Why the government should not ban Semi-automatic Rifles for Citizens
Not surprisingly, the subsequent misuse and increased number of assault weapons have brought about a growing dialogue about their place within American society. For instance, on March 24, 2018, many Americans assembled in Washington D.C. and other cities in the USA to protest against gun violence and demonstrate their support for gun control especially semi-automatic rifles (Blau, Devon & Chip 4733). In these demonstrations, most individuals advocated for increased mental health checks, increased background checks, and the increased waiting period between purchase and possessing the gun. However, the mass demonstration mostly advocated for the ban on semi-automatic rifles for citizens. Some individuals believe that ban on semi-automatic rifles violates their Second Amendment rights. In contrast, those in favor of such a ban believe that the ban might help prevent the increased number of the mass shooting in the USA. Such occurrences have brought a serious controversy on whether to ban semi-automatic rifles from citizens or not. The research paper seeks to discuss why the USA government should not ban semi-automatic rifles for citizens.
The Ability of Semi-automatic Rifles
A semi-automatic rifle involves a gun that can fire around once someone pulls the trigger. The gun can accept a detachable magazine with a military-style feature like a pistol grip, threaded barrel, or folding stock (Geng 9). Firearms dealers started selling semi-automatic rifles to citizens in the 1980s. The dealers started selling semi-automatic guns due to the decline in handgun sales. They also wanted to create a new market for semi-automatic rifles for citizens. However, due to the lack of federal law on manufacture, sale, and possession of semi-automatic weapons, many Americans own them. Previous studies have indicated that criminals have used semi-automatic rifles to commit various crimes like mass shootings in contemporary USA history.
Moreover, the rifles contribute to the daily issues of gun violence in communities around the USA. Some believe they are weapons of war with no position in American society (Kalesan et al. 1848). Thus, Congress ought to enact a federal ban on semi-automatic rifles to ensure the elimination of such dangerous weapons from the American streets, hence decreasing gun violence. On the other hand, those against a federal ban on semi-automatic rifles argue that Congress should enact a federal law that ensures increased background checks for gun buyers. Additionally, they advocate for an increase in mental health checks on gun buyers and ensure an increased period between purchase and possession of the gun as the only means of eliminating or decreasing gun violence in America. However, research indicates that banning semi-automatic rifles would not end mass shootings in the country, but understanding the following reasons would help the federal government counter gun violence in America.
Reasons for not Allowing Federal Government Ban on Semi-Automatic Rifles from Citizens
First, everyone has the right to defend him or herself if the need arises. Thus, if Congress enhances a federal ban on semi-automatic rifles for citizens, it violates the historical point of view of the Second Amendment as contained in the USA Constitution. The founding fathers put the Second Amendment in the constitution as an assurance that the American citizens would never lack any form of weaponry to take on their government if the government becomes tyrannical. In the 1780s, the new USA had fought a bloody war against King George III’s tyrannical government, and for the country to acquire support for the formation of a central government, states needed the Second Amendment language added into the constitution, or they would not ratify the proposed constitution (Katsiyannis, Denise & Robin 2563). For this reason, the states agreed that the central government should never have the capability to enslave its citizens or otherwise take control of their lives past what they remain willing to allow since they would revolt and overthrow the new government. In this case, the nation’s founding fathers saw the overreaching reason for the Second Amendment was to make sure that Americans had the potential and capability to overthrow the current government in case of need arises. Thus, the founding fathers wanted the American citizens to own similar weapons like the government of the day. Therefore, the American citizens ought to retain similar weaponry like the police and military so that when the need arises to enslave the American people, they could resist equally. However, some people would argue that tyranny is an issue of the past; hence Americans do not need semi-automatic rifles. However, any society that ignores the previous history remains more likely to repeat similar mistakes; hence American citizens must own semi-automatic rifles just for any eventualities.
Research shows that semi-automatic weapons remain extremely dangerous, but their capability to produce a large amount of force and accuracy is why they remain the key means of self-defense (Skinner 10). While most Americans think they do not require such weapons to ensure self-defense, the fact remains that most of them need one without their knowledge. Consequently, it remains at the discretion of the gun’s lawful owner to decide on such issues and not the government. To put restrictions on issues of self-defense to those approaches only acceptable to the present government effects huge authority transfer from citizens to the government an occurrence contrary to the provision of the constitution.
