The original purpose of the Second Amendment is simply irrelevant in today's world. The NRA has for more than 120 years been the most visible defender of "the right to bear arms," (Summers 15) and has upheld the notion of what is needed is not the limitations on the ownership of firearms, but a more vigorous prosecution of criminals (Buckner 15). However, statistics show that harsher punishment has little effect on crime rates. This proposed solution also does not even attempt to touch the issue of unintentional deaths by firearms, the fifth leading cause of death for children fourteen and under (Summers 1). I believe that prevention through reducing firearm availability is the key to a safer society. Guns are known kill more people between the ages of fifteen and twenty-four than all other natural causes combined (summers 1). According to the Ishiyama, if guns were not so readily available, and further restrictions were made on their ownership, many of these fatalities could be avoided (Ishiyama 17). Strangely, the NRA fails to recognize any link between the increasing bloodshed in America and it's own philosophy. .
Likewise, the unconstitutionality of gun control can easily be discredited. American citizens have many constitutionally guaranteed rights that are nonetheless regulated. For example, every person living in the United States has the constitutional right to free speech. However, one is prohibited from yelling the word "fire" in a crowded movie theater, without just cause, for obvious safety reasons. Similarly, there must be strict air wave regulation in radio broadcasting, because it would be impossible to communicate if everyone had uncontrollable rights to the frequencies. By analogy, the federal government has the right to impose certain restrictions on gun ownership, and use even if the right to own firearms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment (summers 7-8). .
International comparisons are by far the greatest argument towards the movement of stricter gun control in America.
