Monday, October 5, 2015

Gun Control: Helpful or Harmful?

In wake of the recent tragedy of the mass school shooting at Oregon, there is a heavy support of gun control that is now being presented in the media. Consistently, you will see how people blame what happened on lack on control and will state how they are for stricter gun regulations and more in-depth background checks for those who want to purchase a gun. The politicians who are for gun control appeal to their emotionally distraught audiences by telling them this is what is needed to stop school shootings and this will prevent them from happening again. They believe having these stricter gun control laws, that it will prevent guns from being sold to criminals and people who pose a threat. Even President Obama advocated for stricter gun control after this incident.  Is gun control the real issue here? Will increased gun control really solve the issues with university shootings?

Did you know they the majority of individuals who cause school shootings do no use guns that are their own? A vast majority did not legally obtain a gun so putting stricter gun regulations will not prevent criminals from getting a gun, just average citizens. It is hard to say if access to guns being too easy is the problem because what if it is just the opposite? What if the shooter target schools because they know they are gun free-zones and will be less likely to encounter someone who will be able to fight back at an equal level? Universities are widely known as being a gun-free zone, so to a criminal it makes sense: Attack those who are unarmed and cannot fight back. You don’t commonly hear of mass shootings in places that people are permitted to carry guns because then the shooter doesn’t have the upper hand. They often target those who are unable to fight back and are seemingly defenseless. A criminal is a criminal and will still engage in criminal activities no matter how strict the gun laws are because criminals don’t obey the law. There have been many articles published in response to all of the anti-gun messages everywhere, and the consensus is that taking away guns will just put a target on more people.


What do you think bloggers? Will the issue of school shootings decrease if there is more control put on the regulation of guns? Or will gun regulation not have a positive impact on this situation at all?

See a video of President Obama's address of this issue below:

1 comment:

  1. Great post! Of course when a horrific event like this happens, it will bring up the subject of gun control. However, I feel like too many people will take this event and use it to further their own agenda on gun control. If they are for stricter gun control laws, they will spin the story in favor of stricter laws, and those who oppose stricter laws will do the same in their favor. I really do understand both sides of the argument, and both sides make really valid points in my opinion. Gun control has been a hot topic for a while now, but overall, I am not sure where I stand on the issue personally. Like I said, I think both sides of the argument make valid points, but I do not know which side would contribute more to safety or which would contribute more to harm. However, I do think that no matter what, if someone wants a gun, they will get a gun. No matter how strict laws may become, there will always be ways to get firearms no matter who you are.

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