The Gun Debate

Gun safety is a topic that has been talked about in the news off and on for several years now. With more and more mass shootings being reported it is easy to see why it is the center piece for many political debates. One measure taken by the Trump administration has been to ban bump stocks, a device that allows semi-automatic rifles to fire as fast as automatic rifles. However several interest groups still argue for tighter gun laws. 

The Democratically-controlled House of Representatives has made two larger strides to meet these cries for control. These include higher regulation of the background check process for potential gun owners and the Violence Against Women Act, which strives to prevent domestic abusers from owning guns. Advocates for gun ownership, such as the National Rifle Association, argue that limiting the possibility for legal ownership only endangers the individuals that interest groups are trying to protect. 

While it is often argued that limiting the access to firearms will eliminate these mass shootings all together, the NRA states that limiting access only denies an individual the potential to actively protect themselves and others from life threatening situations. While the Second Amendment clearly states that, as a U.S. citizen, one has “the right to keep and bear arms, [which] shall not be infringed”, the specific definition is constantly being debated and the limits of this right tested.     

            This issue is often very testy with people. However, I do see both sides. The complication comes with how to protect the innocent by preventing those with malintent from obtaining guns without limiting the capability of the innocent to defend themselves. Roughly speaking, bad guys are always going to find a way to do bad things. However, I do believe that banning firearms will not help the situation. In fact, this would almost assuredly make it worse. 

My personal suggestion would be not to limit guns, but increase background checks, phycological exams, and add a mandatory ownership check to gun permits in which gun owners must resubmit for phycological exams and background checks in order to renew their permits and keep their firearms. This regulation and gun surveillance would certainly cut down gun related issues.