Stricter Us Concealed Firearms Laws Essay

Submitted By spencem710
Words: 851
Pages: 4

There are about 5,459,240 firearms manufactured and an additional 2,839,947 firearms imported to the US in 2010 of that total 4,599,962 of them were handguns, according to the US Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Annual Statistical Report for 2012.( http://www.atf.gov/publications/firearms) The United States has the Second Amendment that protects the right of citizens to bear arms and the Brandy Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 (Brady Act) puts requirements on Federal Licensed Dealers. There are disadvantages to carry a concealed weapon. There needs to be new stipulations implemented for the purchase of concealed firearms. Recent events that have occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut and with an increase in gun violence, stricter concealed firearms laws need to be implemented. The Bill of Rights and the Second Amendment to the Constitution and gun laws have been ratified to protect citizens of the United States. The Second Amendment of the US Constitution does not grant the ability to citizens to carry concealed firearms. The current Bill of Rights and the Second Amendment to the constitution states: a well regulated militia, being necessary to that security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. The Brady Act does not state anything about concealed firearms purchases the requirement that a background check has to be preformed unless being purchased by a federal licensed dealer. According to the Brady Act, federally licensed firearms dealers are to perform background checks on prospective firearms purchasers to ensure that the firearms transfer would not violate federal, state or local laws, but this law does not apply to unlicensed firearms seller or private sellers (http://smartgunlaws.org/federal-law-on-background-checks). Even with current laws guns still get into the hands of the wrong people. Being able to carry a concealed firearm has disadvantages and effects on the society. Having the right to carry a concealed firearm is not an effective form of self-defense. According to Charles Branas, PhD, founded that someone that is carries a gun for self-defense is four and a half times more likely to be shot during an assault than an assault victim without a gun. Responsible citizens that carry concealed firearms make it more difficult for the police to determine and distinguish criminals from ordinary citizens and to identify perpetrators during a shooting or crime (2009). Carrying a concealed firearm increases the chance of a confrontation escalating and turning lethal. The chance of a concealed firearms being used inappropriately increases when normally responsible citizens are intoxicated, tired, afraid or untrained in conflict resolution. This is why we need to reform to the gun laws. The United States needs to ratify and implement new stipulations for the purchase of firearms. Citizens should not be able to purchase concealed or long firearms from gun shows or private seller with out the proper background check or proof of the properly issued purchaser’s permits and/or carry permits. Some states do not require any hands-on training or safety course before receiving a firearm or carry permit. Any citizen that is applying for a concealed