Penninger 1 Preston Penninger Expository Writing Maxine Patroni 30, October 2013

Gun Control

Ever since the first firearm was created there was a fear of people using them to harm other people. Guns are used in many different ways. There is a big history in guns in where they came from and how they evolved. Guns are also used in a lot of good things and not all bad, people just tend to hear the negative side of gun use. There are also gun laws in place to protect people. Guns dont kill people, people kill people, someone has to pull the trigger the gun will not go off on its on, unless it is mishandled. In 1364 was the first recorded use of a firearm. In the 1400s the matchlock gun appears. Before the matchlock, guns were fired by holding a burning wick to a "touch hole" in the barrel igniting the powder inside. A shooter uses one hand for firing, and a prop to steady the gun (gun timeline). Although firearms began as primitive popguns in the middle Ages, they changed through the centuries to eventually develop into the complicated weaponry of today. Beginning with gunpowder, projectile firing weapons eventually were invented. Starting off as small, weak cannons, guns were cumbersome and ineffective(Nosotro). There are numerous types of guns from handguns and pistols to rifles and shotguns. Also included in the firearms category are rocket launchers and grenade launchers. All though it dont seem like there are a lot of gun, there is. Each one

Penninger 2 of those can be broken down into types of guns. Like a pistol for instance can be broken down to revolver or clip feed, and even farther than that. Pistols are also categorized in to caliber and barrel size and length. For example: 9 mm, .45 caliber, and .380. Through out history guns have been used for numerous good things, the way the media is set up today all people hear about is the negative side to guns and how theyre bad, and all they do is injury or kill people. The people that believe these accusations need to step back and realize that with out these horrid firearms we wouldnt have the independence that we have now. We have to fight for our freedom everyday and with out firearms who knows what would happen. The freedom that we have today would not have ever happened if it werent for firearms. Another thing that firearms are used for is putting food on the table. A lot of people still hunt for the food that they eat and that is how they provide for their family. Also people hunt for sport and also to keep animal populations down. I realize that guns do kill people and we also need guns to protect our families and our land. With out guns people could take what they want and harm our families. I personally think that if more people would protect their self or for instance if teachers were trained to use firearms and would shoot back that could possible help with school shooting. I also realize thats a big risk. People always talk about how gun laws need to be placed or we need to get rid of guns. Well there are gun laws in place right now people just dont follow them. In North Carolina you have to be 21 to purchase and handgun and 18 to purchase a rifle or shotgun. A person that is a convicted felon is not allowed to own or purchase a gun. Youre not allowed to trade, give or sale a handgun without a permit. For the most part I would have to say that the gun laws we have in place are effective. The people that dont

Penninger 3 obey the laws are disobeying other laws as well. The way we could help control the guns are do more background checks and enforce the laws we have in place a little bit stricter. Now with this being said I do agree that there should be gun laws put in place and enforced. It seems like every time you watch the news someone is being murder but if its not guns it will be something else. Schools shooting are another thing you hear a lot about and its a sad thing to hear. Im sure there are things we could put in place to help control that like metal detectors and more resource officers. No matter what laws or restrictions the government puts in place guns are still going to find their way in to the wrong hands. The people who dont need guns are the ones who are shooting places up. Another way you could help regulate the use of firearms is could make it a mandatory to take a class or a course before you purchase a firearm and prove you have some knowledge on what youre purchasing and how it should be used. These are the types of common-sense gun control reforms Americans want to see. A survey finds that 85 percent of the public favors backgrounds checks for private and gun show sales, 80 percent support for preventing those with mental illness from purchasing a gun, 67 percent support for a federal database that tracks guns sales, and 58 percent in favor of a ban on semi-automatic weapons(Smith,Mychal). With the way society is trying to make guns out to be a monster and the terrible thing. Guns are good and helpful. Now I know they cause harm and things of that nature, but so do a lot of other things. Its just when they get in the wrong hands or the mentally unstable when things get dangerous. I guess growing up in the south I was always around them and know how to treat one that makes me view them in the way I do.

Penninger 4 No matter which side of the fence you stand on you should always try and see things from the other side.