The Right to Bear Arms free essay sample

Citizens have the right to bear arms. It just all depends how they take action. According to a report by engineering statistician the general public is 5. 7 times more likely to be arrested for violent offenses and 13. 5 times more likely to be arrested for non-violent offenses, than concealed carry weapon permit holders. There are a lot of reason why some people want this law banned, but these arguments are outweighed only by the need of protection. The second Amendment guarantees the right to conceal handguns under the United States. In the 2008 case, District of Colombia v. Heller, the Supreme Court ruled that the inherent right of self-defense has been central to the Second Amendment right,† and that the second Amendment protects â€Å"the individual right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation†. The Second Amendment states, 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. According to a 1997study of National Crime Victimization Survey data, robbery and assault victims who used a gun to resist were less likely to be attacked or to suffer an injury than those who used any other methods of self-protection or those who did not resist at all. Even if an adult never needs to draw a concealed handgun for self-defense, I may feel safer being armed and feel freer to go outside at night or in dangerous areas. ?The right to have concealed handguns is they support citizens in self-defense and deters crime. With gang population and gang-related violence growing at an exponential rate, it is imperative that law abiding citizens are given the right under the constitution to defend themselves. The National Crime Victimization Surveys concluded that â€Å"robbery and assault victims who used a gun to resist were less likely to be attacked or to suffer an injury than those who used any other methods of self-protection or those who did not resist at all†. It has been shown that concealed carry laws deter criminals form committing crimes due to the fear of retaliation of victims. According to the FBI, total violent crimes and murders dropped more than 6 percent during the first half of 2011 with over 55% increase in firearm purchases. Even with the recession and poor economy, this typically boots crime rates. Since 1991 through 2009, 23 states have adopted the right to carry, and violent crimes rates have declined 43 percent. This all comes on the heels of a five-fold increase in the number of shall-issue concealed carry states from 1986 to 2006. This concludes that more people should buy themselves guns to protect themselves and because of a lot of places not allowing guns, that one person with a gun could have saved their life. ?People have misconceptions about concealed handguns. The first being guns increase crime rates. This is false; according to the FBI concealed carry laws decrease crime. Experts have searched for any type of evidence indicating that guns increase crime rates, but have found very little evidence to support such a claim. Another misconception that people have is that concealed carry laws increase the circulation of guns. This is not entirely true, upon reaching certain age requirements and obtaining a F. O. I. D. (Firearm Owner’s Identification) Card, any person can buy as many firearms and as much ammunition as they wish. A concealed handgun simply allows the weapons to be carried in public on the waist or other concealed ways. The third misconception is that anyone can get a license and carry a gun. If you do any Research whatsoever and have any knowledge of concealed carry laws, you will know that this is entirely false. There are several requirements that most concealed carry laws have in order to obtain a license: over certain, either has a background in law enforcement or military, and if you are a civilian you must take a course to learn the proper use and maintenance of a firearm and must spend a significant amount of time at a firing range in order to develop skill with the firearm. You cannot have a criminal record and you cannot have any history of anger issues or any other psychological disorders. The last misconception is that criminals will get guns and harm citizens. This is the most irrational argument I have heard against concealed carry laws Do street gangs and criminals currently have concealed carry licenses? Do they have weapons anyway? The point is with or without gun laws; criminals obtain and also carry legal firearms illegally. The only difference with concealed carry laws is that now we can defend ourselves. The concealed carrying of handguns increases the likelihood of unintended shootings taking place. Approximately 50 people are unintentionally shot each day in America and a child under 15 years of age dies every other day from unintended gunfire. Criminals are more likely to arm themselves with firearms if they suspect that victims may also be armed. Felons report that they often carry firearms to deter victims from resisting. A victim drawi ng a gun during an attack sends a signal to the offender that more force must be used to overpower the victim during an attack. Adults who carry concealed handguns are often inadequately trained. Public safety should be left to trained police officers who are less likely to shoot innocent bystanders. Responsible adults with concealed handguns make it more difficult for police to distinguish criminals from ordinary citizens and to identify perpetrators during a shooting. Carrying concealed handguns needlessly intimidates other citizens. The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun.