Verified Document

Gun Control Is One Of Essay

Some people suggest that weapon regulation, rather than banning weapons is the solution. After all, nothing in the Second Amendment prohibits the regulation of guns. Moreover, some type of weapons regulation is supported by the majority of Americans:

since Gallup and the National Opinion Research Centre began polling Americans on the issue in 1959, consistent and decisive majorities have actually favoured some forms of firearm control. It is true, admittedly, that not since 1959 has a majority supported prohibiting entirely the private possession of handguns (although a plurality favoured this option as late as 1965). However, decisive majorities of Americans have consistently favoured the enactment of stronger gun measures, such as handgun registration, licensing of owners as well as dealers, and waiting periods while background checks are made. The popular/cultural thesis is correct in so far as Americans overwhelmingly do not want to ban firearms in toto; but their support for partial prohibition and significantly stricter controls is nonetheless clear and consistent, even among gun owners and members of the NRA (Singh, 1998).

There is, however, a problem with regulating weapons, which has not been addressed in most information regarding gun control. Weapons regulations typically involve background checks, which investigate a person's history to see if they have been involved in any crimes. Many convictions come with the caveat that the person can no longer own weapons. On the surface, this prohibition seems more than reasonable, since keeping weapons out of the hands of convicted criminals, especially violent criminals, seems like an intelligent idea. However, when one stops to examine the disproportionate number of minorities and lower-socioeconomic status people who are convicted criminals, one could make the argument that these people are being subjected to governmental tyranny and are the very type of people whose rights the Second Amendment was written to protect.

Conclusion

Regardless of how the Supreme Court has previously...

No Supreme Court has been willing to make that assertion, and, thankfully, public pressure has not ever suggested that the Second Amendment be interpreted in such a literal manner. However, society is becoming increasingly more polarized, and the fact that the NRA supports private ownership of assault rifles and similar weapons, indicates that some fraction of society might actually support such a literal interpretation of the Constitution. The solution is not to hope that the Court remains a sufficient mix of moderates, liberals, and conservatives to ever prevent such an interpretation. Instead, the solution is to seek an Amendment to the Constitution, which expressly amends the Second Amendment and mandates certain restrictions on weapons ownership.
References

Gun Control. (2001). Retrieved May 30, 2010 from World of Sociology, Gale. website:

http://www.credoreference.com/entry/worldsocs/gun_control

Gun Control. (2003). Retrieved May 30, 2010 from in Guns in American Society: An

Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture and the Law. website: http://www.credoreference.com/entry/abcguns/gun_control

Hamilton, a. (1787-88). Federalist 28. Retrieved May 30, 2010 from FoundingFathers

website: http://www.foundingfathers.info/federalistpapers/fed28.htm

Hamilton, a. (1787-88). Federalist 29. Retrieved May 30, 2010 from FoundingFathers.

website: http://www.foundingfathers.info/federalistpapers/fedindex.htm>.

Hardy, D. (1982). Historical Bases of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Retrieved May 30,

2010 from Constitution.org

website: http://www.constitution.org/mil/rkba1982.htm

Singh, R. (1998). Gun Control in America. Political Quarterly, 69(3).

U.S. Const. amend. II.

Sources used in this document:
References

Gun Control. (2001). Retrieved May 30, 2010 from World of Sociology, Gale. website:

http://www.credoreference.com/entry/worldsocs/gun_control

Gun Control. (2003). Retrieved May 30, 2010 from in Guns in American Society: An

Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture and the Law. website: http://www.credoreference.com/entry/abcguns/gun_control
website: http://www.foundingfathers.info/federalistpapers/fed28.htm
website: http://www.foundingfathers.info/federalistpapers/fedindex.htm>.
website: http://www.constitution.org/mil/rkba1982.htm
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Gun Control. One Side Rights Benefits Owning
Words: 1039 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

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

Gun Control Is One of
Words: 2289 Length: 5 Document Type: Thesis

4% of that group favored current policies. However, support for the current policies grew in the senior group, with 41.2% of people over age 65 supporting the current gun control policies. Gender Gender was one area where stereotypes proved to be very reliable at predicting a person's attitude towards gun control. The hypothesis was that females would be much greater advocates of gun control than men, and the results reflected that they

Gun Control Vs. 2nd Amendment
Words: 2169 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

Second Amendment Should be Sacrosanct What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms." Or. "A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind." These statements

Gun Control Restricting Rights or Protecting People
Words: 923 Length: 3 Document Type: Article Review

Gun Control: Restricting Rights or Protecting People The article carried on the New York Times dated 28 February 2013 christened 'Guns and Gun Control' highlights a number of issues that relates to the whole issue of guns. The debate surrounding the issue of gun possession and a prohibition of the same is a thorny issue and as such, it has been an elicited debate at different levels of government in the

Gun Control & Push for Gun Control
Words: 1736 Length: 5 Document Type: Thesis

GUN CONTROL & PUSH FOR GUN CONTROL Surname The research paper is on gun control and the push for gun control. To respond to the topic the paper first lays down in the first paragraph basic concepts of the gun control ideals and the pro-gun movement. The introduction explores the basic tenets and motivations of the pro-gun and gun control activists in America. The paper uses the motivation and opposition of both

Gun Control and Crime Prevention Various Internet
Words: 1046 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

Gun Control and Crime Prevention Various Internet sources on the topic, as well as newspaper articles and public debate in general, have proved that the issue of gun control is a controversial one which is far from being resolved. For some critics, gun control is an essential measure to reduce or even prevent criminal activity. According to arguments raised by this camp, gun control laws will prevent criminals from obtaining weapons

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now