Death from Firearms

Paper Summary:

This paper argues that it a false belief that firearms are a good form of self-protection in the home and that few would debate that criminals should not have access to them. It notes that the best way to reconcile the public's demand for the right to bear and keep arms with the sad reality of the damage they cause is to educate the public and to increase legal activity that will help prevent criminals from gaining access. It also argues that there is room to enforce existing laws, close gun show loopholes, and to improve the background check procedure.

From the Paper:

"Death from firearms is a large problem in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a total of 30,708 persons died from firearm injuries in 1998. Of these deaths, 12.3 percent were children under 20 years of age. Despite these statistics, many Americans still feel that their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms should be preserved. This is often because citizens believe that guns protect them from crime in their own homes. Even though data from several studies suggests otherwise, Americans are still very emotional about keeping their rights to protect themselves. Few politicians seem up to the call for going against public sentiment. Therefore, the best solution involves proposals for educating the public about the presence of guns in the home and for fighting gun crime rather than an outright ban on gun ownership. "

More papers on Death from Firearms:

• Analytical Essay # 29496 : "The Life and Death of a One-Billion Dollar Gun Law"
• Argumentative Essay # 31824 : "Gun Control Legislation"
• Argumentative Essay # 31424 : "Gun Control"

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