Gun Control In The US

The debate of gun control in the United States has a long and rich history. Much has changed over the years in not only the law, but also the public’s perception on how to regulate firearms in the U.S. In early colonial America, some colonies required that the head of a household possess a gun in his or her home. Connecticut law stated that a man must carry a gun to church and other meetings to defend against native attacks. 1791 saw the states ratify the second amendment that states a “well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed,” ("History of Gun Ownership Laws"). In the 1700s and into the 1800s, several states had laws that said a black person couldn’t own a gun. As the 20th century progressed, the national government, after several public shootings, decided it was time to intervene, and the general public agreed. Following the assassination of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Gun Control Act of 1968. President Bill Clinton signed into law The Federal Assault Weapons Ban in 1994. This banned several semi-automatic assault weapons and …show more content…
People that stand against increased gun control believe that the second amendment should secure them the right to individual gun ownership. They also believe that as legislation is passed that infringes on gun rights, their ability to defend themselves and their feeling of security would decline. According to the Executive Vice President of the NRA, Wayne LaPierre, "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," ("Gun Control - ProCon.org"). Those that argue for more gun control believe that high capacity magazines have the ability to make shootings into mass shootings. The belief that more gun control means less gun deaths is also attributed to those in favor of the