FREE ESSAY ON GUN CONTROL

GUN CONTROL

Concealed Handguns
The guy smiled at me...and he began to move toward me with the knife. I thought, 'this
guy is willing to kill me for thirty-five dollars.' I aimed the automatic at the outer
edge of his left thigh and shot him...I remember thinking, shouldn't I call a doctor? And
then I thought, would he have called a doctor for me? And I kept right on
walking...(Would 162).
Events such as the one depicted in this story occur all to often on our city streets. The
fact that some people will kill for thirty-five dollars has many people in this country
searching for a legal source of protection. Through a concealed handgun license innocent
people can often walk away from potentially violent crimes unharmed. Carrying a concealed
handgun makes perfect sense to everyone but criminals (Jones 259).
Whose fault is it when innocent people are murdered because they obey the law and do not
carry handguns illegally? If those who abide by the law cannot protect themselves,
criminals are assured unarmed targets who are strictly at their, the criminals, mercy. In
these cases a concealed handgun acts as an equalizer for those overpowered or
outnumbered. The department of Justice states that eighty-seven percent of all violent
crimes occur outside the home and concealed handguns are the only defense. Maybe Denver
talk-show host Alan Berg would still be alive had he not been denied his concealed
handgun permit while fearing his death by white supremacists (Snyder 31).
Law abiding citizens have nothing to fear from the legalization of concealed handgun
permits. Since the first concealed weapons legislation in Florida in 1987, 31 states have
legislated concealed weapon laws, and in each state applicants must meet certain criteria
before actually being licensed. Rather reliable background checks are done on each
applicant revealing any criminal history or mental illness (Ludwig 1). Most states also
require that applicants pass a firearms training course and subject a record of
fingerprints to local authorities (Snyder 31).
As gun control advocates foretold, "...wild west shootouts and road-rage killings" have
not resulted from these concealed carry laws. To say the least, gun control advocates
have been profoundly embarrassed by the results of these permits. Between 1987 and 1995,
300,000 concealed handgun permits were issued in Florida. Of these, only five permitted
handguns were used in violent crimes and no deaths were recorded (Norquist 75). Yes, five
out of 300,000 concealed weapons permits were misused. No law is perfect and no matter
what laws are passed, people will still have guns and misuse them. These numbers do show,
however, that concealed weapons are not the cause of the country's crime problem. As a
whole, concealed weapon carriers do not engage in violent crimes. Criminals do have
weapons and do misuse them (Jones).
In the United States, the greatest country in the world, citizens enjoy rights people
elsewhere can only dream of. Is it not proper that a person also have the right to
protect him or herself? Without concealed handgun laws, an average law-abiding citizen
does not have the choice of concealed protection (Jones). In most states, the unlicensed
carrying of a handgun is punishable by six to twelve months in jail, regardless of
circumstances (Ten 23). With laws like this, what is a person to do? Gun control
advocates have the answer. In the case of an emergency, call the police. Despite popular
belief, courts have ruled that the police cannot be held accountable for the lack of
preventing a crime (Jones). Their function is simply to deter crime. According to the
Department of Justice, even if police were accountable and every victim readily had
access to a phone, only twenty-eight percent of the time can they arrive within five
minutes (Norquist 75). "Concealed-carry laws allow law abiding citizens to be responsible
for themselves, to protect themselves and their loved ones, and not have their hands tied
by laws that aren't followed by criminals" (Jones).
Surprisingly, concealed handgun laws have proven to significantly deter crime. States
with concealed-carry laws have collectively reported thirty-seven percent lower robbery
rates and thirty-three percent lower homicide rates that those states without concealed
handgun laws (Ten 22). Also the Department of Justice reports that forty percent of
felons have at one time chosen not to commit crimes for fear of armed victims. Criminals
realize the rising use of concealed weapons, but when picking victims they cannot tell
the armed from the unarmed. According to the decrease in crime, 1,414 lives could have
been saved since 1977 had concealed handgun laws been in place. Also 4,177 rapes, 11,898
robberies, and 60,363 aggravated assaults could have been prevented. This has proven to
be the most effective yet cheapest form of crime deterrence (Lott).
Qualified law abiding citizens deserve the right to carry concealed handguns. Sure there
will be the rare misuse of legally concealed weapons, but are these lives really worth
the many more lives that would be saved by their legalization. There will always be
crime, and people will always be murdered so we must make a choice. Either let a few die
to the concealed handguns, or let many die to closed minds. It all makes perfect sense.
When used properly, a concealed handgun is a great thing. Law-abiding citizens have
protection and the national crime rate drops. Concealed-carry laws are a good thing.
Bibliography
Jones, Summer. "Armed Citizenry Makes Sense, Unless You're a Crook." Editorial. 
Star Tribune 13 Nov. 1999, metro ed.: 25A.
Lott, John R. and David B. Mustard. "Crime, Deterrence, and Right-to-Carry Concealed 
Handguns." *http://www.ideasign.com/chilast/pdocs/lott.htm*.
Ludwig, Denis. "Do Carry-Concealed-Weapons Laws Deter Crime? No." The Journal 
of State Government 70 (1997): 29-31.
Norquist, Grover G. "Have Gun, Will Travel." The American Spectator Nov. 1998: 
74-75.
Snyder, Jeffrey R. "Easing Handgun Licensing Laws: Helping the Public Fight Back." 
USA Today Sept. 1998: 30-32.
Ten Myths About Gun Control. Pamphlet. Fairfax, Virginia: NRA Institute for 
Legislative Action, 1994.
Would Gun Control Reduce Crime? Pamphlet. St. Paul: Opposing Viewpoints Pamphlets, 
1984.