RUNNING HEAD: COMMUNITY PROBLEM REPORT

Enrique Cinco

University of Texas at El Paso

Community Problem Report

RWS 1301

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Introduction
Gun control normally refers to laws or policies that regulate the manufacture, sale,
transfer, possession, modification, or use of firearms. These regulations vary widely all
around the world. Some countries such as the United Kingdom; have remarkably strict
limits on gun possession as others like, the United States have relatively few restrictions
which vary differently from state to state. For example, California is the state known for
the strictest gun laws in the United States. In the state of California all firearms sales,
transfers, including private transactions and sales at gun shows MUST go through a
California licensed firearms dealer. Which makes it really difficult for any criminals to
get their hands on guns. On the other hand, Utah is one of the most lenient states when it
comes down to gun laws. Utah allows open carry of unloaded firearms without the need
of a concealed firearm permit. Also Utah does not require a permit to carry a concealed
firearm. This paper will go into detail on whether or not gun control is against our second
amendment rights and if it will actually lower crime rates in the United States or just
victimize its citizens.

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Our Second Amendment

The Second Amendment was adopted into the United States Constitution on December
15, 1791. The second amendment to the Bill of Rights reads, A well-regulated Militia, being
necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not
be infringed. Now what exactly does
that mean? Since its ratification,
Americans have been disputing over
the amendments meaning and
interpretation. One side portrays the
amendment to mean that it provides for
collective rights, while the opposing
view is that it provides individual
rights. Those who take the collective
side think the amendment gives each
state the right to maintain and train a form of militia units that can provide protection against an
oppressive federal government. Those with the opposite viewpoint believe the amendment gives
every citizen the right to own guns, to protect themselves in the face of danger, free of federal
regulations. The individualists believe the amendment's militia clause was never meant to restrict
each citizen's rights to bear arms.
Michael Waldman, president of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University
wrote a book called, The Second Amendment: A Biography in which he digs into to this
discrepancy. Michael Waldman states in his book, "You can squint and look really hard, but

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there's simply no evidence of it being about individual gun ownership for self-protection." this
meaning that the second amendment does not support individual gun ownership for selfprotection or for hunting. Don't you wish we can just jump into a time machine back to
December, 1971 and ask James Madison himself what exactly he meant when he wrote this
confusing, yet very important amendment to the Bill of Rights?

Does Gun Control Lower Crime Rates in the United States?

Will gun control laws really lower crime rates in the United States? I dont know, and
there is really, just one way to find out. But lets take a moment look at the facts. Gun Owners of
America (GOA) conducted a study in which it resulted that, many nations with stricter gun
control laws have violence rates that are equal to, or greater than those of the United States.

High Gun

Low Gun

Ownership Countries

Ownership Countries

Country

Suicide

Homicide

Total*

Switzerland

21.4

2.7

24.1

U.S.

11.6

7.4

Israel

6.5

1.4

Country

Suicide

Homicide

Total*

Denmark

22.3

4.9

27.2

19.0

France

20.8

1.1

21.9

7.9

Japan**

16.7

0.6

17.3

* The figures listed in the table are the rates per 100,000 people.

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Does Gun Control put U.S Citizens in Danger?

The United States has experienced far fewer murders than Europe over the past 70 years.
GOA stated that over the past 70 years, Europe has averaged about, 400,000 murders per year,
which also includes murders committed by their government. Mostly against unarmed citizens.
And why hasnt the United States experienced this sort of government domination? The main
reason is because of our founding fathers. They indicated that an armed country was the best way
to prevent official brutality.

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John Lott, a writer for USNEWS.com states that it is normal to try and regulate weapons
once something horrible happens such as a mass shooting. However he also states that by doing
so it leaves all law abiding
citizens as sitting ducks.
Lott expresses the fact the
every public shooting since
1950 in the United States in
which more than three
people have been killed has
taken in a place where
citizens are not allowed to
carry guns. A Gun Free Zone such as Schools, Shopping Malls etc. Lott then goes into detail
and speaks on the Aurora, Colorado Movie theatre shooting at the Batman premiere. There were
seven other movie theatres in the area within 20 minutes of each other. Only one of those theatres
didnt allow weapons. That one was the theatre that was attacked by James Holes, the crazed
man who shot and killed 12 innocent and unarmed people. In fact later in the investigation police
confirmed that Holmes researched which movie theatres didnt allow concealed carry. Do you
think the outcome would have been different if this theatre allowed concealed carry?

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References
Lott, J. (2012, December 19). Gun Restrictions Leave People Vulnerable and Helpless. Retrieved
March 30, 2015, from http://www.usnews.com/debate-club/did-the-sandy-hook-shootingprove-the-need-for-more-gun-control/gun-restrictions-leave-people-vulnerable-andhelpless#
Just For Skeptics. (2008, September 29). Retrieved April 9, 2015, from
http://www.gunowners.org/sk0703.htm
Waldman, M. (2014). The Second Amendment: A biography.
Alters, S. (2007). Gun control: Restricting rights or protecting people? (2007 ed.). Detroit,
Mich.: Thomson Gale.