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Will Misenheimer
Deby Jizi
UWRT 1102-028
6 April 2016
Gun Rights vs. Gun Control
For over two centuries, the 2nd Amendment has been commonly interpreted to give, The People
the right to bear arms, but is it time that Americans lock up their firearms? My family and I recently, in
the last 8 months, made the conscious decision to each become gun owners, with the exception of my 17year old brother. Despite my brothers younger age of 17 years old, we all have experience with firearms,
even before becoming gun owners. With this being one of my first very expensive transactions, one may
understand the newfound interest that has been sparked within myself and my family. It is these interests
that have driven me to inform myself on the topic of gun control and ask the very conflicting question,
Should firearms be controlled? As an American gun owner, I have obvious biases towards gun rights,
but understanding how politics can be a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts at times, I wanted to learn
more about the other side. I wanted to understand what the thought process and reasoning that correlates
to the pro-gun control mentality. I understand that in order to develop a very well pre-meditated and
informed opinion of the topic of gun control, I must first delve into the minds of those who support gun
control and evaluate the thought process in that given circumstance.
The topic of gun control is of much concern to many Americans. Everyone should be informed on
the topic of gun control and gun rights, as it affects everyone. In Sage Journals article, From the Polls:
Gun Control, it is acknowledged that over 40 percent of Americans either have access to or own firearms
(From the Polls). I believe that the factor at stake in this topic is a factor of safety. Many people believe
that safety would be achieved through the restriction or complete abolition of firearms, while others think
that safety would best be obtained through the insurance of gun rights and allow individuals to privately

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own and acquire firearms in a timely manner. According to a Harris Poll displayed in Sage Journals,
roughly 70 percent of United States citizens would like to see stricter gun control (From the Polls). I
certainly believe this statistic. I perceive this as the point of compromise between the two sides. As a gun
owner, I can come to terms with the notion that there are individuals that are incompetent and unfit to
handle firearms. I believe that in order to ensure safety, a point of compromise is needed and the question
of Should firearms be controlled? must be answered, because until compromise is met, this discussion
will continue to linger over the head of American politics.
Many either strongly agree with or disagree with the Second Amendment, which is viewed as the
primary law concerning the ownership of firearms. In his book, The Triumph of the Gun-Rights
Argument, Harry Wilson questions if the meaning of the United States Constitution should be determined
by what the original framers intended at the time of its creation, or is it a living document, in which the
meaning changes as political and social situations change? (Wilson 21). Does the ability to defend oneself
by means of firearms take priority over the potential to commit acts of terror? The combination of these
two questions have fueled the gun rights vs. gun control debate for years. In the midst of the much
heated debate over gun control, many people refer to the 2nd Amendment as either the law that secures
gun rights, or the outdated, aged legislation that does not mold into our current society (Wilson 21). Those
who defend the right to bear arms usually found their arguments on the basis that the Second Amendment
is outdated, and the need for firearms has slowly dissipated over time (Gun Control vs. Gun Rights). I can
clearly understand why those who would want to restrict firearms would want the Second Amendment to
be interpreted according to todays standards. The Second Amendment was adopted shortly after the
Revolutionary War, which featured an American army that consisted mostly of rag-tag farmers with
private firearms. Many would argue that the need for firearms in relation to domestic defense is negligible
in todays society. Those who support gun rights would most likely prefer to see that the US Constitution
is interpreted according to the manner in which the framers had written it (Gun Control vs. Gun Rights).
It is also very understandable as to why the supporters of gun rights push for a direct interpretation of the

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Second Amendment, as it is often concluded that the right to bear arms is directly and explicitly given
under the original interpretation of the Second Amendment. I believe that the Second Amendment should
be interpreted as the original framers wrote it because societal conditions change seemingly every day,
and if the governing document were to change as often as the conditions as the United States, not only the
Second Amendment, but the entire US Constitution would be no more than a whiteboard, subject to
temporary writing.
The Gun Rights vs. Gun Control debate has been a lifelong issue for this country, with the current
interpretation of the Second Amendment as the Peoples right to bear arms acting as the decider in a
heated stalemate. However, gun control does not necessarily imply the extermination of firearms, but also
the implications of more strict regulations (Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted?). Following the
horrific shootings of news team members Jessica Parker and Adam Ward, the father of Parker released a
statement in which he declares that his legal team is not trying to take anybodys guns, but only to see that
incompetent people do not get their hands on them (Gun Control Debate Explodes on The Five). This is
important to acknowledge as while firearms have not been banned, they may be monitored, and as
someone who enjoys shooting at the gun range, there is good reason for guns to be monitored. While the
recent Justice Antonin Scalia was known for having adopted a Pro-Gun Rights mentality, Scalia once read
that the Second Amendment is not unlimited. Therefore, the right to bear arms is subjected to tighter
restrictions, if need be. For example, of the 290 million guns that were recorded to be in circulation in
2005, between 3 to 5 million of them were dealt through secondary markets and illegal transactions (Gun
Control versus Gun Rights). This is a very large amount of weapons to be dealt without having serious
record of the transactions, or who the weapons were dealt to. It is very easy to discern how these underthe-table transactions may cause problems that jeopardize the safety of the general public. Supporters of
tighter gun control also argue that there is a linear relationship between guns and gun-related deaths
(Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted?). Between the years of 1999 and 2013, there were
approximately 464, 033 gun-related deaths in the United States, claiming the 12 th highest manner-of-death

