FREE ESSAY ON GUN CONTROL

GUN CONTROL

Gun Control in America
Since the days of the pioneers of the United States, firearms have been part of the
American tradition as protection and a means of hunting or sport. As we near the end of
the 20th century the use of guns has changed significantly. Because of fast andsteady
increase in crime and the fight for the right to own a hand gun, the introduction of
legislation for gun control, to try to reduce the crime in the 
United States, has been a hotly debated issue in recent years.
Although many people feel that gun control violates the right of the people, given in the
second amendment the right to bear arms, controlling distribution and sales and the
registration of guns and gun owners is necessary because of the homicide rate involving
guns and the violence by criminals using guns.
Many people feel that gun control violates the right of the people given in the second
amendment the right to bear arms. Opponents of gun control, including the National Rifle
Association, better known as the NRA, argue that the right To bear arms is guaranteed in
the second amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America and licensing
restrictions penalize law-abiding citizens while in no way preventing criminal use of
handguns. It is also argued that by making it difficult for guns to be bought and
registered for the American public there is a threat to the personal safety of American
families everywhere.
However controlling the sale and distribution of firearms is necessary because of the
homicide rate involving guns. In 1988 there were 9000 handgun related murders in America.
Metropolitan centers and some suburban communities of America are setting new records for
homicides by handguns. Larger Metropolitan centers have ten times the murder rate of all
Western Europe. For example in Washington,D.C. there was an estimated 400 homicides
including guns.
In addition gun control has been seen as necessary because of the violence by criminals
using guns. Gun control is wrapped in a series of social issues such as crime and drugs.
Guns have become closely linked to drugs and murder in the public mind. Drug dealing and
high tech weaponry have escalated the warfare in cities between long established loosely
knit gangs. Predominantly guns of crime are used by gang members. Many police officers
are killed every year due to drug and gang related incidents involving guns. For example
in 1988 on February 26 rookie New York City police officer Edward Byre was sitting alone
in his police car guarding the house of a drug trial witness in South Jamaica, Queens
where he was shot four times in the head and killed.
In conclusion, there are valid reasons for why certain people feel that gun control is
unfair. People against gun control feel that it is a violation of the Constitution to
control the sale and distribution and the registration of guns and gun owners. But it is
necessary for there to be certain limits on the way that firearms are handled in this
country because of the homicide rate involving guns and because of the violence created
by criminals using guns. If gun control legislation were to go through there would be a
significant decline in gun related crimes and fatalities. 
Bibliography
Annotated Bibliography
Geddes,John. Is Gun Control the Solution. Macleans 3 May 1999: 23. 
This article talks about how violence on television effects kids in our society to make
them want to kill.
Lott,John Why new gun laws won't work. National Review 31, May 1991
This article talks about how new gun laws are not working and how school 
Massacres are happening with these new gun control laws.
Pooley,Eric. Kids with Guns. New York. August 5, 1991.
This talks about what happens to kids when they play with guns and how it affects
everyone.