Edward Hinch MWF 11-1150 11/8/13

Firearms: Life Takers, and Life Savers Fire arms have been used for centuries as primitive tools for survival, self-defense, and recreation. Do guns have an effect on people in their everyday lives? The stories in the media tell people about mass shootings and are heard all too often, like the shooting that took place in Aurora, Colorado. This shooting left twelve people dead and 58 dead. Although shootings like this happen often, would adding more laws to restrict or forbid gun ownership? Most importantly, what does the Second Amendment allow the people to do with fire arms and can the right of the people be restricted? The meaning of the Second Amendment has been questioned and challenged many times. A law that was enacted in 1976 in Washington, D.C. prohibited residents from owning handguns. But in 2008 Dick Anthony Heller challenged the law and the court ruled in favor for Heller. The court understood that the Second Amendment did the give the right for anyone to have any fire arm that they wanted, anywhere that they wanted, but they did rule that the residents could have a handgun as long as it stayed inside the owners home (Vernick). This allows the owners to use the weapons as a means for self-defense, which is a right every person should have while inside their homes. Another case happened in 2010, McDonald v. City of Chicago, which would address how the Second Amendment would apply to state and local government, because the previous case was in the federal enclave of Washington, D.C. Again the court decided that handguns could be allowed in the homes of the owners, invalidating the ban of handguns that was previously in

Edward Hinch MWF 11-1150 11/8/13

Chicago (Vernick). This ruling gave the right for every American citizen to own a handgun inside their own home. Yet again some major issues were not brought up in this court case, does the Second Amendment apply to possession outside of a persons home, and what legal standards should justify the constitutionality of the laws? As far as legal standards go, certain criminals can have the right to own a firearm taken from them, depending on what state and what crime that someone has committed. Some states also make people take safety classes before receiving their permits, which shows that they are willing to wait and put time into learning about the tool that they will soon purchase. Even more convincing, in about ten states people must provide an example for a need to carry a weapon in public, such as receiving threats or carrying large amounts of money (Vernick). Guns do save lives, although most people never hear about this, and should not be outlawed. Walter Kirn wrote about an instance in which his firearm might have saved his life, as well as his children. Walter had drove home from an errand he ran with his children and while getting out for his truck an intoxicated man approached Walters car screaming that he was going to kill him. Walter had quickly pulled a handgun from his glove box and aimed it at the man coming for him and his children. Once the assailant caught sight of the weapon he quickly ran off never to be seen again (Kirn). So what might have happened had the ownership of all guns been prohibited? Walter Kirn might not have even written about his attacker, and might not even be alive. Scenarios like this happen all the time, but the truth is that most go unreported. In fact, reports have shown

Edward Hinch MWF 11-1150 11/8/13

that when carrying permits are easier to get a hold of the crime rates actually drop and personal safety rises. This shows that just because there are more guns, or that they are easier to access that the guns are not the cause of the crimes (Kirn). Politically speaking most Democrats want to make firearm laws more strict, and on the other side of the spectrum Republicans mostly do not favor in making the laws more strict for firearm ownership. Approximately 40% of the Democrats favor to ban handgun possession, and a mere 16% of Republicans favor a ban on handgun possession (gallup). With almost opposite beliefs about firearms and handguns, new laws that restrict firearms have a very difficult time getting passed because the Republicans own a majority of the seats in Congress. New laws should not be expected until a shift in power in the house happens. Guns have become a tool that people use in their everyday lives. No matter what laws are put into place, citizens of the United States have the right to own a firearm in their homes for a means of protection. Although mass shootings occur guns should not be given the image of weapons used to only kill and more people should realize the good that guns do in protecting everyday citizens like Walter Kirn.