Gun Control and Crime Rates

"Resistance to sudden violence, for the preservation not only of my person, my limbs, and life, but of my property, is an indisputable right of nature which I have never surrendered to the public by the compact of society, and which perhaps, I could not surrender if I would." (John Adams, Boston Gazette Sept. 5, 1763)

The 2^nd amendment of the constitution specifically states that, "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" (The Second Amendment of the US Constitution). This grants us, the citizens of this country, the right to bear arms.

The greatest debate on guns is its relation to crime rates; do guns cause crimes or prevent them? The answer is neither, guns are just tools. People have been killing each other with what ever advantage they can get since the beginning of time. Guns aren't the cause of crime, people with guns are, and people with guns also stop crimes and fight for our freedom. "A statute is not a magic wand. Simply passing a law will not necessarily get people to change their behavior" (Daniel D. Polsby, independent.org). Yes, there will be people out there that will take advantage of guns in a negative way, but there are many more that respect the power and possible lethality of the weapon.

According to FBI Uniform Crime Reports, the number of guns per 1,000 population has very little affect on the number of homicides and suicides. In fact, the little affect of the guns has the crimes going slightly down! Although there is no significant change through history, this information can also be used to prove my point: guns don't commit crimes people do.

The right to own and keep a concealed weapon on you is a constitution right as well as a natural right of possession and self-defense. Guns, although highly debated, are completely constitutional, American, and may be necessary for survival. The founders of the country put its laws in the constitution for a reason and we really have place to say what they created was wrong. American life with guns has worked so far, and it has become the greatest nation in the world.