Arguments for Gun Control

A significant rise in the number of public shootouts over the last couple of years has reignited the long pending gun control debate in the United States of America. As far as gun control or gun safety is concerned, the entire world seems to be divided into two groups - those in favor of gun control and those against it. Those in favor of gun control have certain arguments on the basis of which they have taken this stand. Before we move on to these arguments for gun control, let's try to get some more information about the basics of this concept.

Gun Control Laws

In generic terms, 'gun control' refers to the administration's efforts to keep a check on sale and use of guns by the citizens within their jurisdiction. Usually gun control laws tend to differ from one area of jurisdiction to another. These laws most often revolve around the sale, ownership, usage and the distribution of firearms. Some examples of such laws include the National Firearms Act (1934) and the Gun Control Act (1968).

In 2009, 39 percent of the American population voted for a total ban on firearms in the United States. This was a significant rise as compared to the support of 28 percent Americans in the previous year. A look at the gun control statistics compiled by the American Journal of Public Health revealed that the United States tops the list of countries in terms of firearms related deaths, and this is one of the main argument that people in support of gun control put forth when they call for stricter norms to prevent abuse of firearms.

Arguments For Gun Control

Activists have been lobbying for strict implementation of gun control since quite some time now. Even though there are several reasons for gun control implementation, almost all of them revolve around the single basic concept - safety of individuals. Those in favor of gun control are of the opinion that implementing it would reduce the number of firearms related accidents. A look at gun control facts reveals that approximately 10,000 people bear the brunt of firearm related accidents annually in United States alone.

Strict implementation of gun control would also mean that guns would not go in wrong hands. A large number of guns related accidents can be attributed to juveniles and children, and gun control act will ensure firearms are kept out of reach of these minors. The chances of your gun being stolen, and used for criminal acts cannot be ruled out. Those who are for gun control feel that regulation of ownership of guns will attend this problem as well.

A large number of people commit suicide using firearms, especially when they are subjected to severe mental trauma, and gun control can ensure that anybody with such medical history doesn't get to own guns or use them. At the end of the day guns which are already dangerous become even more dangerous when it goes into the wrong hands, and this is what gun control seeks to curb.

While these arguments for gun control play a crucial role in coming up with an opinion about the same, one has to also take into consideration the arguments against gun control in order to come up with a neutral opinion. As in case of people in favor of gun control, people who are against the same are also armed with arguments supporting their stand on this issue. Those who oppose gun control argue that such restrictions will only pressurize the law abiding citizens, and not the criminals, and hence they are of no use. The onus is on the administration to evaluate the pros and cons of gun control, and come up with some stringent measures in order to make sure that the number of casualties attributed to firearms comes down by a significant extent.