Should people have the right to own guns in USA?
In America, 48,830 deaths and injuries caused by guns were recorded in 2021, which year has complete data, according to CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). (Gramlich, 2023). This is related to the fact that in America, guns aren't strictly controlled by the US government. Many agree to have gun control because of the injuries and deaths related to it. However, this has been a debate for decades in America about whether they should enact a law to ban the gun usage. The reason behind that is some may suggest owning a gun may incentivize criminals to attack victims. While some stated that victims should have access to guns to better protect themselves from those unreasonable prisoners (Southwick, 2000). In our opinion, even that being stated, guns are still extremely devastating weapons that shouldn't be granted in daily usage.
To begin with, for the sake of protecting public safety and maintaining social order, the citizens shouldn't have access to guns. If guns aren't being controlled, it would be easier for people to commit crimes. For people who have anger issues, it is very possible that they would grab any reachable weapons at hand to assault others when they reckon being invaded or insulted. Guns are such powerful weapons that once someone has been shot, there's a slight chance for them to survive. Thus, if guns are allowed and they have easy access to those deadly weapons, it can be seen that the society would become a catastrophe. Also, if the criminals don't have access to gun, it'd be easier to control them and thus people around them would be safer. In China, Taiwan, Singapore, where they have strict regulations about guns, they have stable and comparably more peaceful society. Therefore, guns are not necessities for citizens if the government can manage to maintain the social order through the ideal policies. To enhance the public welfare, gun control is one of the unavoidable ways to reach the goal.
Second, to prevent the misuse of guns, guns should be strictly restricted to prevent the misuse of guns. In countries where guns are allowed, if people who don't know the proper way to use a gun accidentally have access to guns, they might misuse them and harm themselves or others. Also, people sometimes shoot others out of impulse. They don't normally think throughout or know what they are doing when shooting people. They might have just lost their temper temporary. Later when their anger died down, they sometimes would be extremely regretful. Moreover, for teenagers, whose mind aren't fully developed, guns can cause unnecessary damage. Supposedly, there should be restrictions using guns, even if someone could rightfully own one. However, if the weapon can be reached effortlessly, there is a high chance that teenagers would misuse them without thinking it through. Indeed, there are other things that can kill people, such as knives, shovels, or even a blender, but guns are different. We don't normally see people killing hundreds using a knife or a shovel. But guns are relatively easier to use, compare to the physical demanding knives. To avoid guns falling into the wrong hands and cause unnecessary harm, banning them is a much easier way to do so.
What's more, gun control can also reduce the suicide rate. For some patients who have mental health issues, guns are specifically dangerous. Since their mentality is particularly fragile. If someone suffer from depression or anxiety has easy access to guns, it is very likely that they might commit suicide. According to several studies to the survived suicide attempts, most of their suicide attempts are out of impulse. If we could lessen this urge by keeping guns away from them, we may successfully lower the suicidal rates. (Mark. A, 2008). By simply restricting guns, we are actually giving those suicide attempts a second chance to live.
Some may suggest that the guns can be legalized in some restricted areas, where people can go hunting. Take aborigines in USA as an example, it's in their culture that they often make a living by hunting animals using guns. They might argue that gun control is a policy which will destruct their culture. Therefore, for them, guns shouldn't be banned. However, if we only give permission to certain regions or people, other districts or citizens would argue for it accordingly. Also, the problem of gun misuse and suicidal problems still exist. If the government give in to the complaint, the gun control policy would lose its value and thus it'd become meaningless to enact and impose it; If the government hold firm by only legalizing guns in a certain districts, discrimination and hatred between each other can be easily stir up. In this case, it's better not allowing any place to have access to gun.
Many may also disagree with the gun control for the self-protection reason. Centuries ago, people with relatively weak physical strength can protect themselves from the stronger by having a gun. However, we have become more civilized and advanced nowadays, with better laws and legal force to protect the people. Before, it's legal to shoot others if they come to your territory such as houses or gardens. However, they might be there just to send neighbor a gift or just to deliver a post. Sadly, many innocent people died or was injured because of this kind of misunderstanding. To avoid these kinds of unwanted scenarios, guns should be banned at the first place without a doubt.
To protect public safety, prevent the misuse of guns, and reduce the suicidal rates, guns should be strongly banned. In countries where guns are still legal in their country such as USA, they might need to consider trying to enact laws against guns. The reason why is that the society is relatively more stable and unite without guns. In those areas, gunshot incidents were not seen that often or not at all. Thus, instead of providing weapon to protect themselves, the government should provide a safer environment that does not need weapons instead.
References:
A. Granlich, J.(2019). What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S.
B. Lawrence S.(2000). Self-defense with guns: The consequences, Journal of Criminal Justice, Volume 28, Pages 351-370
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0047235200000519
C. Mark A. (2008). Mental Illness, Previous Suicidality, and Access to Guns in the United States, Psychiatric Services.
https://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/ps.2008.59.2.198