Nicole Rahn is author of next 2015-2016 MLHS senior student editorial
Gun Control is Not the Answer!
Did you know that the United States has 88 guns per 100 people – or about 270,000,000 guns – which is the highest total and per capita number in the world, per procon.org?
Another fact is that 52% of American oppose gun control. That is 6% more than the 46% who support such laws.
I strongly believe that we do not need stricter gun laws because criminals would still find a way to get the guns – and the good guys would have none.
In fact, Mexico had some of the strictest gun control laws in the world in the year of 2012. Surprisingly, the country had 11,309 gun murders, compared to the United States that had 9,146 gun homicides. The difference is that Mexico only had one legal gun store, and the United States had about 64,000 legal gun stores and pawn shops. Also, Mexico’s gun store is on a secure military base. Customers have to show a valid ID, go through a metal detector and turn over their cell phones to a guard before even requesting a gun.
Procon.org states that in order to buy a gun in Mexico, customers have to show proof of honest income, provide references, pass a background check, be fingerprinted and photographed. If allowed to get a gun, the customer may buy only one gun, choosing from .38 caliber pistols or lower – and one box of bullets.
Between 2006 and 2010, the one legal gun shop in Mexico sold 6,490 guns, but as of 2012, Mexicans own about 15,000,000 guns, or about 14 guns per 100 people.
If Mexico has strict gun control laws that fail, what makes us think that the United States will be any different?
Furthermore, gun control laws violate the right to use self-defense, and remove a feeling of safety. According to the National Rifle Association (NRA), guns are used 2.5 million times a year for self-defense. Constitutions in 37 states in the United States protect the right to bear arms for self-defense.
Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice-President of the NRA stated, “The only think that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.”
On May 9, 2013, 48% of convicted felons surveyed, admitted that they avoided committing a crime when they knew the victim was armed with a gun. Can you imagine how much this could change with gun control laws?
Lastly, to prevent deaths, education about guns and gun safety is what is needed – not more gun control. Guns do not kill people; people kill people. This is why everyone needs more gun education so that they can protect themselves and learn the right way to use guns. The sooner people start educating themselves and their families, the better.
Heidi Cifelli, former Program Manager of the NRA’s Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program, said “Gun education is the best way to save young lives,” and could not agree more. Also, according to Kyle Wintersteen, Managing Editor of “Guns and Ammo,” studies show that, “Children taught about firearms, and their legitimate uses by family members, have much lower rates of delinquency than children in households without guns,” and, “Children introduced to guns associate them with freedom, security and recreation – not violence.”
To me, education and protection has a huge potential to stop deaths from happening, if only others could see that and not try to take away our safe haven.
Hopefully, reading my viewpoint on this has persuaded you that gun control is not the answer! There are so many more opportunities than limiting those that we already have. We just need to be taught the right way.