The complicated debate surrounding gun control has resurfaced in the media, resuming a prominent position in debates after recent tragedies in the news. Gun control is defined as government regulation of the manufacture, sale and possession of firearms, which incites controversy in terms of how much control can be exercised without compromising or infringing upon the U.S. Constitution.
The second amendment of the Bill of Rights states: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” How advocates and opponents interpret this is strongly influenced by their personal opinion. Currently, states and municipalities determine their own laws to regulate firearms, and federal legislation is curtailed by the second amendment. There are many compelling arguments for and against the application of stricter gun control and how that impacts individuals’ access to firearms.
Proponents of gun control fall on a spectrum of varying degrees, spanning from restricting to eradicating individuals’ access and ownership of firearms. Arguments for increasing gun control center on the idea that society will be safer with stricter regulation. The potential for less gun violence and occurrences of shooting deaths exists from limiting access to guns, independent of whether circumstances involve crime, accident or self-defense.
People predisposed to violence would lack the opportunity to consider employing the use of firearms by significantly restricting the ability to obtain guns, which could prevent future tragedies.
There is also the argument that increasing gun control could deter people considering committing suicide by removing their ease of access. Substantiating gun control could also decrease the number of fatal accidents involving curious or provoked children who attain guns from gun owners.
Opponents of federal gun control consider gun ownership a citizen’s basic right and a necessity of safeguarding freedom and self-protection. The strongest opposition group against gun control is the National Rifle Association (NRA), which is the largest and most influential lobbyist group in Congress next to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).
Some opponents of federal gun regulation argue that the right to own firearms can prevent tyranny and deter abuses of power by authorities employed by the government. Gun ownership also allows citizens to protect not only themselves, but also their family and property from criminals who may not be deterred otherwise.
Of the 15 states with the highest rates of homicide, The National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) determined that ten of these states have the most restrictive gun control laws in the nation. Gun ownership provides citizens a sense of security from knowing they are not helpless to defend themselves if threatened.
Ross Szlag, recent MBA graduate, explained his opinion on gun control: “Personally, I feel that as long as people with ill intentions are able to obtain a weapon, whether legally or not, as well as have the desire to cause harm (breaking and entering, assault, etc.), then people should also be able to even the playing field a bit and use weapons to defend themselves.”
The pros and cons of gun control continue to be heavily debated and impact many citizens, considering that as many as 47% of U.S. households possess at least one firearm, according to the NCPA. Despite discontent from stronger gun control supporters, it is very unlikely that gun regulation will be federally legislated in the near future.
The Center for Responsive Politics found that since 2009, the NRA invested about 25 times as much money into lobbying as gun control supporters, totaling about $5M annually, in addition to making substantial donations to political campaigns. However, there has been a recent push in some states to strengthen educational requirements prior to firearm purchase or license, in addition to increasing the legal age limits, which vary significantly from state to state.
Whether the focus of pressuring states to increase gun control regulation, in light of recent tragedies, will gain widespread momentum has yet to be determined.
