Gun control should be enforeced Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Gun control should be enforeced - Essay Example This amendment was based on and greatly influenced by the right to keep and bear arms that was exemplified in the English common-law. In recent times the Second Amendment has been subject to renewed judicial and academic interest. In the District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) court case, the court ruled out expressly that the amendment protects individuals to keep fire arms. When initially adopted in 1791, the Second Amendment aimed to protect and promote the safety of American citizens. In the experiences prior to the constitution, the early English settlers in the United States viewed the rights to keep and bear arms as important for reasons such as: It served to enable people to form organised militias, it was viewed to help people to participate in law enforcement, it was presumed to repel invasion and generally facilitating the natural right to self-defence. Over the years, there have been numerous debates and arguments as to whether people should own guns and the reasons support ing each argument. There have been several reasons proposed as t why Americans should own guns but there are a few major reasons that really make a difference. The core reason as to why Americans should own guns is for protection and safety purposes. ... B. National Rifle Association The National Rifle Association (NRA) was formed in 1871 with the aim of promoting firearm competency, safety and ownership. It also catered for police training in the use of firearms, marksmanship and self-defence programs in the United States (National Rifle Association, 1989). In essence, the NRA is one of the largest endorsing organisations for firearm possession and safety in the fields involving police training, recreational use and child firearm safety. The National Rifle Association also supports gun rights in the United States. Though there have been different reactions as pertains to the NRA supporting gun rights; it does so in a bid to ensure that American citizens can feel ‘safe’ and protected when they carry or possess a firearm but the use of them being regulated subject to standard conditions. The NRA believe that by creating and developing a standard to which both manufacturers retailers and civilians who possess guns can adhe re to, the safety standards of the individual Americans would improve. II. Gun Control does not violate the Constitution A. The differences between 17th and 21st Century Every individual in the society has a personal opinion as pertains to gun ownership and control. The society as a whole as evolved from the 17th century to date in terms of the perception of gun control. In the 17th century, there was no a clear guidance or regulation in place to govern and control the use of fire arms and the constitution did not provide for the possession of fire arms. During this period, not many civilians owned fire arms and hence it was not a pertinent need as compared to the current trends. In the 21st century, the presence of