Do Strict Gun Control Laws Reduce the Number of Homicides in the U.S.? (Essay Sample)

Do Strict Gun Control Laws Reduce The Number Of Homicides In The U.S.?
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Do Strict Gun Control Laws Reduce The Number Of Homicides In The U.S.?
When it comes to the issue of gun violence and its correlation with gun control laws across different States in the U.S., many people would agree that more stringent gun laws correlate with less cases of gun violence. However, over the last few years, there has been a heated debate between those who believe in no gun-regulation and those who advocate for stricter gun laws (Gold, 2004). Gun control advocates want the government to clamp down on all gun manufacturers and sellers. In other words, the gun-control community endeavors to reduce the availability of guns to citizens an approach usually termed as supply-reduction strategy. On the other hand, gun advocates claim that each citizen is allowed to bear arms by the Second Amendment (Wilson, 2007). In this discussion, I intend support the argument that strict gun-control laws can reduce the number of homicides in the United States.
To start with, it is evident that guns endanger the lives of both the owners and those around them. For instance, unlike police officers, most gun-holders do not effectively train on how to use guns because of their strict schedules, and as a result, a gun holder can easily shoot innocent citizens in the event of responding to an assault or theft. Furthermore, the government endeavors to protect citizens through a myriad of ways. For example, FDA (Food and Drug Administration) usually tests drugs and inspects foods to ensure every American citizen is safe. The Environmental Protection Agency has always been in the forefront in enforcing pollution laws in order to keep Americans safe and healthy. Thus, it will be illogical to allow private citizens to own guns, when it is clear that guns endanger citizen’s lives.
It is also imperative to note that guns can easily get into hands of children. Indeed, keeping a gun out of sight under one’s bed or in a closest may not be an effective way of keeping guns away from children. For instance, a seventh grade 12-year-old boy shot and killed a math teacher Mike Landsberry, and wounded two students before shooting himself to death using a pistol at his Nevada school (Yan, Pearson & Shoichet, 2013). In another similar disheartening incident, a five-year-old boy shot and killed his 9-month-old brother using a gun he found lying under a bed. The boy stumbled on the gun while playing in the house, and he thought it was toy gun he could use to tease his little brother (Yan, 2015). Such devastating and heart-breaking incidences can only be regulated by ensuring strict gun-control laws are in place.
Proponents of no gun-regulation usually support they stand by citing the Second Amendment and by arguing that guns do not kill unless they are misused. They also assert that if more citizens possess guns, there would be less violent crimes across the nation (Wilson, 2007). However, such claims are not strong enough to justify that it is logical for private citizens to carry guns for their own protection. There are enough police officers and other different security agencies across the nation all working day and night to ensure safety of every citizen. Thus, it is unnecessary to have private citizens owning guns. Moreover, according to a study conducted by Boston Children’s Hospital, States with tougher gun-regulation laws experience less gun-related deaths (Alcindor, 2013).
In conclusion, guns create unsafe environment and their positive values are not strong enough to out-weigh the negative values they have. Guns endanger and even take lives, and as ...