Mock Congress Research Paper

In December of the year 2012, Adam Lanza took the lives of 28 people: six adults, 20
children, his mother, and finally, his own. This tragic event, known as the Sandy Hook
Massacre, as well as many other commonplace shootings like it, are always a possibility due to
the availability of guns. The Second Amendment of the Constitution famously proclaimed that
all citizens of the United States of America had the right to bear arms. When the Framers of the
Constitution included this amendment in the Bill of Rights, it served a legitimate purpose,
allowing the common people to protect the nation in the absence of a true standing army.
However, in our modern society, this amendment is long outdated and its promise of gun
ownership presents more potential issues than benefits. Limitations on guns need to be imposed
because there is an excessive amount of firearms in circulation, nonlethal self-defense
alternatives are readily available, and deaths caused by gun misuse are constantly occurring.
The number of guns owned by people in the United States is extremely high, as many
choose to take advantage of the law allowing them to purchase them. This greatly increases the
likelihood of potential dangers arising. In the United States, there are estimated to be 925 guns
per 1000 people (Wellford 57). There is no pragmatic reason for the amount of guns to total over
90 percent of America's population, and each gun represents a possibility of multiple deaths or
injuries. Researchers found that the four states with the highest number of firearms had seven
times as many deaths than the four with the lowest number (Miller). This proves that there is in
fact a correlation between firearm concentration and mortality rate. If guns were more limited,
there would be fewer deaths as a result. Furthermore, studies show that people who possess a
gun have a probability of being shot that is 4.5 times greater than those who do not ("Penn Study
Asks"). The motivation behind owning a gun is usually for self-defense, but people who have

one are often seen as a target because of the threat they present. Shooters are much less likely to
fire upon an unarmed individual than an armed one. Overall, it is evident that America has an
exorbitant gun density and is therefore more susceptible to harmful firearm incidents.
With the number of effective nonlethal weapons available to the public, the need for guns
seems impractical. Nonlethal weapons are easily accessible and cheap, as well as being an
ethical self-defense alternative. Such utilities include pepper spray and tasers, which, " by ease
of use and minimization of harm...are generally superior to traditional lethal weapons, such as
handguns and shotguns" (Lerner). Weapons of this type are more user friendly because of their
simplicity and low risk factor, making them a preferable option for the general public. The cost
is another attractive feature, as they can cost as little as 20 dollars, compared to the hundreds one
may spend on a gun. Further illustrating this point, guns, "have only a fifty to seventy-five
percent one-shot stop rate, while tasers have a ninety-three percent rate" (Robinson). Not only
are nonlethal utilities easier to use, but they have a greater capability of stopping an assaulter
with just a single shot. A gun may take several shots to incapacitate an attacker while also
causing severe, permanent damage. Also, studies have determined that guns are more frequently
used as a method of intimidation ("Gun Threats"). Although a firearm may scare some
wrongdoers away, in a situation in which a weapon must actually be used, a nonlethal alternative
is more functional and has no consequences, whereas firing a gun on someone may have
repercussions that are detrimental to the user. Even in a self-defense circumstance, firing a gun
can result in charges being filed against the user. Nonlethal weapons should replace guns
because of their effectiveness and the minimal risk they pose.
Lastly, but most importantly, guns are one of the most prominent causes of death in the
United States. With firearms being available almost everywhere across the country, it is no
surprise these tools are so lethal. In the year of 2010 alone, guns accounted for 31,513 deaths

("Gun Control Issues"). Additionally, "more than 60 percent of all homicides in the United
States involve a firearm and firearm ownership" (Hepburn). Essentially, guns are seen as the go
to weapon for murder because anyone can find access to one due to the insufficient gun control
laws. The effects of gang violence, mass shootings, and accidental incidents are multiplied
greatly due to the popularity of guns, resulting in these staggering figures. Moreover, more than
19,000 suicides occur per year with the utilization of a firearm (Drexler). Again, due to the
killing potential and widespread availability, guns are viewed as the ideal weapon for any form
of murder, whether self-inflicted or used on others. Bans on assault rifles and high-capacity
ammunition magazines do not sufficiently restrain gun use. Even the "weakest" firearms, such
as handguns and sub-machine guns, have multiple rounds, each capable of delivering a lethal
wound. Gun related deaths occur too often and must be controlled by the government.
As with any major issue, there are still many people who support the opposite opinion,
believing that guns are needed for the public. These pro-gun citizens may argue that firearms are
essential for protecting themselves and their families, and that other countries face the same gun
issues as America. However, both these viewpoints have been proven as wrong. Firstly, guns
are especially dangerous to owners with families, as "only 39% of families keep their firearms
locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition as recommended by the American Academy of
Pediatrics," according to University of Michigan study ("Gun Safety"). Consequently, children
are the largest victim group killed in accidental gun incidents (Hemenway). Since not every
person is accountable with their firearms and follows all safety protocol, a gun within a
household actually presents more danger than safety. Any child is susceptible to harm if their
guardians do not take the proper measures recommended by gun distributors, as an object that
seems like a toy can turn out to be a lethal weapon. Next, the rate of deaths caused by firearms
in the United States is seven times that of an average high-earning nation ("Large Majority").

Although many other countries allow gun ownership, the culture and lack of government action
specifically in America contributes greatly to the misuse of firearms. The individuals who
advocate the current firearm situation fail to recognize that the negatives outweigh any possible
benefits.
Due to the unnecessary amount of guns owned, the accessibility of nonlethal weapons,
and the growing number of gun-related deaths, the need for stricter gun laws has become
evident. The firearm issue is a prime example of the inactivity of the American government, as
officials neglect this life-threatening issue just to save their positions. Deaths by gunshot trail
only car accidents as the leading cause of death, the keyword being "accident." Gun misuse is a
completely preventable conflict. Change is necessary, as eliminating, or at least limiting, the
number of guns owned by the public will indubitably save thousands of American lives. In
addition, guns have no practical purpose in our modern society, where the need of an army is
fulfilled by the various military groups of America. The Second Amendment is long antiquated,
and needs to be removed or revised to stop the plague of gun violence. People must realize that
sometimes a liberty must be given up for the benefit of the whole. The first step is for the
government to take action, and that cannot happen without the people of America speaking out
against this avoidable issue.
Works Cited
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