The Gun Control Issue Essay, Research Paper
There are many different ways to view the issues of gun control and no matter which way you look at it, the arguments will always go on. In my opinion, the issue can be reduced to a very basic level that is common to a wide variety of issues. The basic level of human nature to which I’m referring is as simple the classic question – Is the glass half full or half empty?
Our Founding Father saw the glass as half full. In their eyes all men are created equal and are inherently good. This is a basic principle of our legal system, that all men are innocent until proven guilty. I grew up with a strict moral standard taught to me from the very beginning of my life. I truly believe that all men are basically good and act with a basis of good intentions. With this basic believe I have no fears and no reservations about gun ownership. Every American shall have the right to keep and bear arms and shall have the duty to use them for the defense of our Nation. Since it is the individual that makes this country great, every man is therefore essential and is worthy of defending. It follows that every man should have the ability and responsibility to defend themselves and his fellow man.
Gun control advocates see the glass as half empty. This pessimistic attitude causes them to believe that man cannot behave responsively and therefore needs to be protected for his own good. The mere presence of a gun, in this pessimistic point of view, will cause a good man to loose his senses and to begin to kill his fellow man. They then conclude that if there are no guns then they cannot corrupt man and society will be a better place.
In reality, both these points of view do not accurately portray society. However, I believe, as I feel our Founding Fathers felt, that it is better to see the good in man and respect the basic rights of free men. This is what I feel is embodied in the Constitution and its Amendments. Our criminal justice system, as flawed as it is, embraces this believe and does a better job than any other system to date in the history of man.
A gun is a mere tool that can be used for good or evil. Our country is based on the belief that man is good until he is proven to be otherwise. Therefore, we should strenuously protect the rights of free men and likewise prosecute and punish the criminals who abuse the rights of others. Should the gun control advocates be silenced? – NO. They have the same right to opinions that anyone else has. Remember, it is the citizens of this Country that make it great.
I personally believe that gun control is not the answer to the problem of violence in our society. I believe that society has not really gotten any more or less violent only that in this day and age of instant communication, we hear about it a lot more. To me the answer is simple. We need to begin now to educate our young on what responsible gun ownership means. Even more basic, we need to educate our young to respect life and to respect the rights of others. This I have begun in the only place to begin – my own family.