The Gun Control Debate By: Jocelyn Wilkins
Citizens and politicians debate whether guns should be outlawed altogether or have laws that restrict the use of guns. Many argue that civilians should be heavily checked when purchasing a gun if it's not required in their profession. As the political race heightens for presidency ,the debate about gun control plays a significant yet controversial role.
CNN reporter Dana Bash reports on how democratic leaders are hopeful that a deal on background checks that can win enough Republican support will emerge from the bipartisan negotiations. The Democratic-led Senate hasn't voted on any gun legislation in three years, since defeating a GOP measure that would have required states to recognize each other's gun laws because many still point to the National Rifle Association.
About half (48%) of gun owners said the main reason they owned a gun was for protection, and majority of the gun owners are hunters, the other bigger portion just collects guns and an even smaller portion just doesn't know why they purchased the gun. Many things happen when there's a gun in the wrong hands.
On December 14, 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School, there were twenty children and six adults killed by a 20 year old gunman. No one knows his motive but his mother did work at the school. “The shooter had a Bushmaster Model XM15-E2S rifle during the shooting spree. Three weapons were found next to his body; the semiautomatic .223-caliber rifle made by Bushmaster, and two handguns. An Izhmash Saiga-12, 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun was found in his car.” Many argue that the gun background checks should be significantly stricter because how can someone just purchase these kind of weapons with no problem at all?
When ABC News interviewed the parents the main question that was asked was, “How would you want your child to be remembered? And what are you going to do to keep them in memory?” Majority of the parents told ABC News that they would want everyone to know that their child was indeed a very special, caring child and to keep their memory alive most parents have created websites, bracelets, shirts and much more.
In America there are approximately 270 million firearms possessed by civilians and 897,000 carried by police and close to 33,000 Americans were victims of gun-related deaths in 2011. An average of 268 of citizens are shot everyday. Preventioninstitute.org tells us some way that we can prevent the use of guns by civilians in an innaproprieate manner, ¨As the nation on earth with most guns, we must make sure people are protected. As a starting point, let's insist on mandatory training and licensing along with safe and secure gun storage. This training should not be a one time affair. Gun owners should be required to regularly refresh their training and renew their permits. with requirements at least as stringent as those governing renewal of your own driver's license.¨
President Obama recently signed an executive order for a stricter background checks system. President Obama says in his speech "I believe in the Second Amendment, there written on paper, that guarantees the right to bear arms," Obama said. "No matter how many times people try to twist my words around, I taught constitutional law. I know a little bit about this.
I know a little bit about this. But I also believe that we can find ways to reduce gun violence consistent with the Second Amendment." -CNN