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(Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted?). My father used to tell me, If it can happen, it will. I
feel that this same mentality fuels much of the skepticism on the part of the Gun Control in regards to gun
rights. In such a diverse society, with millions of different minds and attitudes, it is easy to understand
how discrepancies may arise (Gun Control versus Gun Rights). If a gun is present in the midst of conflict,
things may potentially turn fatal because guns give power, and with power, certainly comes abuse (Gun
Control versus Gun Rights). The recent death of former New Orleans Saint Will Smith, as reported by
The Washington Post, is a good example (Boren). Smith and his wife were travelling on the highway
when a collision with another driver occurred, prompting Smith to confront the driver of the vehicle with
which he and his wife collided with (Boren). During the confrontation, the man drew a handgun and shot
and killed Smith, while wounding his wife (Boren). I believe that the most persuasive answer to the
question of, Should firearms be controlled? is not necessarily tight restriction, but confidence in
knowing that the people who obtain guns are conscious enough to properly use them. I do not believe that
it is right to disarm the conscious, law-abiding citizens and deprive them of the right to bear arms and
defend themselves; however, I understand that there is a very minute group of Americans that do not have
the capacity to safely operate a firearm. That is why I believe background checks and licensed permits are
so vital to ensuring safety within the boundaries of the Second Amendment. While guns are often
defended as tools of self-defense, let us not forget the potential to commit terrible acts with them.
When you visualize a Pro-Gun Rights activist, do you see a middle-aged, shirtless man driving a
big truck, brandishing the Confederate flag? Whatever your illustration of the common Pro-Gun-Rights
activist may be, this man or woman represents the gun values of over half of early 21 st century America
(From the Polls: Gun Control). In a study done by the Washington Post at the turn of the 21 st century,
roughly 65 percent of Americans stood against the idea of a citizens ban on handguns (From the Polls:
Gun Control). But what makes these individuals feel so strongly towards their respective gun rights? In
many ways, the Pro-Gun Rights argument has not changed since even before the adoption of the Second
Amendment in the late 1700s (Wilson 23). In the case of Malloch v. Eastly in 1744, colonial courts settled

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early controversy over gun control by ruling that families may keep firearms in order to ensure defense
of home and family (Wilson 23). This is a fact that the NRA (National Rifle Association) believes is
widely used by Americans (Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted?). According to the NRA, guns
are used as a means of self-defense roughly 2.5 million times each year (Should More Gun Control Laws
Be Enacted?). When the NRA cites this as self-defense, could this describe preventative measures and not
just instances in which a woman defended herself from an attacker? Self-defense is an important
commodity to supporters of gun rights, as seen in the statement made by the husband of Vicki Gardner, a
survivor of the 2015 Virginia TV Shooting (Gun Control Debate Explodes on The Five.). In light of the
horrific and senseless killings that had just taken place, Gardner says, If he didnt have a gun, hed have
had a knife, a machete; he was bound and determined. I dont blame the gun, I blame the guy holding the
gun (Gun Control Debate Explodes on The Five.). NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre is
also recorded as describing that nothing can stop a villain with firearm capabilities is a good individual
with firearm capabilities (Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted?). I really agree with what Gardner
and LaPierre are saying. I believe that villains will always find ways to get their hands on guns, as they
have already shown that they have minimal regard for the law. Ive noticed that this pattern of thinking
has been passed down to me from my parents and their parents before them. Nevertheless, in refutation to
the argument commonly made by supporters of gun control that there is a linear relationship between
guns and gun deaths, Laws.com states that gun rights supporters insist that regions practicing tighter gun
control laws witness the most violent crime rates in the United States (Gun Control versus Gun Rights).
Advocates for gun rights also believe that the violent crime that occurs in these regions, such as
Washington, D.C., and New Jersey, are not elevated due to the gun control controversy, but because of
poverty and dissipating urban environments (Gun Control versus Gun Rights). Just as I can understand
the notion that gun restriction could possibly decrease violence, I feel that I can also really understand the
mentality that gun restriction could possibly lead to higher levels of violence. It coincides with the
mentality that criminals will find ways to obtain firearms. In the environment in which guns are restricted,
I envision the law-abiding citizens stripped of firearms and self-defense, leaving them vulnerable to the

