The debate over gun control in the United States is a very complicated topic. The sudden trend of gun violence and mass shootings has sparked the debate on whether gun control laws should be in place. It is an issue that revolves around constitutional rights for citizens, public safety, and cultural identity. While many people advocate for guns due to Second Amendment rights, which states that every citizen has a right to bear arms, others would advocate for clear gun bans to remove the violence and bloodshed that is happening in the United States. By analyzing scholarly research and various viewpoints, it becomes clear that a balanced approach, which permits gun ownership under appropriate regulations, effectively upholds individual rights while improving public safety. This approach takes into consideration the right to bear arms and gun culture, while also taking an initiative to reduce gun violence.

In the peer-reviewed study “Crime, Deterrence, and Right-to-Carry Concealed Handguns”, John R. Lott Jr. and David B. Mustard examined data from U.S. counties between 1977 and 1992 to assess the impact of right-to-carry concealed handgun laws on crime rates. Their findings showed that allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons lowers the number of violent crimes without increasing accidental deaths. The authors suggest that the potential presence of armed citizens may prevent criminals from committing violent acts, because criminals may fear that their potential victims are armed. 

The National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) argues that gun control laws are inherently ineffective. They assert that such laws mostly impact law-abiding citizens, as criminals often obtain firearms through illegal means anyway. They warn of the fact that gun control measures punish the majority of responsible gun owners because of the actions of a loud yet dangerous minority of criminals. The NRA-ILA argues that a rise in private gun ownership can help reduce crime and stresses the protection of Second Amendment rights. Their position is supported by studies indicating that background checks and strict gun laws have not significantly reduced gun-related crimes. 

In Jubilee’s “Middle Ground” episode, which brings in a group of both pro-gun and anti-gun, one of the debaters gave a good point about having guns to “equal the playing field”. This idea makes law-abiding citizens feel safe by possessing a firearm, because they can use firearms to defend themselves. One example that was presented was the scenario of school shootings. One of the debaters mentioned that she had to skip school a few times and miss out on education due to the threat of a school shooter being there. So it was mentioned in the video that had the teachers and staff had the right to carry a firearm for the purpose of safety, then there would be much less fatalities if the actual criminal gets taken out, or the shooter wouldn’t even attempt to do a shooting because there would be a guarantee of him losing his life.

These sources are both heavily dependent on the fact that gun laws are of no use. Many counties issued a “shall issue” law, which essentially allows citizens to possess firearms as long as they meet certain requirements to get a license,  Statistics showed that when state “shall issue” gun laws went into effect in a county, murders fell by 8.5 percent and rapes and aggraveted assualt fell by 5 and 7 percent. On the other hand, property crime rates increased after the “shall issue” laws were implemented by 2.7 percent. This shows that criminals are responding to the threat of citizens owning firearms by resorting to less risky crimes (Lott,  19). Over the past three decades (1991-2019), violent crime rates have dropped by more than half. The number of privately owned firearms in the United States doubled in that same period. On the other hand, states with the strictest gun control laws have the highest crime rates.  States such as Chicago and New York City have seen a rapid increase in gun violence, yet they have one of the strictest gun control laws (NRA-ILA). This only makes sense because there would be a very low chance of getting a gun in New York City legally, therefore, criminals would feel no risk of their own lives being taken away.

In the article “Guns need regulation, not banishment,” written by Andrew Shao, Andrew presents a balanced perspective on gun control. He acknowledges the cultural and practical significance of gun ownership in America while advocating for improved legal firearm regulations. Shao argues that outright bans are ineffective, as they do not prevent criminals from acquiring firearms illegally. Shao also talks about how the UK has a stabbing problem, which is very similar to the U.S’s gun problem. While access to guns in the UK is very limited, criminals instead resort to knives and stabbings. This does not mean that suddenly the government should enforce a ban on all sharp objects that can be potentially used as a weapon. So Shao suggests that practical gun control solutions can reduce gun violence and deaths without compromising the right to individual ownership. The solution the author gives is to first remove all possible loopholes in the regulation. For example, the Sutherland Springs, Texas, church shooter who murdered 27 people was a convicted domestic abuser and was allegedly legally barred from purchasing guns. However, he was able to bypass this through the military’s failure to report the charges (Andrew Shao). Something like this could have been easily prevented by proper regulatory checks.

