Gun Control. One Side Rights Benefits Owning

¶ … gun control. One side rights benefits owning a firearm. The side anti-gun ownership guns illegal. The final part paper position pro-gun ownership! Please make essay original.

There is much controversy regarding fire-arms, their use, and whether or not people should have access to guns. The "guns don't kill people, people kill people" expression is likely to spring to mind when considering issues related to guns. Surely, one might be inclined to say that in spite of the fact that guns are not directly responsible for the fact that people are dying, they provide humanity with a means to killing individuals. Some people are unable to effectively control an excessive amount of power and it thus seems wrong to provide them with access to fire-arms. Even with that, if the authorities focus on establishing harsher laws concerning gun ownership, individuals who are predisposed to committing crimes will no longer be able to carry a gun.

While many people consider gun ownership to be a simple privilege, it is actually a right. The Individual Rights position promotes the belief that, according to the Second Amendment, people should have access to gun ownership because they are entitled to have means of protection from governmental tyranny. The Second Amendment claims that it is the "right of the people to keep and bear arms." The self-ownership legislation makes it possible for people to do whatever they want with their bodies and with their properties as long as they violate the rights of other individuals. Even though it might seem to address different topics, gun ownership is not very different from "freedom of speech, religion and freedom of the press" (SAF Gun Rights Frequently Asked Questions).

Gun ownership does not just relate to the opinion that some people have in regard to arms, as it is actually meant to guarantee that people in the U.S. will always have the possibility to take up arms against bodies that act against principles put across by constitutional rights. Guns are not necessarily a tool that people use for the sake of sport, as they provide American citizens with the opportunity to rise against anyone who threatens their well-being and the well-being of justice as a whole. However, firearms should only be available to law-abiding individuals who are perfectly able to tell the difference between right and wrong and who are likely to act in accordance with gun ownership legislations when they need to do so.

One of the negative aspects of gun ownership is the fact that a wide range of individuals have access to firearms. Many of these people own guns because they are interested in imposing their point-of-view or because they want to commit crimes. Gun control laws are meant to minimize crime levels and prevent people from dying as a result of the fact that criminals have experience little to no problems coming in possession of a firearm. Although it is difficult to demonstrate, it is very probable that guns create an environment where crimes are easier to occur and where the masses are more vulnerable. A high level of gun ownership is associated with a high level of crimes committed with guns, thus meaning that firearms are likely to influence people's attitudes in regard to committing crimes.

People supporting gun ownership motivate their position through claiming that guns efficiently keep criminals away from people owning them. However, according to Philip J. Cook, "widespread gun ownership could also lead to increased risks of various sorts, including the possibility that guns will be misused by the owners or transferred to dangerous people through theft or unregulated sale" (2004, 4). In order to be able to support gun ownership, individuals first need to fully understand the risks associated with such a law and the impact that firearms have on the public in general. Indirect connections also need to be addressed, as gun ownership can lead to a higher crime level because individuals predisposed to committing crime find it easier to procure firearms in an environment where they are widespread. Also, considering that "more than 500,000 are stolen each year nationwide" (Cook, 2004, 7), it is only safe to assume that many gun owners are indirectly responsible for the fact that criminals have access to firearms.

One of the first things that people need to take into account when entering a debate discussing whether or not gun ownership has a positive effect on society is the fact that guns are essentially bought by "good guys" with the purpose of defending themselves from "bad guys." The media world is mainly responsible for presenting people with an incorrect image of society. Media channels promote the belief that guns are one of the main reasons for which crime levels in the country are high and that it is essential for people to do everything in their power in order to have the authorities change their opinions regarding gun ownership. However, the masses need to employ critical thinking in dealing with this divisive matter. One cannot simply express his or her opinion and hope that others will listen to him or her as long as he or she does not bring arguments to support his or her perspective.