Posted: August 4th, 2022

All People Should Have the Right to Own Guns

All People Should Have the Right to Own Guns

Name
Department, University
Course
Instructor
Date
All People Should Have the Right to Own Guns
Argumentative Intro
Gun control has become a controversial and polarizing issue all over the world. Many cases of mass shootings both in public and in school have made it a hot issue. Although some people argue that all people should have the right to own guns, I argue that gun control is essential to prevent unnecessary crimes and shootings.
Not everyone should have the right to own guns. In my viewpoint, gun ownership should be controlled and regulated by the government. If the government controls gun ownership, only a limited number of people will own guns. Thus it will be difficult for anyone to access guns unless they have a valid reason for owning one. In this way, gun ownership restriction will prevent unnecessary violence and crime caused by gun owners, especially students. Gun control is also necessary to guard domestic violence victims, which is a common problem in the United States. Since the possession of a firearm during domestic disputes increases the victim’s chances of being murdered, stringent gun control laws would help reduce such incidents.
Gun control would also limit the number of accidental injuries. Some injuries caused by guns are accidental rather than intentional. Thus by limiting the number of people with guns, such incidents would be reduced. Gun control would also limit the number of suicide and homicide cases. The presence of a firearm at home increases the risk of homicide or suicide. When people are restricted from possessing guns, these incidents will be less prevalent.
Gun control would decrease cases of mass shootings as well. In most mass shootings, the firearms utilized to kill people were bought legally. By imposing more regulations on lawful purchases, it is very possible to decrease the number of mass shooting incidents that take place. Importantly, gun control would decrease societal costs linked to gun violence. Over a hundred thousand victims of shootings in the United States annually produce hospital and emergency room costs of almost three billion dollars. A research conducted by the American Journal of Public Health approximated that hospitalizations associated with injuries caused by guns cost Medicare and Medicaid more than two billion dollars over 9 years. Evidently, gun control would reduce gun-related injuries and hence medical expenses. Lastly, gun legislation would enhance the overall safety in our society as demonstrated by decreased rates of gun-related violence, reduced homicide and suicide rates, and reduced incidences of accidental injuries.
Opposing Viewpoints
Despite the obvious benefits of gun control, some people argue that everyone should have the right to own a gun. Opponents of gun control argue that guns are not the only weapons of destruction, and that violence and crime are the results of an individual’s character. Therefore, limiting the number of people with guns would not change a person’s intent to harm others.
Opponents also argue that gun control laws infringe upon the right to self-defense and deny people a sense of safety. They claim that since most people use guns for self-defense, everyone should be allowed to have a gun to protect themselves and their families.
Another argument against gun control is that such legislation would possibly lead to the creation of a black market. If an individual desires to possess a gun, they are definitely going to possess one. This is a simple fundamental principle that is applicable to both legal and illegal gun owners. Gun control would thus work to generate loops for lawful owners to jump through to own a gun. As a result, a separate black market would be created to serve those who simply want a self-defense option.
There is this notion among opponents that fewer guns will not change the condition of the heart. Gun controls have arguably led to a decrease in incidences of gun violence across the globe, but other weapons are still utilized in crime commission. Vehicle attacks, knife attacks, and explosives can inflict damage like guns can, and in several cases generate more harm when they end up in the right hands.
Lastly, there are claims that gun control laws have proved ineffective. For instance, when high-capacity magazines are banned, small gun magazines can still be converted in seconds. Therefore, people should be allowed to own guns. However, they should be educated about gun safety.
Research
Pederson, J., Hall, T. L., Foster, B., & Coates, J. E. (2015 – Research Paper Writing Help Service). Gun ownership and attitudes toward gun control in older adults: Re-examining self-interest theory. American Journal of Social Science Research, 1(5), 273-281.
The authors provide an overview of the gun control issue in the United States while explaining why people oppose gun control. According to them, gun control is a highly contested issue. Most people in the United States who own guns are more likely to oppose gun control. According to the authors, this is self-interest. Most people who oppose gun control are interested in protecting themselves and their families, without considering the consequences of having a potentially lethal weapon in their home. The authors back their claims with evidence from previous research. For instance, they cite a report conducted in 2013, which revealed that 60% of Americans obtain firearms for personal protection. Parallel research also showed that people in low-crime areas acquired guns whenever they felt threatened by physical violence. Pederson et al. (2015 – Research Paper Writing Help Service) investigated how age impacts attitudes towards gun control. They found that older age increases the likelihood that one would support gun control in the form of police permits.
Their article points to self-protection as a major reason why people oppose gun control. And although the article reveals that older people tend to support gun control, it does not reveal the reason behind their support. There is a need for more research to determine why they support gun control.

Order | Check Discount