What cause gun violence in our country? Do we have to ban guns? Handguns and other firearms have long been part of American civilization. The right to bear arms is an American right featured in the Second Amendment of the Constitution. Every year too many lives are claimed as the result of the American government’s inability to fully face up to effects of gun violence; therefore, we must ban the uses of the guns completely or we should alter the current gun laws with the intention to prevent any more precious lives from being taken.

The main obstacle in denying firearms to citizens in the U.S. is the Second Amendment of the Constitution. It reads: “A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.” A lot of people interpret this as every citizen has the right to bear arms. However, they forget the key word “Militia”, which means soldiers or defenders of the State. By saying “a well regulated Militia…” the founding fathers of our constitution meant that Americans might get a helping hand from the police in case anything threatening happen to its citizens. It appears that some of the founding fathers might have foreseen the possibility of a misinterpretation of this Amendment.

            A main point against the prohibition of the guns is the question “why I should be denied the same right my forefathers had? The answer to this question is since times have changed; guns are not created and used only for hunting with today’s technology. Along with this, in the form of automatic and high impact ammunition, guns have become deadlier, which leaves a greater responsibility on the owners. A quite common phrase is: “Guns do not kill people; it is the people that pull the trigger.” Yes, people do the killing, but does that justify the government providing citizens with the instruments of death. According to The World & I article “Guns History (U.S.)Right to Bear Arms: America's Fascination With Firearms” by David B. Kopel in the October 2003 issue, 83-96% or nearly 100% Americans own a gun, while it is 30—39% in France, and Germany  and 2% in Netherlands, Hungary, and Romania.

Another common argument in the debate about gun control is that if guns are banned then motor vehicles must also be banned because they are also responsible for many deaths each year.  Those who support guns also may bring up the statistics that says that more vehicles take lives of poor people than guns. Yes, their argument is right. According to the Federal Highway Administration statistics, in the year 2001 there was more than 6.3 million motor vehicle accidents in the U.S, while U.S. Department of Justice states that there was 467,880 non fatal gun related crimes in the same year. However, the purpose of vehicles is transportation, as opposed to guns, which launch a bullet into a target. Yes, many accidents occur with vehicles every year that claim the lives of many innocent people, but it is very rare that drivers of any vehicles hurt people intentionally. Guns nevertheless, are very often purposely used to kill or harm others. It is important to focus on the easiness of pointing a gun in a direction and pulling the trigger, it doesn’t take a very long time and it might just claim the lives of one or more persons. There are a lot of things that can be used to murder someone such as: a kitchen knife, a baseball bat, a screwdriver, etc. The main reason for not banning these items is that these instruments are not easy instruments to inflict harm with and their purpose is not to kill, where guns only have the purpose of taking away valuable lives.

There is a common belief that if we are well armed it will reduce the number of thefts. In some cases it may be true. However, some test shows that it does not work a lot. According to Steven E. Berkan in two cities, Morton Grove and Evanston, Illinois, banned the possession and sale of handguns in 1981 and 1982 respectively. Up till now, there is not an increase in the gun related crimes in this cites. And in 1982 the town of Kennesaw, Georgia required every household to own a firearm: even though, some press reported that it help to reduce the burglary in that area there is not any proof to back up it. Another study also proves that a gun owner is 2.7 more likely to be killed by their own family members (Criminology: A Sociological Understanding 278,279).

The number of people getting shot in America is stunning, when we comparing it with other countries. According to the documentary “Bowling in Columbine”, by Michael Moore, in an average year guns claimed as many American lives as the Korean War, one and a half year’s total death toll from guns equaled the number of dead in Vietnam. According to the essay “Homicides tragic toll: 10 children in 16 weeks” by Suzette Hackney and Ben Schmitt, in the may 13,2002 issue of Detroit Free Press - reported that ten children, 16 and younger have been homicide victims in Metro Detroit from eighth January to ninth May, 2002, from gunshots. The fact is that a lot of killings occur when a person’s judgment is clouded by means of drugs or emotions. In these conditions not many people act responsibly. Guns more fatal when they are in the hands of an insane.

 The need for banning guns is getting stronger everyday. We can see the influence of this argument almost everywhere since the arrival of guns. There are strong speeches in televisions and long articles in newspapers and magazines against guns almost every day. However, one right action is better than billion words. Now it is the time for that right action, why we waiting more?