Almost two years after the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., Americans’ support for gun rights is rising. Americans say protecting the rights of gun owners is more important than gun control, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center released Wednesday. It is the first time Pew found more support for gun ownership than gun control in more than two decades of surveys on the issue.Right after the mass shooting, in which a gunman killed 27 people and then himself, a balance of opinion favored gun control. But since January 2013, support for gun rights over gun control has risen from 45 percent to 52 percent, while the percentage who prioritize gun control has gone down, from 51 percent to 46 percent.Among African-Americans, Pew found a dramatic shift in opinion. A majority of blacks, 54 percent, now say gun ownership does more to protect people than to endanger personal safety.
In my opinion gun control laws are not a problem if it is more focused on keeping guns away from mentally ill and criminals or enforcing harsher punishments for criminals in possession or use of guns in a criminal act. The issue becomes a problem when those who desire strict controlled laws to keep law abiding citizens from owning guns. They use tragedies like Sandy Hook to try to restrict all. The shooter was mentally ill, killed his mother and used her legally owned weapon to commit the killings. The fact remains it was his mental health that caused it, but instead of enforcing that that they go after gun ownership and even gun makers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/12/us/gun-control-gun-rights-pew-survey.html?_r=0
Jack77 • Dec 17, 2014 at 1:49 pm
Eliminating guns has its own unfortunate ramifications. More murders could possibly occur since there would less protection (guns are also the number one protection weapon). Imagine all of the murders that were prevented because of responsible gun use.
I agree that gunshops should have a more regimented background checks to ensure that the consumer is mentally stable and responsible. If this were to be implemented, it would discriminate the irresponsible people from buying a gun. However, entropy is a universal force that explains the natural increase of disorder. Disorder proliferates when order is not maintained. Killing guns wont end murder, if someone wants to kill someone, they will find an alternative (stabbing, poison, explosives, etc.). Our only hope is to maintain order. Don’t kill guns, try showing violent individuals peace before they go kill a dozen people, get to the source of the problem. That would promote order.
TechScholar • Dec 16, 2014 at 11:08 am
Guns don’t kill people. People kill people. Mostly with guns. Nearly 70% of murders in the U.S. are committed with a gun. NO guns have been killed by people. Which means, the guns are winning. Over 10-thousand people are killed with a gun every year. Kill more guns. It’s our only hope.
Jack77 • Dec 12, 2014 at 2:48 pm
I think all matter is neutral. Guns intrinsically are not good nor bad, they are just inanimate objects. Obviously there are certain materials out there that are more menacing than others (guns, cars, knifes). But those potential perils mean nothing if,say, guns are used practically (if someone or something is attacking you). The world has witnessed many macabre ordeals that entailed firearms. Those events are exemplary of irresponsible gun usage. Guns were invented to protect and defend not to deliberately kill innocent individuals.
I highly recommend watching Adam Kokesh, he can explain this concept better than I can.
Jeeper4Life • Dec 12, 2014 at 1:57 pm
I agree with you guns dont kill People, PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE!
oceanmtnsky • Dec 12, 2014 at 2:05 pm
How can we limit access of guns to people who lack impulse control? Can we do a better job of emotional and mental health screening before we allow people to buy a gun in America? I think yes.