases, criminals carry guns because they are aware that the victims might be armed too.
Gun carrying promotes accidental discharge of firearms. Notably, even when a firearm is carefully concealed, it is not immune to accidents. In the United States, accidental shooting happen daily, claiming lives of the victims (Anestis, 2018). Although such firearms are always in the hands of law abiding citizens, accidents happen. In some cases, people end up shooting someone in the event where they have misread their intentions. For that reason, gun carrying is a threat and should be shunned at all costs (Lott, 2013).
Carrying gun promotes escalation of tense situations. In day to day life, conflicts occur, and emotions are likely to run high. In such a situation, people end up making hasty decisions such as shooting, which probably would not have happened, if they did not carry guns. In June 2018, it was reported that twenty two people were injured and one killed following altercations between two gunmen in Trenton, New Jersey (Anestis, 2018). The gunmen were rocked into a dispute and they started shooting at each other, causing a stampede. Such gun fights between gangs who are in conflicts are only possible because people are permitted to carry firearms.
Comparing with South Korea
According to Jang (2018), when it comes to gun regulation, South Korea has come out as a role model. In a country that was marred with gun violence, a new dawn has been realized. If one wants to visit a place free from guns, then South Korea should be the destination (Jang, 2018). Report by the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) revealed that in 2016, there were only five gun homicides recorded. Latest figures indicate that, per every 100,000 persons, gun homicide stand at 0.00, compared 3.7 figure recorded in the US (Jang, 2018). Gun carrying is not allowed in South Korea, and the law requires that all private gun holders keep them at local police stations and all gun holders are expected to renew their permits on a regular basis. According to statistics released by KNPA, South Korea had 84,414 air guns in 2016, which is about 27 guns in every 10,000 individuals, a meager figure compared to the United States 8900 in every 10000 persons (Jang, 2018).
The reduced carrying of guns witnessed in South Korea is due to stringent rules. According to a report by Korea Customs Service (KCS), between 2012 and 2015, only 105 guns and 954 imitations were confiscated across major airports (Jang, 2018). In contrast, a report by US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) indicated that in 2017 alone, over 4,000 firearms were recovered (Jang, 2018). 84% of the fire-arms were loaded and they were found in half of the federalized airports. In that sense, the law prohibiting carrying of guns in South Korea has helped to minimize firearm related incidences, while they continue to remain all time high in the United States (Jang, 2018). South Korea was facing deadly problems due to illicit ownership of guns, but after the dictatorial regime was out of power, serious interests to discourage ownership and carrying of guns were kicked off. Currently, it is difficult to encounter gun-related incidences. However, the country is not yet entirely free from gun related violence, mass shootings do still happen, such as the ones in 2011 and 2015 (Jang, 2018).
According to Michaels & Madhani (2018), Americans who attended the 2018 Winter Games in South Korea felt and saw the impacts of having tough laws on gun control. Compared to unite states where heavy security is deployed, the situation was different in South Korea, an indication of low incidences of violent crime (Michaels & Madhani, 2018). Statistics indicate that, in 2016, South Korea had 356 homicides, in a country of 51 million people. In contrast, Chicago alone had 762 gun related murders, a town with a population of 2.7 million residents (Michaels & Madhani, 2018). In South Korea, even biathletes are not permitted to carry firearms. The country is very safe, and even in big cities such as Seoul, residents enjoy safety. An incidence such as Florida shooting is difficult to be witnessed in South Korea. Students are not allowed to carry guns, a common occurrence in the United States. Among the developed countries, South Korea has fewer firearms per capita (Michaels & Madhani, 2018). There are about 510,000 registered firearms in South Korea, a shocking figure compared to about 300 million guns in the United States (Michaels & Madhani, 2018).
Personal Opinion on the Gun Carrying
I think gun carrying in the United States should be discouraged as much as possible because it leads to gun violence. As revealed through research, most people who carry guns hardly use them in case of an attack. Majority are too scared, to even respond to an attack. In societies where gun carrying is prohibited, such as in S. Korea, people live in peace and incidences of people dying from gun violence are hardly notable. In that sense, laws in the US should be amended, to restrict gun carrying to security persons only.
Conclusion
In overall, carrying gun in the United States has its pros and cons in equal measures. Gun carrying has been cited as having numerous benefits such as giving people a sense of security, preventing mass shooting, deterring crime and boosting self confidence and discipline among others. On the other hand, those opposed to gun carrying believe that, it promotes criminal activities, accidental discharge and promoting escalation of tense situations. Compared to United States, South Korea has strict gun laws that prohibit carrying of firearms. As United States continues to witness mass shootings, South Korea rarely has ugly incidences of gun violence.
References
Anestis, M. D. (2018). Guns and Suicide: An American Epidemic. New York, NY: Oxford University Press
Jang, H. K. (2018). How South Korea Got Rid of Its Gun Problem. Retrieved from https://www.koreaexpose.com/how-south-korea-got-rid-gun-problem/
Lott, J. R. (2013). More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws. New York, NY: University of Chicago Press
Michaels, J. & Madhani, A. (2018). Keeping Olympics safe: South Korean gun laws make a mass shooting nearly unfathomable. Retrieved from <https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/winter-olympics-2018/2018/02/18/winter- olympics-south-korea-tough-gun-laws-mass-shooting/349138002/>