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criminals that have obtained firearms through a strong disregard for the law. Lastly, to complement NRA
Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierres words and my genetically predisposed belief, Laws.com even
argues that most gun-rights supporters believe that denying law-abiding citizens of the right to own a
firearm will not stop villains and horrible people from acquiring them, but only make the law-abiding
citizen vulnerable (Gun Control versus Gun Rights). This directly agrees with my belief that criminals
will find ways to obtain firearms through no regard for the law and is a very solid support for my main
belief relating to the question, Should Firearms be Controlled? Should they be controlled? I dont think
so. Should we know who has them? Absolutely. I am beginning to see the reasoning as to why there must
be a point of compromise in the middle of each argument. It would be a horrible situation if guns were
outlawed, but on the flip side, it would be an equally worse situation if guns were dealt to anyone who
wanted them. The most appealing argument in my eyes does not lie solely in the hands of one side, but a
mixture of both. It is very important to balance the equation. If guns are withheld from those who fail
background checks through reasons relating to a criminal record or mentally illness, and firearms are
marketable to the law-abiding citizens, then the primary threat of danger is eliminated, while the valuable
commodity of self-defense is secured.
Regardless of your views of gun control, during the ongoing stalemate that is the American gun
control debate, the deciding factor, the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, gives the edge to the
original question, Should the US Constitution be interpreted word for word as it was written, or is it a
living document that should be molded to fit the current society that it governs (Wilson 21)? Those who
wish for tighter gun control would most likely wish to see that the Constitution be interpreted to fit
todays environment, while those who support gun rights most likely interpret the Constitution in the
manner that it was written (Wilson 21). This is where the future of the gun control debate lies. Thus, the
gun rights vs. gun control debate is not the initial controversy, but rather a mere sub-topic that is
completely dependent upon the way that the United States Constitution is interpreted. I am witnessing the

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original question of, Should firearms be controlled? shift to fit into the much larger picture and become
a matter of how the Second Amendment and the US Constitution are to be interpreted.
It has become evident that both sides aim to achieve self-defense, but in different manners and
through different processes. Supporters of gun control typically aspire to create a safer environment by
restricting deadly weapons (Gun Control Debate Explodes on The Five.), while those who advocate
guns rights wish to ensure safety through self-defense with the use of firearms (Should More Gun Control
Laws Be Enacted?). This illustrates the diversity that is America. The general population holds a mostly
similar goal, but with different processes and variables along the way. It is equitable to a mathematical
function. There are two formulas, one representing the gun rights supporters and the other symbolizing
the advocates for gun control. A safer environment for all is represented by the supporters of gun rights as
the idea of self-defense, while it is also depicted in the argument for tighter gun control through the
abolishment, or restriction of deadly firearms. Thus, the two equations share the same y-variable, or
outcome. However, where the two arguments are conflicting is in the x-variable, where the input is
changed. The x-variable of the argument for gun rights would represent the continuation of the right to
bear arms and for law-abiding citizens to purchase and acquire firearms in a timely manner. The xvariable of the movement for gun control would not necessarily be limited to the abolishment of firearms,
but could also even be the restriction of firearms. The two equations are very identical in terms of the yvariable and outcome, but polar opposites in respect to the x-variable, and how that outcome is to be
achieved. Thus, the difficulty of this topic lies in the majority-rule factor. How do we create a system that
caters to one specific way of thinking, without depriving another group of its way of thinking, but
ultimately accomplishes the goal of each argument? I began my investigation of gun control with a very
skeptical mindset in terms of the nature of the argument. I love guns. I dont want them to go. But now I
understand that they dont necessarily have to. I have seen that some amount of gun control is good.
There needs to be a compromise. If the ones who are incapable of properly operating firearms are
identified and their actions with firearms are monitored, and in severe cases, they are denied the ability to

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obtain firearms, I believe that this could lead to a very happy, safe America. That is why I believe that
background checks and licensing is a great safety feature. We must be sure that the instruments of selfdefense do not become instruments of aggression and malicious rage. In conclusion, I have realized that,
while I still love my firearms and think that everyone who is mentally and physically capable of handling
them should research the benefits, take a trip to the shooting range, and see if they like it. But after
researching the question, Should firearms be controlled?, I have come to the mindset that some form of
control would not necessarily be a bad thing if it targets only the mentally incapable and does not hinder
the law abiding citizen from purchasing and obtaining a firearm in a timely manner.

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Works Cited
Boren, Cindy. The Will Smith shooting leaves Drew Brees, New Orleans in shock. The Washington
Post. 11 April 2016. Web. 11 April 2016.
Gun Control Debate Explodes on The Five. The Five: FOX News. 28 August 2015.
Gun Control versus Gun Rights. Laws.com. n.d. Web. 23 March 2016.
Sage Publications. From the Polls: Gun Control. Sage Journals. January 2003. Web. 29
February 2016.
Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted? ProCon.org. 26 February 2016. Web.
2 April 2016.
Wilson, Harry. The Triumph of the Gun-Rights Argument: Why the Gun Control Debate is Over.
Santa Barbara: 2016. Print.