| Gun control is a complex issue within the United | | | | weapons included in our Second Amendment right? |
| States. The right of self-protection and preservation | | | | Since automatic assault weapons weren't developed |
| is one of our most sacred rights. Our earliest colonists | | | | until World War I, the founding forefathers couldn't |
| and founding fathers bore arms to win our | | | | have possibly imagined the impact of these guns on |
| independence from Britain. Since then, the common | | | | society... right? One can only imagine the sort of |
| man has enjoyed hunting sports and gun hobbies that | | | | havoc a gun firing 1,500 rounds per minute could |
| were previously reserved for the British aristocracy. | | | | have on the general population. |
| Yet, at the same time, an alarming number of crimes | | | | However, U.S. crime statistics show that the vast |
| are being perpetrated by gun-toting rogues, as well | | | | majority of incidents are not from automatic |
| as a startling number of gun deaths, whether | | | | weapons but from standard handguns. After the |
| intentional or accidental. | | | | 1994 Assault Weapons Ban expired in 2004, the |
| One issue in the gun control discussion is whether | | | | unthinkable happened: crime dropped by 3.6%. Some |
| citizens should be able to have "conceal-and-carry" | | | | states kept the ban and saw murder rates drop, on |
| weapons with them at all times. If a citizen wishes to | | | | average, 2.4% (although the murder rate actually |
| obtain a concealed carry permit, then he or she must | | | | rose in some states). Of the states that got rid of |
| first pass a background check, meet eligibility | | | | the ban, murder rates decreased by more than 4% |
| requirements and complete a handgun safety course. | | | | on average. |
| Statistics show that crime actually decreases once | | | | Gun control laws have ranged the gamut from |
| right-to-carry laws are enacted. Florida passed the | | | | restrictive to lenient over the years. In 2008, the |
| law in 1987, when crime was at an all-time high. | | | | Supreme Court made a landmark decision in the case |
| In the years to follow, very few incidents involving | | | | of D.C. vs Heller. They interpreted the 2nd |
| concealed weapons occurred so the Dade County | | | | Amendment as pertaining to an individual right to bear |
| Police department stopped tracking them. In fact, | | | | arms, rather than a collective right. They also noted |
| from 1987 to 1996, the homicide rate dropped 36% | | | | that, in their estimation, handguns were included in |
| (compared to 0.4% nationwide), the firearm homicide | | | | "arms" and that it was lawful for a citizen to have a |
| rate decreased 37% (compared to a nationwide | | | | handgun in his home, so long as the proper permits |
| increase of 15%) and the handgun homicide rate | | | | were secured. Never before has the highest court in |
| decreased 41% (compared to an increase of 24% | | | | the land been so bold to define the law. Yet, they |
| nationwide). | | | | also cautioned, there are still necessary restrictions, |
| Another gun control question is: Are automatic | | | | as outlined in the 1986 gun regulations. |