A634.8.3.RB - Shuck, Allison

Gun Control: What is the Answer?

Many people claim that the best way to preserve peace is to prepare for war, and I think they are right. Without the right to bear arms, the United States would become defenseless much like Great Britain and its surrounding countries. Despite its efforts, Great Britain is often fanatically attacked because of its law which prevents its people from acquiring and/or using guns.

Statistics show that the “countries with the most guns don’t necessarily have the most gun-related homicides (Khazan, 2012). The United States currently has the highest gun ownership rate in the world, averaging 9 out of 10 guns per person (Rogers, 2012); And, despite that fact, gun crime within the US has dropped 39 percent over the course of 18 years, from 18,253 during 1993, to 11,101 in 2011 (Planty & Truman, 2013).

Unlike the United States, gun crime in Great Britain has increased significantly over the years. “The latest Government figures show that the total number of firearm offences in England and Wales has increased from 5,209 in 1998/99 to 9,865 last year (2011) -  a rise of 89 per cent” (Pavlich, 2012). I guess this just goes to show that humans are more inclined to do the opposite of what they are told.

Personally, I think that the less protection you have the more likely you are to be attacked. Speaking from a women’s perspective, without the right to bear arms, I am defenseless against the world. Why, because I am small and weak, which in turn makes me vulnerable and helpless. I am sure that many women, if asked, would feel the same way. Take the recent nanny cam incident where a brute man beat up a helpless New Jersey mother in front of her 3-year-old-daughter.  If only that women had a gun for protection. Luckily the whole incident was caught on tape; otherwise, the man would still be wondering the streets potentially assaulting /attacking other women.

Due to the fact that crime is sometimes unpredictable, I believe that everyone should have the gun for protection, unless he/she has prior convictions. 

References

Badia, E. & Siemaszko, C. (2013). Suspect arraigned in home invasion, beating of mom caught on nanny cam. Retrieved from http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/suspect-arraigned-home-invasion-beating-article-1.1388065#commentpostform

Khazan, O. (2012). Here’s how the U.S. gun violence compares with the rest of the world. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2012/12/14/schoo-shooting-how-do-u-s-gun-homicides-compare-with-the-rest-of-the-world/

Pavlich, K, (2012). Gun crime soars in England where guns are banned. Retrieved from http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2012/12/11/gun-crime-soars-in-england-where-guns-are-banned-n1464528

Planty, M. & Truman, J. (2013). Firearm violence, 1993-2011. U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/press/fv9311pr.cfm

Rogers, S. (2012). Gun homicides and gun ownership listed by country. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/jul/22/gun-homicides-ownership-world-list