Do you want to know what are the most oft stated arguments against gun control? In this article, we explain to you why so many people resist the regulation of firearms as proposed.
“And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms.”
Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers and probably one of the most important political figures of the modern world was very vocal about his support for arming oneself. But that was more than two centuries ago, when gun politics did not exist and there wasn’t such a divided opinion about owning guns. The gun control debate pertains to the issue of gun safety in reference to the restriction of the use of firearms. It deals with the rules and regulations that determine the use, distribution and ownership of firearms. The American Constitution allows its citizens the right to bear arms which is why the gun control debate is huge in the country. There are certain gun control laws in place like the National Firearms Act of 1934 and the Gun Control Act of 1968 which regulate gun ownership. Many opponents of gun control often state the time that has elapsed since these acts were passed as a reason to look at them again. Statements made against gun control that are commonly put forward are given in this article.
Reasons Against Gun Control
According to facts about gun control, almost 39 percent of the population of America has in recent years, voted to ban guns and other firearms in the United States. The reason – the perceived view that it is the lack of gun control that has resulted in the number of firearms related deaths in the country. In fact this is one of the most stated arguments for gun control. But the fact of the matter is that if gun control is put into place there are more chances that law abiding citizens will be victims. Gun control laws to a large extent can have no effect on criminals as there will always be a thriving black market for trade of guns and firearms.
There are many myths abounding, thanks to media stories. This includes stories like thousands of children die every year due to gun accidents and that gun shows are one of the primary sources for the illegal flow of firearms into the hands of criminals. The fact of the matter is that these are all just myths. The theory that stricter gun control could have prevented the Columbine High School can be refuted on the basis that the two students who went on a rampage violated at least 20 gun control laws thus finding loopholes in the regulations. These are oft quoted examples when arguments are being made against gun control. One of the strongest arguments in favor of people who want to carry firearms is that nine of the states that have the lowest violent crime rate in the country are those that allow its people the right to carry guns.
Mahatma Gandhi, the famous political activist from India, once said, “Among the many misdeeds of British rule in India, history will look upon the Act depriving a whole nation of arms as the blackest.” This quote reflects another argument that is often put forward against gun control. Many supporters of the right to bear arms say that this prevents the tyranny that the rulers of a country can exhibit against its citizens. For instance during the Nazi rule, gun control was implemented, banning Jews, gypsies, and other ‘undesirables’ from owning firearms. This prevented them from fighting back thus leading to the genocide that followed.
Another strong argument is that in case this is put into place it will be difficult for many crime victims to defend themselves against an assailant who in all probability will be armed with a gun. While it is important to ensure that gun safety is maintained, it is not fair that due to gun control an innocent victim is unable to protect himself. This in fact is a way of promoting crime as in no way does gun control help in deterring criminals.
Pretty much like the war on drugs, arguments against and for gun control result in questions about the intent or bearing (or not bearing) arms. There are many pros and cons of gun control but the right to carry arms is granted by the Second Amendment. The question is whether it is alright and in everyone’s interest to infringe on these rights to prevent acts of violence committed which will anyway go on, thanks to the black market in firearms. After all George L. Roman did say that, “I am convinced that we can do to guns what we’ve done to drugs: create a multi-billion dollar underground market over which we have absolutely no control.”
