Why Guns Should Not Be Banned In The United States

Some opponents of tougher gun control legislation say that criminal activity is very likely to occur when there is no force of protection present between a criminal and a defenseless target. Criminals will prefer to commit their diabolical acts in highly populated “gun free” zones, where citizens are not armed and are subjected to the villain’s will. According to John Lott Jr., former chief economist for the U.S. Sentencing Commission, every mass shooting since 1977, other than the 2011 Tucson killings, has occurred in a gun-free zone. Whether these predators like to pounce upon their easily accessible, unarmed prey, or think that they are more likely to be stopped in areas where people are allowed to carry concealed weapons, they still are taking advantage of the gun control laws (Taylor). Opponents say that the solution to this problem is to allow citizens to carry concealed weapons. However, this argument relies on the notion that stricter …show more content…
Many criminals are willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want, and mentally ill individuals have no ethics to guide their decisions. Therefore, The United States should require mandatory, universal background checks, mental health screenings, and exams for all who wish to purchase guns. Guns should not be banned, however. Citizens of the United States do have a Constitutional right to carry and bear arms, which includes handguns. But, it’s important to get guns out of the hands of the people who wish to do harm to others or who are very likely to do harm to others. Stricter gun laws should make it harder for people that don’t need guns to get them, keeping Americans safe from gun violence. The United States will not be able to get rid of its 301 million guns, but if the flow of the firearms is restricted, then the country will be a more secure place as a