Gun Control and Right to Keep and Bear Arms
Introduction
Aristotle, Cicero, and other philosophers examined owning arms by people. Thomas Jefferson declared that people should have a gun to protect themselves. Today, all US citizens have the right to bear and keep arms. Citizens who want to protect themselves from dangerous situations especially value the identified right. The right to keep and bear arms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment, while there are those who consider it useful and those who declare that it is dangerous to society.
Main body
The right to bear and keep arms was adopted in the US in 1791. Anti-federalists and supporters of the Constitution made a compromise. Those who were against allowing people to bear and keep arms strived to make sure that the state has more power over people. On the other hand, people who argued for the need of the specified right stated that it is necessary for self-defense. Today, the above-mentioned viewpoints are the two main arguments of both sides.
The US Court recognizes that the right to keep and bear arms existed before the Constitution. The right started with the combat against British control, the event known as the American Revolution. Nowadays, there are several prominent cases that are decided based on this fundamental right. Jones and Stone assert that “the Federal Government estimates there are 310,000,000 individually owned guns in the United States owned” (168). Access to weapons may be violated by gun control policies that are currently discussed at different levels.
There are two opposing sides the viewpoints of which target either the limitation or preservation. The proponents of the right to keep and bear arms state that it is critical to support citizens’ rights. Kalesan et al. state that “gun ownership is today sustained in public consciousness much more through calls to constitutionally enshrined social values” (219). The opponents claim that the restriction of the right may increase safety. The issue remains controversial despite strong arguments from both sides.
Conclusion
Many Americans are too accustomed to perceiving gun-owning natural. Regulation-tightening laws may be perceived as the limitation of inherent rights. More people may be against bearing and keeping arms because of public massacres. The mass shooting in Florida is a vivid example of this. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) manages keeping firearms by registered owners.
Works Cited
Jones, Michael A., and George W. Stone. “The US Gun-Control Paradox: Gun Buyer Response to Congressional Gun-Control Initiatives.” Journal of Business & Economics Research (Online), vol. 13, no. 4, 2015, pp. 167-174. Web.
Kalesan, Bindu, et al. “Gun Ownership and Social Gun Culture.” Injury Prevention, vol. 22, no. 3, 2016, pp. 216-220. Web.