In James Q. Wilson’s essay “Just Take Away Their Guns," he expresses how more authoritarian control over guns would not have the best outcome in comparison to actually implementing methods on reducing illegal firearms on the street. Wilson argues that in order to fulfill a peaceful nation, there would have to be a nation wide sequestration of firearms. Although, that could potentially solve and reduce crime, it would also be infringing on the rights of a lot of gun owners. Perhaps more importantly, the right to self defense would be limited, as most people use a weapon as a means of self defense. While making more stringent laws regarding guns could be a potential way of reducing crimes, firearms will, and always be a means of protection when it comes to self defense. Furthermore, a criminal is unlikely to obey any new law pertaining guns, as statistics show their means of getting guns is unlawful.
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Wilson argues, the “legal restraints on the lawful purchase of guns will have little effect on the illegal use of guns” due to the amount of criminals who have access to illegal weapons that swamp our streets (Wilson). The author starts out by including statistical information regarding the amount of guns in the United States which comes out to an average of “200 million guns in private ownership”. He also list the ratio of lawfully purchased guns to lawfully purchased guns used in crimes which shows “one-sixth of the handguns used by serious criminals are purchased from a gun shop or pawnshop” (Wilson). With that being said, criminals will always find other means of getting their hands on guns. According to James, “Most of these handguns are stolen, borrowed, or obtained through private purchases that wouldn 't be affected by gun laws”
Wilson argues, the “legal restraints on the lawful purchase of guns will have little effect on the illegal use of guns” due to the amount of criminals who have access to illegal weapons that swamp our streets (Wilson). The author starts out by including statistical information regarding the amount of guns in the United States which comes out to an average of “200 million guns in private ownership”. He also list the ratio of lawfully purchased guns to lawfully purchased guns used in crimes which shows “one-sixth of the handguns used by serious criminals are purchased from a gun shop or pawnshop” (Wilson). With that being said, criminals will always find other means of getting their hands on guns. According to James, “Most of these handguns are stolen, borrowed, or obtained through private purchases that wouldn 't be affected by gun laws”