We already
have enough laws and regulations regarding guns and efforts should be directed
to enforce these existing laws. This
includes federal laws and additional regulations enacted by each state [2]. Without considering guns, crimes such as
murder, robbery, rape, and other violent crimes are currently illegal in every
state. In Addition, using a gun in the commission
of a crime will usually receive an enhanced sentence which can vary by state,
but has resulted in an average of on additional 5 years [5]. Guns and accessories (Ammo) are also illegal
for those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violent [9].
According to
FBI statistics, violent crime rates in the United States have been declining
for at least the past decade [1]. This drop has occurred during the same time
when purchasing a gun has become easier as a result of the expiration of the
“Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection act” (Assault weapons
ban) in 2004. [6] Violent crimes have
continued to drop even as states began allowing citizens to carry firearms for
personal protection with a “carrying a concealed weapon” permit (CCW) starting
with Florida in 1987. Currently only
one state and Washington DC don’t have a CCW law. [4]
In addition to
more guns being available [6] and more citizens carrying weapons [4] it has
been argued that more guns has equaled less crime. Although the report on this idea has some
dispute, no scholar claim that legalizing causes more crime and many of the key
points have been confirmed. [8] Even the CDC has reported that the Assault
weapons ban or any current law had little measureable effect on violent
crime. [7] It seems unfair to classify the United States
as a country who has “seen so much gun violence” when the facts don’t support
that conclusion.
The so called
“gun show loophole” is non-existent. I
had previously asked what this “loop hole” was since I have heard many
definitions which some have included all sales at gun shows. I was also told that no evidence exists for
the current platform position. Currently
felons and other prohibited people (mentally unstable, domestic abuse) trying
to buy a gun through legal channels is illegal. Any federal firearms licensed (FFL) dealer
must perform an NICS check on the possible buyer before the transaction can be
completed. This has replaced the
“waiting period” and bans people sentenced to more than 1 year, fugitive of
justice, drug user, mentally defective, illegal alien, dishonorable discharge,
renounced citizenship, VPO, or a felon. [10] Furthermore, anyone assisting a
firearm purchase where the end user can’t purchase one on their own is called a
“straw buy”. This is also illegal
where the end user, buyer, and seller could be charged with a crime. [3]
According to current statistics guns were used in only 7% of violent
crimes and 80% of the guns used were obtained through family or other illegal
source. Only about 2% of these guns were
obtained through a flea market or gun show.
[5]
In fact one of
the founders of one of the more extreme “anti-gun” organizations, the Brady
Campaign, was shot protecting President Regan from a repeating offender with a
history of mental illness who purchased the firearm through a pawn shop with
false information. Adding more firearm
regulations would only affect law abiding citizens since it appears people
inclined to break the law have little respect for any law.
I know some will say that wikipedia is not a valid reference. I've looked at the sources in the referenced articles and they are correct. So pretend I listed the 40+ references contained in those articles.
Reference
