The following was originally published March 4, 2010 at http://10amarsh.wordpress.com/2010/03/04/gun-control-practice-2/
Alex Marsh
There are many types of weapons in America. Some are used for sport, some for law enforcement, and others really have no other purpose than to be used to kill other human beings. These handguns are extremely concealable and use very readily available ammunition such as the 9mm. The combination of readily available weapons and the naïve nature of angry young adults is sometimes a deadly one.
I believe that guns are something that can be controlled if enough effort is put into the problem. Because of opposition from such groups as the NRA, gun control is often deemed unconstitutional which in some cases it is, but there is a larger underlying problem. The right to bear arms is definitely a constitutional right but the availability of these firearms are not always kept away from children or minors, the mentally ill or past criminals. A criminal can easily obtain a firearm through illegal purchases or through robberies. If not properly kept, a firearm could be found by a child leading to accidents, usually an accidental shooting. A perfect example of a firearm being found and used by a minor was when a young boy staying with his uncle found the man’s handgun. The boy took the gun to his school where he shot and killed his classmate, a little girl. The uncle faced charges and the boy went through psychiatric help of course but it still did not faze any pro gun lobbyists. Another crime involving minors happened in the same area a few years later that was even more tragic. The infamous Columbine Massacre in Littleton Colorado is one of the most shocking events in American history. The shootings took place on April 20, 1999. Two young men, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, entered their high school with Tec 9s, a semi automatic handgun that was definitely not legally available to minors such as themselves and also had no use as a weapon other than to kill other human beings. In this massacre the two young men killed 13 students and wounded several more. After the massacre the two students took their own lives, adding to the death count making it 15.
I am not saying that tragedies like the columbine massacre and the shooting of the little girl in Littleton could of been stopped by gun control alone. More than just the government needs to enforce gun safety. It is the job of a more mature person to regulate and educate younger people in the dangers of weapons and their deadly potential. Many would argue that it goes without being spoken, that no one in their right mind would go on a killing spree. The problem with that statement is that some people are not in their right mind, some people need guidance on some of the most obvious subjects to the average person. As an American I feel no need to own any kind of fire arm at all. Many feel different and love to express their right to bear arms. I find this extremely foolish, what is the point of owning an AR-15? Or maybe a handgun? The truth is the only legitimate reason to own these weapons is for self defense against other people having weapons right? Well think of this, if these weapons were not available in the first place then there would not be anything to defend against. In conclusion, there is absolutely no reason for gun violence in the United States or anywhere else for that matter. If it wasn’t for the human paranoia there would be no need for guns or violence. Since everyone is out to get everyone else I think it will be a very long time if ever that we will properly control weapons or even eventually no longer need them.
sources: http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/retrieve.do?subjectParam=Locale%2528en%252C%252C%2529%253AFQE%253D%2528su%252CNone%252C13%2529%2522Gun%2Bcontrol%2522%2524&contentSet=GSRC&sort=Relevance&tabID=T010&sgCurrentPosition=0&subjectAction=DISPLAY_SUBJECTS&prodId=OVRC&searchId=R2¤tPosition=6&userGroupName=nysl_ca_scot&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&sgHitCountType=None&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28SU%2CNone%2C13%29%22Gun+control%22%24&inPS=true&searchType=BasicSearchForm&displaySubject=&docId=EJ3010497219&docType=GSRC
Wikipedia.org/columbinemassacre
Alex Marsh
There are many types of weapons in America. Some are used for sport, some for law enforcement, and others really have no other purpose than to be used to kill other human beings. These handguns are extremely concealable and use very readily available ammunition such as the 9mm. The combination of readily available weapons and the naïve nature of angry young adults is sometimes a deadly one.
I believe that guns are something that can be controlled if enough effort is put into the problem. Because of opposition from such groups as the NRA, gun control is often deemed unconstitutional which in some cases it is, but there is a larger underlying problem. The right to bear arms is definitely a constitutional right but the availability of these firearms are not always kept away from children or minors, the mentally ill or past criminals. A criminal can easily obtain a firearm through illegal purchases or through robberies. If not properly kept, a firearm could be found by a child leading to accidents, usually an accidental shooting. A perfect example of a firearm being found and used by a minor was when a young boy staying with his uncle found the man’s handgun. The boy took the gun to his school where he shot and killed his classmate, a little girl. The uncle faced charges and the boy went through psychiatric help of course but it still did not faze any pro gun lobbyists. Another crime involving minors happened in the same area a few years later that was even more tragic. The infamous Columbine Massacre in Littleton Colorado is one of the most shocking events in American history. The shootings took place on April 20, 1999. Two young men, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, entered their high school with Tec 9s, a semi automatic handgun that was definitely not legally available to minors such as themselves and also had no use as a weapon other than to kill other human beings. In this massacre the two young men killed 13 students and wounded several more. After the massacre the two students took their own lives, adding to the death count making it 15.
I am not saying that tragedies like the columbine massacre and the shooting of the little girl in Littleton could of been stopped by gun control alone. More than just the government needs to enforce gun safety. It is the job of a more mature person to regulate and educate younger people in the dangers of weapons and their deadly potential. Many would argue that it goes without being spoken, that no one in their right mind would go on a killing spree. The problem with that statement is that some people are not in their right mind, some people need guidance on some of the most obvious subjects to the average person. As an American I feel no need to own any kind of fire arm at all. Many feel different and love to express their right to bear arms. I find this extremely foolish, what is the point of owning an AR-15? Or maybe a handgun? The truth is the only legitimate reason to own these weapons is for self defense against other people having weapons right? Well think of this, if these weapons were not available in the first place then there would not be anything to defend against. In conclusion, there is absolutely no reason for gun violence in the United States or anywhere else for that matter. If it wasn’t for the human paranoia there would be no need for guns or violence. Since everyone is out to get everyone else I think it will be a very long time if ever that we will properly control weapons or even eventually no longer need them.
sources:
http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/retrieve.do?subjectParam=Locale%2528en%252C%252C%2529%253AFQE%253D%2528su%252CNone%252C13%2529%2522Gun%2Bcontrol%2522%2524&contentSet=GSRC&sort=Relevance&tabID=T010&sgCurrentPosition=0&subjectAction=DISPLAY_SUBJECTS&prodId=OVRC&searchId=R2¤tPosition=6&userGroupName=nysl_ca_scot&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&sgHitCountType=None&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28SU%2CNone%2C13%29%22Gun+control%22%24&inPS=true&searchType=BasicSearchForm&displaySubject=&docId=EJ3010497219&docType=GSRC
Wikipedia.org/columbinemassacre