Gun Control Facts

When given in wrong hands, power can become a recipe for disaster. The same rule is applicable for guns. Though people lobbying for the use of guns as a tool of self defense has increased considerably over the last few years, nobody can deny the fact that it is one of the most dangerous inventions of mankind. A brief look at the compilation of gun control facts, and anybody out there will realize why arms and ammunition can spell disaster for the society. Before we move on to these facts about gun control, let's have a look at what gun control actually means.

What is Gun Control?
The term 'gun control' refers to the efforts, most often on the part of the administration, to regulate or control the sales of the guns. This also covers the various rules and regulations pertaining to the use of a gun, along with the restrictions on their ownership and distribution. This is yet another issue which has left the society divided into two parts, not just in the United States, but in many parts of the world. Those in favor of gun control argue that it will make sure that the criminals and juveniles don't get access to these weapons. Those against this issue, on the other hand, argue that such restrictions will only put pressure on the law-abiding citizens, and not the criminals. Some of them even argue that this is a violation of the constitutional rights of the citizens.

Facts on Gun Control
Coming back to the gun control facts, the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the right of the citizen to own a handgun for the purposes of self defense, within the home. Several statutes, such as the National Firearms Act (1934), Gun Control Act (1968) and the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (1993), dictate the law pertaining to the possession of firearms in the United States. In fact, the Gun Control Act (1968) prohibits the individuals convicted of felonies, involved in substance abuse or those under the age of eighteen from carrying certain types of firearms. Similar laws are stipulated for firearms dealers within the Federal jurisdiction. While the number of people who feel that there has to be a strict implementation of gun control is quite high, the number of people who believe that owning a gun is their basic right is also quite significant, and that is major concern for the society.

Gun Control Facts: Numbers Speak a Lot
The fact that the support for a total ban on guns is fast decreasing can be realized from the fact that only 28 percent people voted for a total ban of firearms in a 2008 poll. Similarly, a 2009 poll revealed that only 39 percent people were in favor of any sort of restrictions on the use of guns. This is shocking in a nation wherein 10,000 deaths can be attributed to the use of firearms every year. A study conducted by the American Journal of Public Health revealed that the United States leads the developed countries in terms of firearms possession. Around 34 percent American households have a gun, a fact which invariably increases the chances of homicides and suicides in the society. It is not just a maniac on a shooting spree that is a threat for the people, but having a gun in the house itself is a major threat. In fact, 55 percent of the deaths caused by firearms in 2005, were suicides. Similar trends reveal that the number of suicides committed with guns outnumber the total number of homicides and accidental deaths, by the same weapon, by a significant margin. The chances of an individual dying on attempting a suicide with a gun are a whopping 90 percent, as opposed to the chances of dying on attempting a suicide by jumping from the top, which are 34 percent.

These were some of the most prominent gun control facts, which highlighted the negative aspects of firearms possession in the society. Even though self defense is a genuine reason, the chances of people using it as a cover up for their heinous intentions are quite significant. The fact is that the damage caused by the bullets fired from the gun cannot be altered, even after the convict is punished in accordance with the law. Lastly, the concept of gun control differs from one nation to another. For instance, a person has to be at least 18 year old to obtain a full firearm license in Australia, while in China the possession of guns by anybody, other than the military, police or the paramilitary personnel, is strictly prohibited.