The right to own a gun, should this be accepted by society? Many people are against the private ownership of guns. The government is to be blamed for this. Government officials continue to create laws that make it difficult to own a gun. Some of these laws have resulted in an increase in crime rates. The nation has become increasingly divided on gun control. Since the attack on 11 September 2001, more people have been buying guns to protect themselves, their families, and others in the event of an emergency or dangerous situation. Excessively restrictive gun laws will not prevent criminals from acquiring illegal weapons, will not necessarily lower the crime rate, but will infringe upon a person's right to own a gun.
If criminals want a gun they are going to acquire it by any route available to them. According to NRA statistics, there are more than 60 million gun owners and over 200 million firearms just in the United States alone. Almost half of the households of America have guns. The Brady Law states that gun dealers cannot sell "guns to felons, fugitives, people under felony indictments or subject to restraining orders, mental incompetents and those who have been dishonorably discharged from the military" (Locy 1). Many of these people who are not able to buy a gun legally are going to be the felons and fugitives. Lott Jr. States, "About 90% of adult murderers have already had a criminal record as an adult" (Lott 42). Because of the tremendous number of firearms readily available, it is not that difficult for someone who really wants a gun to get it. If someone who wants a gun cannot buy it legally, then they are going to get it another way. With this in mind, the statistics prove that criminals are not thwarted in their efforts to get guns. The people most hurt by gun regulations are the common citizens who just want a gun to protect themselves. .
Great Britain made owning a handgun illegal in 1997.
