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Brandon Platt

Professor Julia Ellis

CJ 1010

February 4, 2017

Gun Rights vs. Gun Control

In todays world, there is a lot of commotion going on about the rights and uses of guns

for citizens of the United States of America as well as how we can control the use of these

weapons. This is an ongoing debate that seems to have no end and there are varying opinions on

how guns should be regulated, who has the rights to have guns, what kinds of permits and

regulations exist that protect innocent citizens from being in harms way.

The difference in opinion on this topic is astounding such as polls in New Hampshire

have shown that a large majority of residents support universal background checks on gun

purchases. (Elliott 2016). Contrast that to the thoughts that everyone has the right to be armed

and to protect themselves without any sort of government control or checks. While it is true that

we have freedoms, it is important to take necessary precautions while in the market for guns. A

recent study by Bisakha Sen shows that There are 48 percent fewer gun suicides in states that

require background checks for private handgun sales than in states that do not (2012). This is a

big number and if there are more background checks to show that people can own a gun and

using it for the reasons it was intended to, such as self-defense, then the death rate for gun related

accidental shootings will go down. Its about getting the guns in the hands of the right people at

the right time.

Unfortunately, there are some people who gain control of these guns that have no

business to be. These people include the mentally or physically impaired. The APA (American
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Psychiatric Association) call[s] for the development and testing of better methods to identify

high-risk individuals who should be denied gun access. (Swanson 2015). Although the amount

of gun violence caused by those who are mentally impaired is somewhat small, it is still a

concern for much of America. Even though most of the mentally impaired are the victims more

often than the culprits; however, it takes just a few more chemical imbalances for someone to

become unstable and become violent (Wolf 2015).

As with most political decisions there are those who support and those who oppose. This

is no different than in gun rights and control cases. One specific example is that of Texas

campuses. Throughout the state there have been multiple debates on whether guns should be

allowed on campuses or if they should be banned altogether. This law that set off debates around

the state says that any person over the age of 21 years old could carry a concealed handgun

within the vicinity of public universities in Texas given they have the proper license. Now, there

are many people who disagree and agree with this. The people who most likely agree most have

the correct licenses and know how to handle a gun the correct way and will use it for the proper

use if needed. On the other hand, there are most likely those who do not have a license and are

unsure how to handle a gun safely who would feel much more comfortable knowing that their

friend sitting next to them does not have a gun that he will pull out and start shooting at random.

These are isolated incidents and I know there are those with licenses that would rather not bring

their guns to school and those that are in support of the law even though they dont have a

license. There are so many sides to this topic that we cannot seem to please everyone. The

government in Texas felt it was a safer route to let students 21 years old or over to bring

concealed guns onto campus. I can see the positives and negatives that were debated as the law

was brought about. For example, in the case of an emergency of a dangerous shooter that comes
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on campus, it could be a great way of self-defense. Although it could go the other way as well,

that shooter could just be the guy having a bad day and wants to take it out on everyone in his

path. Like I said previous it is almost impossible to please everyone in regards to how they can

use their guns (Feder 2016).

My opinion on this matter has been influenced by what I have researched for this paper as

well as my life experiences. I feel as though there are many people who do know how to use a

gun effectively and I spent some time in Texas myself. I could see the good hearts of the people

who loved their nation and what it was built upon, the fundamentals of caring for your family

and property. These people instilled in my heart that guns were a good thing, not because they

killed people but because it gave the families a sense of safety, and peace. The families I talked

with while there, owned their guns legally and only used them in the correct ways as well. It is

when the guns get into the wrong hands such as those who cant control their emotions for a

certain amount of time, or those who are coming out of a major life changing event that could

lead to withdrawals from certain things that then can coerce people back into their old ways and

bring happy people to be miserable like unto themselves. Creating regulations for guns is the

way to go. We need to strictly enforce these regulations however and not let people slip by with

different excuses. I feel it is important that from state to state these laws and regulations are

universal so that if there is a state down the road that has less strict gun laws, they can pick up

a deadly weapon there, drive back to their state of residence and start a mass shooting at a public

place.

As we unify ourselves with the laws that the leaders of our nation set for us to follow for

our safety, we will become a safe nation full of defenders who defend the rights and privileges

we have as citizens of this nation, instead of rioters trying to prove a point. It is my honest
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opinion that America is meant to be a nation that can stand to defend itself at time of trial and

need. It is important we each know how to stand up for ourselves and our freedoms if we were

to be attacked again. If that were to be the case, we could fight and defend.
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Works Cited

Elliott, Philip, and Sam Frizell. "The New Politics Of Gun Control." Time 188.10/11 (2016): 48-

51. Academic Search Premier. Web. 12 Feb. 2017.

Feder, Toni. "Texas Law Sets Off Debate About Guns At Universities." Physics Today 69.7

(2016): 26-28. Academic Search Premier. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.

Sen, Bisakha, and Anantachai Panjamapirom. "State Background Checks For Gun Purchase And

Firearm Deaths: An Exploratory Study." Preventive Medicine 55.4 (2012): 346-

350. Academic Search Premier. Web. 12 Feb. 2017.

Swanson, Jeffrey W., and Alan R. Felthous. "Guns, Mental Illness, And The Law: Introduction

To This Issue." Behavioral Sciences & The Law 33.2/3 (2015): 167-177. Academic

Search Premier. Web. 12 Feb. 2017.

WOLF, CAROLYN REINACH, and JAMIE A. ROSEN. "Missing The Mark: Gun Control Is

Not The Cure For What Ails The U.S. Mental Health System." Journal Of Criminal Law

& Criminology 104.4 (2015): 851-878. Academic Search Premier. Web. 12 Feb. 2017.