Roshae Singh
Mrs.Jacobs
English 3 Honors
15 April 2013
Gun Control Throughout history, the weapons industry has been creating firearms for the general public to protect themselves from danger. With much concern, laws have been placed upon the possession of firearms and placing further restrictions on where it may be discharged. All fifty states in the United States of America have different laws according to the severity of restrictions condoned by citizens, and placed by the legislators. We have passed laws to protect society, but the violence continues. Laws attempt to change human behavior, but laws are not able to change human nature. Laws are not enough to protect people from aggression. We must allow people the means to protect themselves. Protection is a major reason that about half of all Americans own a firearm. Gun control is a safety issue, an educational issue, a racial issue, and a political issue, among others. Within each of these issues there are those who want more gun control legislation and those who want less. Guns are not for everyone. Certain individuals cannot handle a firearm safely, and some individuals choose to use firearms inappropriately. Our society has passed laws regulating the ownership and use of firearms, and more legislation is being considered. Most of this legislation restricts, to some degree, the rights of individuals to possess or use firearms. Some restrictions may be necessary, but some recent legislation has gone too far. Society benefits from firearms in the hands of responsible citizens. Attempts to keep firearms away from these citizens do more harm than good. Years later we began placing restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms. The first restrictions concerned the manner in which citizens could carry arms. In 1850, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that the constitution did not grant the right to carry a concealed weapon; although earlier court cases had ruled that the constitution did protect the right to carry concealed weapons. Shortly before the Civil War, some southern States passed legislation denying slaves and freed blacks the right to possess firearms. The basis of this legislation was the Dred Scott Decision. They reasoned that since blacks were not considered citizens they did not have the rights of citizens, including the right to keep and bear arms. The gun control legislation of this era resulted from prejudice against an entire race of people. These laws were in effect until after the Civil War when the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution were ratified. The legislation referred to here must be considered harmful to society. Crime is not the only issue related to firearms ownership. Hunting is a popular sport and, in some parts of the country, an important source of food. On the surface, it might appear that hunting is harmful to wildlife and the environment. The fact is that the opposite is true. Wildlife biologists have found that well managed and regulated hunting programs are beneficial to wildlife. If the wildlife population becomes too large, food becomes scarce and the population starves to death. Current-day shooting attacks are totally out of control and can impact any place that has a gathering of people, not just our schools filled with our precious kids. Local law enforcement agencies, with severe budget constraints trying to do more with less are just not able to take control. This protection requirement should be administered at the federal level, specifically the Secret Service who has the expertise of running a program of this magnitude Gun control has been a controversial issue for years. Currently there is a great deal of gun control legislation facing the senate and the house which should be passed because gun control, reduce the amount of crimes taken places, will reduce harm to the wildlife, and help protect school. Crime is not only