In the United States men and women own over 250+ million firearms. These people own guns to give themselves security and safety against violent home intruders, but there are those who think otherwise. The Opposition of gun ownership rights say that the guns in society are the leading causes of violent gun crimes. However, whether guns are legal or not, they will end up in criminal hands, and once they are in the hands of criminals, there is nothing to stop these criminals from injuring and killing defenseless citizens. Guns have been a controversial issue for nearly a century, but guns have been in American hands since its foundation.
That's because anti-gun laws don't affect criminals, who ignore the laws. Government studies prove it, finding that most criminals get guns through theft or the black market, where gun laws have no effect. Wayne Lapierre. Chief Executive Officer, National Rifle Association states” The 20,000 anti-gun laws already on the books in states, cities, and towns throughout the U.S. too often disarm innocent victims. That's one reason why violent crime is often highest in places with the toughest anti-gun laws.
Violent Crime is on the Increase Because of Gun Control Gun Control in England Gun control is an act by the controlling government to limit or eliminate the sale or use of guns. England has taken this idea to the max and now has the strictest laws concerning guns in any free country. England’s politicians have yet to discover that gun control laws do not protect its people. Crime rates have increased in all of England and it now has the most crime compared to any other democratic country in the world (Smith). Gun control does not work for many reasons such as ; it gives criminals more confidence (Smith) , limits the the civilians ability to protect themselves, and in the end is a direct cause of an increase in violent crime.
There are hundreds of millions of guns in America. So, eliminating the ability of people obtaining some either illegally is impossible. A black market is likely to occur if guns were made illegal(Farago). It is already evident that illegal guns are being used in far more gun crimes than legally bought ones. Seventy-nine percent of all gun crimes in Pittsburgh for example were committed by gun owners who obtained their guns illegally(ingraham).
Dean Fox identified the TEC-9 semiautomatic weapon as "the weapon of choice among violent offenders." (Brown 93) Hardened criminals are not the only ones finding the semiautomatic weapon suitable for crime sprees. In the wake of the Columbine shooting, police identified the source of the weapons utilized. The two teenage gunmen being below the minimum age to make the purchase themselves solicited the help of a friend who was of age (Brown, Peter, and Daniel Abel 96). The weapons were purchased from a private collector at a gun show; without the requirement for a background check.
In addition, gangs increasingly are smuggling large quantities of heroin, cocaine, and MDMA (also known as ecstasy) into the United States. Local street gangs in rural, suburban, and urban areas transport drugs within very specific areas, most of what seem to be low socio-economical areas. Some gangs collect millions of dollars per month selling illegal drugs, trafficking weapons, operating prostitutions rings, and selling stolen property. Gangs launder their proceeds by investing in real estate, recording studios, motor cycle shops, and construction companies. The extent of gangs/drugs A proliferation in gangs will also mean a growth in drug and violence in our community’s and threatening society in general.
Non-violent crimes should just be a punishable fine because it saves money for the United States and the federal prisons in the United States. Non-violent crimes in America are rising rapidly and non-violent criminals are being sent to federal prisons or jails for a stupid reason. Like for an example many people are being arrested and sent to prison for selling drugs now how is this a violent crime? Drugs are illegal in America but it’s not really hurting our country right now. The main thing that is hurting our country right now is violence, when you read the news about Chicago they had more murders then the soldiers in Iraq due to gang violence.
It is not safe for anyone to be able to get their’ hands on certain gun. For the safety of our nation, there should be more in-forced restriction on who is able and not able to purchase a gun. There are about 200 to 250 million guns in America, and of these, about a third are handguns, which means the other 2/3rds are more powerful guns. Within all the different kinds of weapons, guns are used in approximately 70 percent of killings according to the FBI. 70 percent is an unbelievable high number when it comes to homicides.
In the1800s the supreme court made the decision that the “right of bearing arms for a lawful purpose is not a right granted by the Constitution” followed up with a decision that states are “free to regulate the rights of citizens to bear arms”. In the 1930’s president Roosevelt tried to pass legislation on gun regulations, but they were defeated in congress. Calls for gun control have usually followed major and highly publicized crimes and attacks involving guns, such as the assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy. in the 1960’s. Also, the attempt on President Reagan, as well as the recent string of shootings in American schools.
On April 16, 2007, a senior at Virginia Tech named Seung-Hui Cho shot and killed 32 people and wounded 17 others on the campus before committing suicide. On July 20, 2012, a mass shooting occurred inside a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado during a screening of The Dark Knight Rises. 12 people were killed and 58 others were injured. Most recently, on December 14, 2012, a man named Adam Lanza shot 20 children and six staff members at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. These are only a few of the mass shootings that have occurred recently in the past and have sparked debate about the controversial topic of gun control.