DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

To Whom It May Concern:

            As an American, I am protected by the 2nd Amendment when it comes to the right to own a gun, or “bear arms.” However I personally am not one of those people who would like to take advantage of this right. In light of recent events, specifically the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, this is an extremely pressing issue. This article, written by Robert Walker is in agreement with many concerned citizens including myself, that there should be a stricter gun control policy on the background checks administered for licensed gun owners.

            The author was the former legislative director and then the president for Handgun Control in America so it is clear that he has a lot of knowledge on what has been done in the history of gun control, as he was a part of the legislation making. He also states he was raised in a family that owned numerous guns, showing he has seen both parts of the issue firsthand, and can give him ethos, or credibility. He, along with myself, understands that people in America feel they deserve the right to be able to protect themselves as well as use guns for recreational purposes. However this does not mean that these guns should not be monitored and regulated extremely closely, because of all the negative impacts guns can have on a person’s life. The author gives examples of the legislation that has been made already, such as the Brady Law that made guns more regulated. But he also includes a fact that over 40% of gun sales are unregulated, and this is where the changes need to be made. Specifically, all gun sales must be made with a licensed gun dealer and require an extensive background check and there should be a ban put on the sale of high ammunition clips. By bringing up the Sandy Hook shooting and saying that these clips were the type used, makes a compelling argument in the emotional sense, because no one would want that horrible tragedy to happen again. But Walker also says that instead of our emotions, we should look at the statistics of gun violence. I think it is helpful that he brings this up, because it is common to think only from an individual aspect, and not look at the fact that guns in the home are associated with many more incidents. This is why his argument is valid, because he can see both sides of the issue and can bring both sides of the issue together by combining facts with emotions.

            Looking at the comments posted on this article can also shed light on the downfalls of putting more extensive background checks and tighter legislation. For example, a man brings up the fact that the Sandy Hook shooter’s mother would have passed the background check, but there was no way to stop Lanza from going into her closet and using her supply of guns and ammunition. This is very true, but in every issue there are exceptions that are extremely hard to be regulated. I believe Walker’s argument is a realistic one, in the fact that he proposes specific regulations that can further the regulations and make it so it is harder to obtain a gun to prevent extreme cases and the large amount of gun violence that currently occurs in America. It is realistic in the sense that it takes into the account that Americans feel strongly about having the right to bear arms, but that this right comes with consequences that the country should actively try to limit, while protecting people’s individual freedoms.

            

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.