Gun control is back as an important topic in the United States after the recent shootings at Oregon’s Umpqua Community College and at a movie theater in Lafayette, Louisiana. Public safety while protecting the Second Amendment is a difficult task for lawmakers, especially after a tragedy. The public is looking towards our government for answers to this issue. Public option should be a consideration for new laws and regulations being created.
The United States addressed the issue of gun control with the ratification of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution in 1791. In 1871, the National Rifle Association (NRA) was founded. The U.S. further supported gun control with the National Firearms Act in 1934 and Federal Firearms Act in 1938. …show more content…
Pew Research Center shows in 1993 57 percent of Americans supported gun control while 35 percent supported gun rights, and in 2015 50 percent of American support gun control while 47 percent support gun rights (people-press.org). According to the article, “Public Opinion About Gun Policies”, author Tom Smith takes a looks at the finding in the surveys conducted by the Nation Gun Policy Survey. He states, “Short of prohibiting guns, Americans strongly favor most measures to regulate firearms. Even most gun owners believe that there should be a set of commonsense regulations to control firearms-just as automobiles are registered, drivers are licensed, and car sales are recorded and documented” (Smith 160). The stability of this topic provides me with insight that public opinion has not changed even after all of the tragic events that have happened during 1993 through 2015. In the article, “After Newtown--Public Opinion on Gun Policy and Mental Illness”, Colleen Barry, PhD, MPP reviews public opinion surveys completed by Gfk Knowledge Works about gun control and mental illness. Barry finds high support and states, “Gun policies with the highest support included those related to persons with mental illness” (Barry …show more content…
The article, “Appeals Court Affirms State Gun Control Laws Passed After Sandy Hook Shooting”, Laura Wagner reports, “The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the main parts of gun control laws passed in New York and Connecticut… The laws ban certain semiautomatic weapons and high-capacity magazines” (N). The recent shooting has also brought gun control for the president to address. In “Gun Control Failed in Congress. It’s Happening Anyway.”, Patrick Reis and Matt Vasilogambros report, “Obama has taken 25 separate gun control initiatives, all of which came from executive actions that did not require congressional authorization” (Reis and Vasilogambros). It appears as through without the help of Congress, the president is willing to take matters into his own hand to address the issue of gun control. I believe the president understand the public’s opinions is appealing to their needs. Obviously there is not enough public opinion support for gun control to persuade the politicians to create more legislation. We want to preserve the right to uphold the Second Amendment but do not want firearms in the hands of criminals or mentally unstable
The United States addressed the issue of gun control with the ratification of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution in 1791. In 1871, the National Rifle Association (NRA) was founded. The U.S. further supported gun control with the National Firearms Act in 1934 and Federal Firearms Act in 1938. …show more content…
Pew Research Center shows in 1993 57 percent of Americans supported gun control while 35 percent supported gun rights, and in 2015 50 percent of American support gun control while 47 percent support gun rights (people-press.org). According to the article, “Public Opinion About Gun Policies”, author Tom Smith takes a looks at the finding in the surveys conducted by the Nation Gun Policy Survey. He states, “Short of prohibiting guns, Americans strongly favor most measures to regulate firearms. Even most gun owners believe that there should be a set of commonsense regulations to control firearms-just as automobiles are registered, drivers are licensed, and car sales are recorded and documented” (Smith 160). The stability of this topic provides me with insight that public opinion has not changed even after all of the tragic events that have happened during 1993 through 2015. In the article, “After Newtown--Public Opinion on Gun Policy and Mental Illness”, Colleen Barry, PhD, MPP reviews public opinion surveys completed by Gfk Knowledge Works about gun control and mental illness. Barry finds high support and states, “Gun policies with the highest support included those related to persons with mental illness” (Barry …show more content…
The article, “Appeals Court Affirms State Gun Control Laws Passed After Sandy Hook Shooting”, Laura Wagner reports, “The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the main parts of gun control laws passed in New York and Connecticut… The laws ban certain semiautomatic weapons and high-capacity magazines” (N). The recent shooting has also brought gun control for the president to address. In “Gun Control Failed in Congress. It’s Happening Anyway.”, Patrick Reis and Matt Vasilogambros report, “Obama has taken 25 separate gun control initiatives, all of which came from executive actions that did not require congressional authorization” (Reis and Vasilogambros). It appears as through without the help of Congress, the president is willing to take matters into his own hand to address the issue of gun control. I believe the president understand the public’s opinions is appealing to their needs. Obviously there is not enough public opinion support for gun control to persuade the politicians to create more legislation. We want to preserve the right to uphold the Second Amendment but do not want firearms in the hands of criminals or mentally unstable