Weapons varying from assault rifles, pistols, and shotguns are more common in households around the country as a form of protection. In society, there are several cases of criminal activities that have occurred involving the use of guns such as robbery and theft of properties. The stigma portrayed in today’s media is that firearms are the epitome of everything going wrong in the world. Incidents have placed a negative depiction of rifle use, which has tarnished the good side of owning weapons. Weapons handled correctly and used properly have saved numerous lives and will continue to do so despite the stigma associated with improper usage.
Guns have existed for centuries and will continue to evolve long after our lifetime. They were primarily created as a form of defense from enemies in times of war. In today’s life, individuals use arms for purposes such as sports, protection, and hunting jobs (Carlson). Assault rifles are usually fully automatic or semi-automatic and have eight cycles of function to properly displace rounds. The first step is feeding, which takes a round from the magazine and places it into the chamber. Chambering is the next step which is the round successfully moving through the weapon’s chamber, followed by locking, the process of the chamber, and bolt assembly aligning for firing. Firing is the resulting action of the trigger squeeze. Unlocking is resetting the bolt assembly by releasing the locking lug. Extracting is when the cartridge leaves the rifle’s chamber using the extractor. Ejection is the release of the expended cartridge. Followed by cocking, the last cycle of the function is just aligning the trigger assembly for firing. The functioning cycle gives insight into how the process of firing a weapon works.
In the past decades, the viewpoint around firearms has continuously changed. One point of view is that crimes committed by firearms are at an all-time high and are pushing for stricter laws on guns. According to a survey conducted by Gallup Oct 1st – 19th, 2021, the number of Americans who considered more stringent gun laws is down to its lowest since 2014 at 52 percent. Brenan states in the article that “Americans’ support for stricter laws typically rise in the aftermath of high profile mass shootings” (“Stricter Gun Laws Less Popular in the U.S.”). In recent history, there have been several mass murders throughout the country. According to the reports by the FBI, in the year 2015 to 2019 homicides conducted by firearm were an average of 10,251.6, with a slight spike in 2017 and a decline in 2015 (“Expanded Homicide Data Table 8”). The research shows how various arms fall into the wrong hands leading to deaths.
Several adults in America either own a firearm or share a household with a gun owner, as determined by a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2017. These firearms have been identified, placed in a government system, and registered to a specific United States citizen (“The Demographics of Gun Ownership in the U.S.”). In the country, purchasing rifles and ammunition is not as simple due to the regulations guiding the sale of the weapons. The basic requirement to buy a gun varies from one state to another. Some of the factors considered in the process include age and status of a felony. Citizens must be 18 to purchase ammunition, and there are limitations on the quantity. Irrespective of the measures, firearms still fall into the wrong hands.
Crimes committed in the past five years have also added to the clouded judgment surrounding firearms. Based on the research, the number of kids who have died due to guns has increased in the country. The mishandling of these weapons and their impact on families of innocent children has caused an alarm and a call for the authority to impose stricter laws for the people having or willing to purchase firearms (“NPR Cookie Consent and Choices”). Even though individuals differ in opinions about the regulation, the majority have agreed that there should be a strict restrictions following the latest incident of mass shootings. For instance, the death of over 15 students in a high school in Parkland, Florida, is said to have been committed by a teenager who had a semi-automatic rifle (“NPR Cookie Consent and Choices”). Initiating such tough measures towards acquiring the machines and the ammunition would in the future reduce the chances of such occurrences in the nation.
Similarly, the rate of suicide amongst teenagers has also increased tremendously following the ease of accessing arms. In the country, about 2,400 children aged between 6 to 17 years were reported dead in 2018. Over 40% of the deaths were executed by the use of guns (“Access to Firearms Increases Child and Adolescent Suicide”). The research indicates that a large proportion of adolescents committing suicide with firearms lived in homes where they could reach and use the weapon. The number of kids’ deaths in families without guns is lower than in those who possess rifles.
Furthermore, the ease of accessing guns, especially handguns by young adults, has resulted in more accidental shootings, killing them or the people around them. The increased exposure to firearms has led to high risks of death and violation of the laws guarding the weapons (“Expanded Homicide Data Table 8”). The state of Florida has encountered several incidents of misuse of rifles causing innocent people, especially children, their lives. The happenings led to the formulation of red flag laws that prevent easy access to weapons in most areas that are prone to the wrong usage of guns. Since 2018, the episodes have allowed the courts in the regions associated with abuse of the machines to order their seizure of individuals who may cause harm to others. The regulations require that people with questionable ability to handle firearms must be assessed or else the rights of owning the arms are to be infringed by taking them away from such persons. The act ensures the overall population is safe from any kind of gunfire that can cause death.
Currently, the majority of both republicans and democrats are supporting the opinion of barring individuals with a record of mental health from accessing and purchasing firearms. Furthermore, they are supportive of the idea of running a thorough background check on every person who wants to acquire arms. In addition, the parties, to some extent, propose a review of the amount of ammunition that can be bought by the individuals and the capacity of the firearm. The judgments are caused by the recurring cases of killing amongst the citizens and the constant threats civilians face from insane personnel in possession of guns. Putting into practice the ideologies, to some extent, the government would be able to lower the death rates due to reckless handling of the rifles.
Despite the misuse of firearms, many gun owners in the country view having firearms as an important aspect of their life. The majority of people have arms in one way or another. For example, an individual may possess the weapon and own it or live with a person who has the item. Therefore, the fact that many persons have access to or have managed to handle guns makes them have a positive opinion about ownership. Most white men are associated with owning a firearm as part of their well-being in the country. Such kinds of individuals view guns in terms of protection, hunting, and gaming activities.
Many households in the country own at least one gun for protection. The ownership of firearms because of defense varies across the regions based on the individual’s dwelling place. For instance, people living in rural areas own guns more than the individuals staying in the cities and towns. About 45% of the owners live in the locality, and around 28% of the persons in the urban centers possess arms (“The Demographics of Gun Ownership in the U.S.”). The variation is caused by different levels of access to security which prompts individuals to have personal means to grant safety to themselves and their family members. Generally, over 66 percent of the people who have weapons use them to safeguard against intruders, whether human beings or dangerous wild animals (Morrall). The folks use their arms to defend their homes from robbers and other forms of insecurities that may threaten their lives.
Similarly, another category of people who own guns are hunters to kill the targeted wild animals. Amongst the arms owners, about 37% use firearms for hunting activities. In this case, guns contribute less harm to people since they are used to supplement family foods. When the machines are used for the intended action, the safety of individuals is granted; thus, cases of murder are minimized. In addition, some people have licensed guns for sporting activities. These individuals use their arms to generate income while playing skeet, trap, and target shooting games. The majority of men value owning firearms for sports; for example, many people use the machines for an evenhanded reason.
Generally, there is a missed view about gun ownership in American society. The people owning firearms have a positive perspective about the rifles, and they feel infringed by the stricter measures about owning the machines. On the other hand, individuals in the community who do not possess arms negatively perceive keeping guns. They do not recognize the essence of the right to own a rifle; therefore, they think to impose strict rules (Morrall). The people who grew to have firearms in their households tend to appreciate the freedom of owning the machine. In most cases, such individuals would be likely to possess arms in their homes.
Guns can be used as a source of education for the young ones in the family. The world has become crueler, and as children grow, they should be aware of how to protect themselves effectively if in case they are attacked by dangerous animals or human beings. Having the weapon in the homestead would allow the owner to teach kids how to handle the rifle safely. Furthermore, the presence of firearms would encourage understanding of gun ownership rights and the sacrifices made to attain liberty. In addition, families can use the rifles as a form of legacy where they keep them to show their offspring about the person who bought them and the history behind the arms. The method would facilitate an easy way to remember individuals if they die. The kids will have a clear memory of the deceased relatives as they access the machines they used to have before dying.
In conclusion, owning a gun does not imply intent to execute an unlawful act. Different opinions are associated with gun ownership and the safety of the people around them. Currently, several shooting cases have been reported to the authority, hence calling for stricter measures to curb the actions. In the last few years, the country has recorded several deaths due to the mishandling of firearms by teenagers and people having mental problems. Access to firearms has increased the death rates both suicide and intentional amongst adults and young people. The reduced security has led to the implementation of red flag laws in some states and regions that are most likely to experience gunfire issues. The improper usage of firearms amongst the holders has caused a mixed reaction between the democrats and republican parties as they tend to support and differ in some aspects of the preferred regulations. Despite the wrong use of rifles, some individuals have maintained the right purpose for the weapons. They practice the right actions for the arms such as hunting, sporting, and protection appropriate for the individuals’ overall safety.
Previously, I had problems tackling argumentative essays since I did not understand how to frame them to be more arguable. Following various discussions conducted in class, I realized different ways of making the argument effective that can draw the attention of the ready. Furthermore, I have learned from fellow students how to make my opinions positive without leaning extremely on one side of the subject. In this paper, I have included how the mishandling of guns has affected the community and how proper usage enhances people’s safety.
Works Cited
“Access To Firearms Increases Child And Adolescent Suicide | Society For Research In Child Development SRCD“. Srcd.Org, 2021, Web.
Carlson, Jennifer. “Guns.” The Washington Post, 2021. ProQuest, Web.
“Expanded Homicide Data Table 8”. FBI, 2021, Web.
Morrall, Andrew. “The science of gun policy: A critical synthesis of research evidence on the effects of gun policies in the United States.” Rand Health Quarterly, vol. 8, no. 1, 2018.
“NPR Cookie Consent and Choices”. Npr.Org, 2021, Web.
“Stricter Gun Laws Less Popular In U.S.”. Gallup.Com, 2021, Web.
“The Demographics of Gun Ownership in the U.S.”. Pew Research Center’S Social & Demographic Trends Project, 2021, Web.