Gun Control Legislation Gun Control Is Not

Gun Control Legislation

Gun control is not one concern, but several. To some people gun control is a crime issue; to others it is a rights issue. Gun control is a safety issue, an education issue, a racial issue, and a political issue. Within each of these issues, there are those who want more gun control legislation and those who want less. Guns are not for everyone. Certain individuals cannot handle a firearm safely, and some individuals choose to use firearms inappropriately. Our society has passed laws regulating the ownership and use of firearms, and additional legislation is being considered. Most of this legislation restricts, to some degree, the rights of individuals to possess or use firearms. Some restrictions may be necessary, but some recent legislation has gone too far. Society benefits from firearms in the hands of responsible citizens, and taking firearms away from such citizens will do more harm than good.

The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution 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." The Founding Fathers included this in our Bill of Rights because they feared the Federal Government might coerce the population if the people did not have the means to defend themselves as a nation and as individuals. Many years later, we began placing restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms. The first restrictions concerned the manner in which citizens could carry arms. In 1850, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that the foundation did not grant the right to carry a concealed weapon although earlier court cases had ruled that the constitution did protect the right to carry concealed weapons. Shortly before the Civil War, some southern States passed legislation denying slaves and freed blacks the right to possess firearms.

As mentioned previous, crime is not the only issue related to firearm ownership. Hunting is a popular sport and, in some parts of the country, an important resource of food. On the surface, it might appear that hunting is detrimental to wildlife and the environment. The fact is that the opposite is factual. Wildlife biologists have found that well managed and regulated hunting programs are advantageous to wildlife. If the wildlife population becomes too large, food becomes limited and the population starves to death. Wildlife biologists take counts of game animals in a given area and study the habitat to determine the population level it can support.

Firearms are normally used in competitive sports. The Olympic games include competitions with pistols, rifles, and shotguns. Shooting is also part of the biathlon and has been element of the Olympic pentathlon since 1912 ("Pentathlon"). There are also several competitions throughout the country in bull's eye, bench rest, silhouette, practical pistol, trap and skeet, and other shooting sports. Men, women, older children, and even individuals with certain disabilities can enjoy these sports since shooting does not require much agility or physical strength. Even without formal competition, shooting can be enjoyed as a hobby. Recreational shooting may involve paper targets, tin cans, or other suitable targets. This hobby can be appreciate at indoor target range, but is typical practiced outdoors. In fact, shooting can often be combined with other enjoyable outdoor activities, such as hiking, camping, and sight seeing.

Throughout history, violence has overwhelmed the human race. Since ancient times the brawny has preyed on the weak and the meek. We have approved laws to protect society, but the violence continues. Laws attempt to change human deeds, but laws are not able to change human panorama. Laws are not enough to protect people from hostility. We must allow people the means to protect themselves. Protection is a major reason that about half of all Americans own a firearm. Everyone deserves to be safe, but not everyone has the physical ability to defend himself or herself. Firearms are the most effective tools used today for self-defense, but they are only useful if they are accessible.