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  • Essay / The Gun Control Debate in America

    The debate between those for and against gun control is becoming increasingly prominent in the United States. Many gun control activists have issues with gun ownership. The solution is simple. The United States should continue to support the Second Amendment and allow Americans to protect themselves using guns. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayCurrently, United States President Barack Obama is developing a plan to increase restrictions on gun ownership. The current plan includes a background check for each purchase as well as limiting ammunition magazines to a maximum of ten rounds (Gettings, McNiff). He also plans to reinstate the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, more commonly known as the assault weapons ban. This bill banned “the manufacture, possession, and importation of semi-automatic assault weapons” (Getting, McNiff). The problem is that they are not proven to prevent anything. Five years after the assault weapons ban, the infamous Columbine incident occurred. Although three or four regulations have helped rid the United States of gun violence, broad and vague laws have no effect. In 1871, Ambrose Burnside, a former governor of Rhode Island, founded the National Rifle Association. Their goal remains to “promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis” (Getting, McNiff). The NRA has remained largely active in politics, giving up to $13,000 to each senator who supports gun owners' rights. Without this funding, many senators would have remained in their positions as mayors or governors without a voice. Many supporters of strict gun control laws maintain the idea that guns are always dangerous and kill innocent animals and humans. This statement does not need to be argued again and again. Numerous bills have been proposed to take away Americans' right to own their own guns. Gun control activists want the government to require everyone to surrender their guns. It is often forgotten that citizens who surrender their weapons are law-abiding citizens who do not normally engage in violence. The gun owners who will have a hard time surrendering are the same criminals who do not have the mental capacity to break into an elementary school and harm innocent children. This is not just an idea floating around, but an idea that our leaders had. A quote from former President Ronald Reagan includes: "It is a sad truth, but those who seek to inflict harm are not deterred by gun control laws...Guns do not not criminals...We will never disarm any American who seeks to protect his or her family from fear and harm” (Gottfried). A president other than Reagan had the same views. Thomas Jefferson wrote “laws that prohibit the carrying of arms…Disarm only those who do not wish to commit crimes.” Such laws make things worse for the abused and better for the abusers” (Lee). There is absolutely no room for controversy when it comes to protecting others. It is morally and ethically wrong to be unwilling to help others when possible. It has become common to see school shootings on the news or hear about how someone shot a family member or friend. However, the.