Dakota Wise
Mrs. Bradberry
Ap Language and Composition
6 June 2015
Firearm Regulation and Effects on Violent Crime
According to the Geneva small arms survey, the leading surveyor of firearms throughout, the United States has the best armed civilian population in the world with an estimated 376 million guns. Although firearm ownership is guaranteed as a constitutional right, it is often debated how to regulate this right. Those in favor of further firearm regualtions hope to decrease the amount of violent crimes, and combat the sickening trend of mass shootings throughout the United States. Although a noble cause, the increased expansion of firearm regulation will not decrease of the rate of violent crimes involving firearms within the United …show more content…
In November 2001 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in United States v. Emerson (No. 99-10331) ruled that the second Amendment protected the rights of private citizens to “privately possess and bear their own firearms” (Alters). This was later confirmed again in 2008 in Columbia v. Heller (No. 07-290) that the second Amendment “guarantees the right of individuals to bear arms” (Alters). It has been ruled numerous times by the United States Judical System the citizens have the right to own and bear firearms. However, this right is heavily regulated by contemporary …show more content…
The law has since been updated (in 1998) to reflect the ability to conduct an instant background check on customers. As a result, the waiting period has been reduced. During the first six years under Brady Law approximately 2.3% of applications for firearms were rejected. However, it is estimated that at least half of those rejected acquired a firearm by some other means (United States. Center for Disease Control …). This directly supports the claim that criminals will not adhere to regulations they find inconvenient. Therefore it becomes apparent that current legislation prevents firearm access for members of society that posed no risk to society in the first
Mrs. Bradberry
Ap Language and Composition
6 June 2015
Firearm Regulation and Effects on Violent Crime
According to the Geneva small arms survey, the leading surveyor of firearms throughout, the United States has the best armed civilian population in the world with an estimated 376 million guns. Although firearm ownership is guaranteed as a constitutional right, it is often debated how to regulate this right. Those in favor of further firearm regualtions hope to decrease the amount of violent crimes, and combat the sickening trend of mass shootings throughout the United States. Although a noble cause, the increased expansion of firearm regulation will not decrease of the rate of violent crimes involving firearms within the United …show more content…
In November 2001 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in United States v. Emerson (No. 99-10331) ruled that the second Amendment protected the rights of private citizens to “privately possess and bear their own firearms” (Alters). This was later confirmed again in 2008 in Columbia v. Heller (No. 07-290) that the second Amendment “guarantees the right of individuals to bear arms” (Alters). It has been ruled numerous times by the United States Judical System the citizens have the right to own and bear firearms. However, this right is heavily regulated by contemporary …show more content…
The law has since been updated (in 1998) to reflect the ability to conduct an instant background check on customers. As a result, the waiting period has been reduced. During the first six years under Brady Law approximately 2.3% of applications for firearms were rejected. However, it is estimated that at least half of those rejected acquired a firearm by some other means (United States. Center for Disease Control …). This directly supports the claim that criminals will not adhere to regulations they find inconvenient. Therefore it becomes apparent that current legislation prevents firearm access for members of society that posed no risk to society in the first