Why Guns Should not be Banned
Did you know you are 4 times more likely to be killed with a knife or other cutting instrument than you are by a rifle or a shotgun? Gun rights and gun control are always hot items during any political discussion, whether it is between peers or politicians. One of the many great advantages of being an American is the ability to choose for one’s own self what to believe in. Another advantage, in my opinion, is the right of the people to keep and bear arms.
Laws should not restrict gun rights because first, it would infringe the second amendment, second, guns are a part of our culture, and finally, if guns were outlawed, citizens of the U. S. would become vulnerable. The most prevalent argument for gun rights is the second amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The second amendment is broken into two clauses; the justification clause and the rights clause. The justification clause is, “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state. ” And the rights clause is, “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
This idea is important to a country founded upon revolution and is in the Constitution for the chance that we will have to revolt again so, as democratic Americans, we cannot allow the government to strip us of our rights. America was founded on the thought of being able to make our own ideas and options for our lives. A free man must be able to protect himself and that was the idea of the founding fathers when they made the second amendment. The act of banning firearms would directly defy what our founding fathers thought best for our nation.
Our country was founded on the right to be free from tyranny. Individual ownership of guns was one of those rights to make sure the government couldn’t overrun the people. If the government was to put a ban on weapons, it would make it all the easier for politicians to take over the nation. Gun ownership also made it possible to create local militias to protect our country and to keep other countries from invading. For example, if our nation was invaded by another country and 6 out of every ten people owned a gun; the invaders would have a lot harder time taking over America.
Many Americans consider owning guns as part of their culture considering our nation was founded using weapons. Ever since the first people came to America, guns have been a huge part of their lives. As stated by Washingtonpost, It started with New England Indians trying to drive out settlers in King Philip’s War in 1675. Some 5 to 10 percent of settler men of fighting age were killed. Laws soon required settlers to keep firearms in their homes. In the 1700s the Kentucky rifle was invented and was the symbol of frontier independence.
As also stated on Washingtonpost, George Washington encouraged “the use of Hunting Shirts, with long Breeches made of the same Cloth . . . it is a dress justly supposed to carry no small terror to the enemy, who think every such person a complete marksman. ” The 19th century brought the mass production of gun making through Samuel Colt. He also invented the famous Colt pistol. Cowboys carried the colt the way noblemen carried swords, as symbols of their status. In World War II, veterans brought home guns as trophies.
Guns get handed down through generations and are symbols of patriarchy. They are also a symbol of protection for the home, fighting for liberation and family tradition. Many families have traditions of hunting together and this started back in the days of the settlers when they had to provide food for their families. These traditions have been passed on from generation to generation. Through the years in the United States hunting has become a family tradition.
According to Statisticbrain, The total number of people over the age of 16 that hunt annually is over 12.6 million. Families used to hunt to feed themselves, and even younger children were taught to hunt to help contribute to their family’s survival. Over the years it has changed but the tradition of hunting together is still passed down from one generation to another. While hunting for meat is no longer a necessity, wild game is still much better for you and healthier than meat bought in a grocery store. Hunting also requires a person to take a class in Hunter Safety before they can legally hunt, where firearm safety and shooting skills are taught.
Hunting as a family is a bonding experience where time is spent outside together instead of indoors sitting down watching television or playing video games. There is a saying that goes “Take your kids hunting and you won’t have to hunt for your kids” – kids who are involved with their families more and spend time doing things they enjoy together are much less likely to get in trouble. People who grow up learning how to handle guns safely and respect firearms are much less likely to use one irresponsibly.
The third and final reason a gun ban would be detrimental to the U.S. is that the citizens would become vulnerable. As stated by CNN John Lott, economist and gun-rights advocate, has extensively studied mass shootings and reports that, with just one exception, the attack on U. S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Arizona, in 2011, every public shooting since 1950 in the U. S. in which more than three people have been killed has taken place where citizens are not allowed to carry guns The massacres at Sandy Hook Elementary, Columbine, Virginia Tech and the Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, all took place in gun-free zones.
The deranged and deeply disturbed murders aren’t dumb. They shoot up places where they know there will be no resistance. Maybe gun free zones should be labeled “defenseless victim zones”. A good reason guns shouldn’t be outlawed was stated by CNN, In 2007, a gunman entered New Life Church in Colorado Springs and shot and killed two girls. Jeanne Assam, a former police officer stationed as a volunteer security guard at the church, drew her firearm, shot and wounded the gunman before he could kill anyone else.
The gunman then killed himself. According to Hackpad 74% agreed that “One reason burglars avoid houses when people are at home is that they fear being shot. Homes that have guns are much safer then homes without. As you can see, there are many reasons on why the government shouldn’t ban guns. These reasons include, but are not limited to the facts that it would directly infringe the second amendment; guns are part of our culture, and United States citizens would become too vulnerable to crime.
Gun rights are not merely a topic of political discussion, but a discussion of survival and freedom. Restricting firearms for public self-defense doesn’t make citizens safer but it makes them targets. Guns in the hands of qualified and trained individuals subject to background checks prevent crime and improve public safety. Remember, a gun doesn’t make you a killer; killing makes you a killer. People can kill with a car or a baseball bat, but no one is trying to ban you from driving to the ballgame.
