Letter to The Editor

Paige Hawkins
10/31/2016
 Gun ownership is an American tradition, going back to the second amendment which

reads, "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 (2016, ProCon.org)." Throughout the years,

there has been an ongoing debate on whether to make stricter gun laws, or keep our second

amendment right to bear arms. The country, at this point in time, seems to be split on what

decision to make. Stricter gun laws will cause more harm than good to this country.

Gun control does not deter crime, what does is gun ownership. For example, if a person

decided to rob an older woman who lives home alone, they would not suspect that woman to

own a gun. That woman would just have to point the gun at the person, and that person would

more than likely have a flight response and leave. According to ProCon.org, A Nov. 26, 2013

study found that, between 1980 and 2009, assault weapons bans did not significantly affect

murder rates at the state level and states with restrictions on the carrying of concealed weapons

had higher gun-related murders. While gun ownership doubled in the twentieth century, the

murder rate decreased (2016). This is just one study out of many that proves stricter gun laws

would not decrease gun violence.

Another concern of stricter gun laws is that it would make it harder on families to protect

loved ones and their home. According to ProCon.org According to the National Rifle

Association (NRA), guns are used for self-defense 2.5 million times a year. The police cannot

protect everyone all of the time. 61% of men and 56% of women surveyed by Pew Research said

that stricter gun laws would make it more difficult for people to protect their homes and

families (2016). No matter the laws implemented on guns, people will still find a way to own

them. Even if they cannot own a gun, they will always find a way to harm another individual.

Stricter gun laws may decrease gun violence, but they cannot decrease human violence on others.
 Gun violence will not prevent criminals from obtaining guns or committing crimes.

According to ProCon.org Of 62 mass shootings in the United States between 1982 and 2012, 49

of the shooters used legally obtained guns. Collectively, 143 guns were possessed by the killers

with about 75% obtained legally. John R. Lott, Jr., PhD, gun rights activist, stated, The problem

with such [gun control] laws is that they take away guns from law-abiding citizens, while would-

be criminals ignore them (2016). These criminals obtain guns illegally or even from friends or

family.

There are many more reasons as to why stricter gun laws will not provide America with a

decrease in gun violence. If America does decide to inforce stricter gun laws, it will only increase

the dead body count. We need to own guns in our homes and obtain a CCW to protect what we

have. People need to be able to protect their family and their home. So many Americans are so

greedy and want to steal from others who worked hard to have what they have today. America

needs to think of other ways to decrease gun violence, stricter gun laws is not the way.
References

(2016, June 28). Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted? ProCon.org. Retrieved

from http://guncontrol.procon.org