A634.8.3.RB_PALUGODCAROLYN

I do believe that citizens have the right to bear arms although I feel like having guns is not necessary for a safe community.  I live in Spain, a country where the regulation of guns is highly restrictive (Library of Congress, n.d.).  Spanish law considers the right to bear arms a privilege and not a right that must meet very strict conditions.  For example, firearms used for protection are restricted to situations where a real threat to security exists (Library of Congress, n.d.).  I personally feel that the gun control laws in Spain are a better option then what is available in the United States.  But, I do also acknowledge that as LaFollette (2007) explains, the demographics in the United States is very different from other European countries and therefore it’s difficult to make a similar comparison as to whether or not the need for guns for protection is actually needed.  I am however of the belief that having such dangerous weapons so readily available increases the chances and risks of death and injury and therefore stricter restrictions in the U.S. should be considered.  I don’t believe complete prohibition is the solution, as history has shown prohibition does not work (Jones, 2012).  We have seen what prohibition had done for alcohol in the past and what it does for drugs.  Countries such as Holland for example have lower drug addiction rates and they do have very lenient drug legislation laws, allowing citizens to choose for themselves.  There is not any strong empirical evidence that shows that complete prohibition of guns would lower death rates (LaFollette, 2007).  Therefore, this leaves us with the option of having stricter gun laws that can help protect citizens but at the same time allowing citizens the right to bear arms.  I feel this is a very difficult debate to win, especially since guns are so culturally embedded in the American culture and symbolic of our national freedom.  Unfortunately, it seems that gun control laws are starting to unravel and we are being faced with such absurd laws such as the one in Florida called “Stand Your Ground” (Cesca, 2014).  According to this law it “authorizes deadly force if a person ‘reasonably believes’ he or she is threatened with ‘great bodily harm’ or ‘death,’ and it doesn’t matter if there’s an opportunity to walk away from the fracas” (Cesca, 2014).  Ridiculous laws like these are part of the reason why allowing citizens to bear arms becomes dangerous and risky.  

I believe with ethical and moral gun control laws that take into consideration the safety and lives of the citizens of society, I would be comfortable with the concept of bearing arms.

References

Cesca, B. (2014, January 16). The American gun culture: Standing your ground against the deadly use of popcorn. Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-cesca/the-american-gun-culture-_b_4611540.html

Jones, E. G. (2012, December 18). Why the US Should Not Ban Guns

Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/ellen-grace-jones/why-the-us-should-not-ban-guns_b_2321309.html

Library of Congress. (n.d.). http://www.loc.gov/law/help/firearms-control/spain.php