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Proliferation of Gun Control Laws

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The Proliferation of Gun Control Laws

“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 second amendment to the United States Constitution is one that couldn’t be clearer. Despite the fact of the obvious language of the 2nd amendment the right for American citizens to bear arms is being taken away one “gun control” law at a time. Our forefathers built this country by the use of weapons to break free from the British power. Owning and using weapons is embedded into our culture and something that shouldn’t be taken away. Letting citizens having the power to bear arms is what makes this country great compared to countries that don’t let their citizens bear arms like that of China. The proliferation of gun control laws is unconstitutional, hurting our culture and hindering citizens self defense. The roots of gun control run deep. The first law trying to ban handguns was passed in 1837 but was then ruled unconstitutional. In 1865 the “black codes” were adopted, these laws kept African Americans from owning guns or any sort of “weapon”. The purpose of these laws was to install fear in African Americans and keep them from having any power. In 1871 the National Rifle Association (NRA) was created. This organizations original purpose was to increase citizen’s marksmanship in preparation for war. Now it has blossomed into a wide spreading organization that fights for gun rights and also provides firearm safety and training. The National Firearms Act of 1934 was passed and was one of the first major gun control laws this act regulated on class 3 weapons such as fully automatic weapons. This started a high tax on firearm transactions and firearm registration. There has been a proliferation of gun control laws the past few decades and now there are around 20,000 different laws regulating on American citizens right to bear arms! How many more laws will suffice? These laws keep growing there is currently a bill in the Washington state senate to start a ban on “assault rifles”. These new bills keep suppressing the rights of American citizens.
America is a gun owning nation. It is deeply embedded into our culture. Throughout the United States there are thousands of gun clubs that keeps this culture alive. Gun ownership is passed through families and is a bond that keeps some families together. The proliferation of gun control laws is slowly deteriorating this culture. Only 40 states grant citizens the right to have a concealed weapon permits. These permits grant citizens that ability to carry firearms on their person. To get a concealed weapons permit you are put through a background check and a firearms safety test. Citizens that have acquired a concealed weapons permit are law abiding citizens. Why not let these citizens carry guns, they are a helpful instrument in crime prevention. Many firearm laws put restrictions on what type of guns can be bought and sold. In 1994 President Clinton signed in a bill that put a ban on civilian ownership of assault weapons, it was called the Clinton gun ban. This bill restricted the sale of 19 types of assault weapons. Only eight people between 1997 and 1998 were prosecuted for violating the assault weapons ban. Showing how unnecessary it was. But in 2004 this bill expired and has yet to be reenacted. Because of this many state governments are passing laws that outlaw assault rifles in their own state such as California has. These bills go beyond what is reasonable and work to ban as many weapons as possible; causing many law abiding citizens to become possible felons. These bills also put a stop to family tradition by halting the buying of new firearms. If there has been an assault rifle passed down in a family it can no longer be passed down it has to be dismantled or turned into local law enforcement. This also hinders the ability to train using these firearms. Continuing the addition of more gun control laws will make this culture extinct. Ever since the conception of weapons people have been using them to protect themselves and their loved ones. The ability to do that is now being hindered. States outlawing the ability to attain a concealed weapons permit seriously hinders the efforts of law abiding citizens to protect themselves from criminals. Right-to-carry laws protect citizens and decrease homicide rates as seen in Florida. In 1987 Florida started granting it citizens the right to concealed weapons. Between 1987 and 1996 the homicide rate went down 36 percent. There are countless stories of failed robbery attempts because a citizen had a concealed weapon and is able to protect themselves. On January 4th 2009 a 70-year-old woman held a home intruder at gun point until police arrived. What would have happened if that woman didn’t have a pistol to protect herself with? There are also countless stories of people getting killed because they weren’t able to protect themselves because it was the criminal who had the gun. Laws requiring citizens to have trigger locks on all of their weapons hinders them from being able to efficiently defend themselves because their firearms aren’t at the ready. Gun control laws are putting law abiding citizens life’s at risk. The proliferation of gun control laws also has affected the citizens of the United States 2nd amendment rights. Our country is built upon the constitution. If we start disregarding what started this country, what will we become? Slowly taking away citizens rights to bear arms is completely unconstitutional. There aren’t laws regulating on freedom of speech or religion so why guns. If citizens weren’t able to have guns the only people with them would be criminals and police. Criminals could go about their lawbreaking activities without fear of being shot at by a law abiding citizen. This would install fear in all American citizens, and eventually lead to the downfall of our country.
The reason behind most of the current gun control laws is fear. Whenever a school shooting or terrorist attack happens citizens become scared and want something to change. The blame for the crime usually ends up on the gun. Then laws are passed to further suppress our second amendment rights. People who are pro gun control will state the number of deaths that are gun related. They will say that guns need to be regulated even more so guns won’t get into the hands of criminals. But that is something that is impossible to do; a criminal is going to obtain a gun no matter what the laws are. Just like a crack-addict will find its crack even if it is illegal. The facts show that guns deter crimes. Law abiding citizens use firearms to defend themselves from criminals at least 764,000 times a year. Switzerland has more weapons per capita than the US, and it has a very low gun crime rate. This rate isn’t due to heavy regulation, but is due to firearm training, and criminals being scared of ordinary citizens. Stronger gun control laws will only lead to citizens not being able to protect themselves.
Pro gun-control supporters will talk about innocent children playing with their dads gun and accidently shooting themselves. Or friends out on hunting trips that catch a stray built because they decided to go hunting with Dick Cheney. These accidents aren’t going to be stopped by more regulation. It will take firearm education. Many Americans drive cars and many die every day because some idiot wasn’t driving responsibly. Does this mean that driving cars should be outlawed? Of course not it means people need to acquire better education. A kid accidentally shooting themselves because they found a loading gun in arms reach is very sad. That ultimately is the gun owners responsibility to make sure your weapons are secure at all times. More laws aren’t going to fix this. Firearm education can.
The proliferation of gun control laws is hurting America. Having some 20,000 laws regulating mostly law abiding citizen’s ability to purchase and use firearms is unnecessary and very confusing; sometimes leading a citizen to break the law. The deterioration of American citizen’s constitutional rights is destroying our country. Many Americans own and use firearms; these citizens are now suffering the consequences because of crimes that were committed. To continue placing more restriction on firearm usage is to give away what our ancestors fought for. The proliferation of gun control laws is taking away citizens rights, ability to protect themselves, and destroying the firearm culture.

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