A634.8.3.RB - Gun Control: What is the Answer?

The right to bear arms, and the subsequent discussion of gun control are at the forefront of debate now more than ever. With all of the tragedies that have been in the forefront of the news there is no better time then now to discuss the right to bear arms. In my own view, I support the right to bear arms, and my initial argument opposing someone that does not support gun control is that if someone is going to disobey the law by harming another individual then it unlikely that the same individual would decide to follow a gun control law. I think abolishing the right to bear arms would essentially prevent law abiding citizens from being able to purchase guns, to potentially protect themselves from individuals who would break the law to obtain a gun and then cause harm with the gun.

Ultimately, I feel that there are different, and more effective ways to try to prevent these tragedies from happening. For example, the fact that many of these tragedies are followed by media recognition of the crime committer, often more prevalently then the coverage of the victims is something that if abolished could help discourage some instances of crime (Spitzer, 2015). For example, if there is not an incentive of fame when committing such a crime maybe that could help prevent the crime from happening (Spitzer, 2015).

 With all of that said, I do believe that we could certainly use better gun control laws, but I do respect the right to bear arms as a general and constitutional right in the United States.

Reference

Spitzer, R. J. (2015). Politics of gun control. Routledge.