The Need For Gun Control In The United States

Throughout the world the United States is viewed as a country of gun lovers. Our love of guns was largely rooted at the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Within the passing 239 years since that day, personal gun ownership had steadily increased and along the way thousands of lives have either been saved or taken due to that very fact. “Every year in the U.S. there are nearly 30,000 gun deaths” (Pollitt, 1). The average U.S. citizen is able to buy a handgun when they reach 21 years of age and a long gun at the age of 18 after a licensed firearms dealer clears them via a background check. Some feel that the age should be increased, while others feel the exact opposite. Given the potentially deadly nature of guns, it is with good reason that the tightening of firearms regulations is currently an ongoing heated debate now in the 21st century.

Gun control regulation is now more controversial than ever due to tragic events such as the December 2012 student shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT. During this horrific event, …show more content…
During the early 1990’s, Homicides committed with a gun in the United States reached an all time high and have been declining ever since. “Homicides committed with firearms peaked in 1993 at 17,075, after which the figure steadily fell, reaching a low of 10,117 in 1999” (Cooper, 1). Gun control advocates largely credit that decline to the requirement of background checks now in place for new gun purchases in most states. There is however other factors that have also shown to be effective, including loosening restrictions on legal citizens rights to carry concealed weapons. “An analysis of the FBI crime statistics found that states that adopted concealed carry laws reduced murders by gun by 8.5%” (American Gun, 1). With those facts at hand, many feel that law-abiding citizens should be able to carry a firearm to stop attacks before they