Murder is the most reprehensible crime known to man. The act of taking one's life is beyond comprehension to a normal, mentally balanced person. Unfortunately, the act of murder is rising in our society. Nan Desuka, in her article "Why Handguns Must be Outlawed," attempts to focus on the national problem of handgun violence. Desuka doesn't believe only hardened criminals use handguns. So they should be outlawed. She believes the rise is due to the fact that decent people believe they need guns for their protection. I support the idea that "Guns don't kill people, criminals do." Furthermore, I believe that gun control will not disarm criminals, lower crime, and/or stop random and accidental shootings.
Nan Desuka suggests that handguns can be dangerous in the hands of anyone, not just criminals. Handguns should be outlawed to everyone except for police and related services. The author offers several reasons why the abolishment of handguns will lessen the rate of handgun deaths. Since 90% of burglaries take place when no one is home, Desuka observes, 40% of handguns used in crimes are stolen (5). Desuka suggests that deaths will be reduced, since 42% of deaths by guns involve handguns (5), and violent crimes would decline because criminals are reluctant to rob a store with a knife (7). Desuka contends that victims of handguns know their assailants well: women killed by jealous husbands or the woman's lovers, drinking buddies getting into an argument, and disgruntled employees (3). Desuka points out that handguns are too easily concealable (9), and annually about 3,000 Americans are accidentally killed by handguns (4). Finally, she argues that a gun buy-back program, paying fair market value for each gun redeemed, would cost far less than the cost, in money and sorrow, of handgun deaths (8).
Desuka implies that 90% of burglaries are committed when no one is home, and licensed guns can fall into the hands of criminals.