The right to bear arms has always been deeply rooted in American law, history, and culture. The most famous example of this is the Second Amendment of the U.S Constitution, “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed” (US Const. amend. II). This right gives citizens the right to feel safe and protected by equipping them with firearms. Because of this, millions of Americans own guns as a means of self-defense and security. From this perspective, any hard restriction on firearms will deeply affect millions of Americans and put their sense of safety to be threatened. However, even while holding the gun-rights standpoint, certain restrictions and limitations are acceptable within the Second Amendment, just like all other laws that promote liberty. Allowing too much “freedom” and “liberty” to any citizen will always lead to consequences, so there must be guardrails within such laws. Though the Second Amendment gives the general pass for citizens to bear arms, it is completely unreasonable for serious felons or mentally ill people to have free access to guns.

Advocates for stringent gun control laws argue that strict regulations lead to a significant reduction in firearm-related deaths. Some studies in support of strict gun laws show that the increase in firearm possession leads to higher firearm deaths. In fact, they show that firearms are the leading cause of death among the youth, including suicide and homicide. (Villarreal, S. et al, 7). While the main claim of these studies is to create a solution for the general safety, the simple removal of guns completely will not change the actual issue. Most homicides are committed by criminals who find other means of accessing a gun. People who intend to commit gun violence may already have a bad record and thus cannot legally get a gun. They find loopholes in the system or even lie their way about it during background checks. While these regulations may not be the absolute fix to the gun violence issue, neither is banning guns outright going to fix it either. It leaves citizens feeling unsafe.

The implementation of gun control laws varies across different states. This reflects the wide range of opinions towards firearm use in the U.S. For instance, New York has passed extensive gun legislation to improve public safety and close loopholes. Governor Kathy Hochul signed a legislative package to strengthen the state’s gun laws, close critical loopholes exposed by shooters in Buffalo and Uvalde, and protect New Yorkers from the scourge of gun violence that continues to infect our nation and endanger our communities (NY Gov). These initiatives demonstrate a commitment to addressing the gun violence issue through proper legislation. However, the effectiveness of such laws remains a topic of debate, with some arguing that they may violate individual rights without significantly reducing crime.​

The general public has mixed feelings about gun control. Many Americans are in favor of certain regulations while being against others. Surveys indicate that a majority of adults, including gun owners, are in favor of certain regulations, such as background checks for all gun sales and preventing sales to individuals to people with previous issues, such as previous crime or addiction (Pew Research). Taking into consideration real pieces of evidence and engaging in intellectual discussions regarding the gun issue in the U.S can help advance the development of suitable and effective gun control laws while considering the rights of the people.

The debate on gun control in America requires a nuanced approach that defends a citizen’s constitutional rights while addressing public safety concerns. According to research, a complete ban on firearms may violate people’s rights under the Second Amendment and even fail to deter crime.  However, implementing regulations such as proper background checks and bans on high-risk individuals can prevent the likelihood of gun violence. By encouraging open discussions and basing policies on proper research, society can work towards a solution that honors both the right to bear arms and the imperative to protect human life.

Works Cited

“Firearm Violence in the United States | Center for Gun Violence Solutions.” Center for Gun Violence Solutions, publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions/research-reports/gun-violence-in-the-united-states.

Geiger, Abigail. “Key Facts About Americans and Guns.” Pew Research Center, 24 July 2024, www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/07/24/key-facts-about-americans-and-guns/.

Jubilee. “Pro-Gun Vs Anti-Gun | Middle Ground.” YouTube, 11 Aug. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvvdnkIVULo.

Lott, John R., Jr, and David B. Mustard. “Crime, Deterrence, and Right‐to‐Carry Concealed Handguns.” The Journal of Legal Studies, vol. 26, no. 1, Jan. 1997, pp. 1–68. https://doi.org/10.1086/467988.

Nra-Ila. “NRA-ILA | Why Gun Control Doesn’t Work.” NRA-ILA, www.nraila.org/why-gun-control-doesn-t-work.

Shao, Andrew. “Opinion: Guns Need Regulation, Not Banishment.” Scot Scoop News, scotscoop.com/opinion-guns-need-regulation-not-banishment.