Additionally, congressionally research on federal assault ban in 1994-2004 indicated that the ban did not influence crime since criminals never used a fraction of the banned semi-automatic rifles of the gun murders. Subsequent studies by the RAND Corporation also established that no scientific evidence supporting banning semi-automatic guns has an influence on violent crime or mass shootings in the USA. In this case, murders increased to 19.3% when the federal ban on semi-automatic rifles was active (Smith 357). Americans own millions of semi-automatic rifles and buy new ones annually. Recent statistics on homicides and violent crimes show decreased cases on such variables hence indicating guns do not kill people. In this case, people use guns to kill people or commit crimes; hence, the government should seek other ways to handle semi-automatic rifles for citizens.
Options Available to Solve Gun-violence than Federal Ban on Semi-automatic Rifles
The country needs increased background checks for firms or businesses that sell such rifles. The Federal Government must ensure increased background checks for each private firearm dealers. Research shows that it is only through background checks that the USA government could ensure that prohibited and dangerous persons could not purchase such weapons and not bans. The Congress should enact a federal law that obligates the firearm dealers to report to the government on multiple sales of semi-automatic rifles to ensure the elimination of gun violence in America. Such reports give accurate intelligence of trafficking of guns into and outside the country hence formulate various strategic plans to ensure such rifles remain in safe hands (Spitzer 55). Moreover, suppose Congress fails on enacting such provisions. In that case, the president should utilize his powers and issue executive orders that order firearm dealers to report semi-automatic rifle sales in the country. The reporting would help the Government estimate the number of weapons in the hands of Americans and to whom exactly hence plans accordingly on how to counter any form dangers arising from such possessions.
The government should ensure the equalization of interstate sales of semi-automatic rifles. The present laws prohibit Americans from selling handguns and long guns across states, but no prohibitions on the sale of semi-automatic rifles. Such prohibitions would prevent gun trafficking hence reduced gun violence (Spitzer 55). Therefore, Congress ought to enact laws enabling gun dealers to sell such rifles to people that appear in person, whether from or outside the state. Lastly, the Federal Government should increase the age of owning a semi-automatic rifle in America. Moreover, the federal government should enact laws requiring persons seeking to buy a semi-automatic rifle to need a permit for possession hence counter gun violence and not banning the purchase and use of the same.
Conclusion
Many Americans propose a federal ban on the semi-automatic rifle to reduce violent crime, homicides, murders, and mass shootings. Moreover, some believe strict restrictions on possession and use of such rifles would reduce gun violence. However, such restrictions do not solve the controversy, not the issue of mass shooting experienced in America. Thus, the American Government should not ban the use of semi-automatic rifles for citizens, but instead, implement the other suitable strategies proposed. Such solutions include increased background checks on gun dealers, reporting of semi-automatic rifles sales to the government by dealers, and increasing the age of owning a gun. Additionally, enacting laws that obligate gun seekers to have a permit to ensure reduced gun violence in America and not ban them.
Work Cited
Blau, Benjamin M., Devon H. Gorry, and Chip Wade. “Guns, laws, and public shootings in the United States.” Applied Economics 48.49 (2016): 4732-4746.
Geng, Serena. “Queen’s University June 1, 2018, The Debate on Gun-Control: Is It Reconcilable? There has been considerable debate in the media (Lott, 2018) and Government (Enten.” (2018).1-9
Kalesan, Bindu, et al. “Firearm legislation and firearm mortality in the USA: a cross-sectional, state-level study.” The Lancet 387.10030 (2016): 1847-1855.
Katsiyannis, Antonis, Denise K. Whitford, and Robin Parks Ennis. “Historical Examination of United States Intentional Mass School Shootings in the 20 th and 21 st Centuries: Implications for Students, Schools, and Society.” Journal of Child and Family Studies 27.8 (2018): 2562-2573.
Skinner, Caroline. “Introducing STS Scholarship to the Gun Policy Debate in United States Society.” (2017). 1-56
Smith, Mark W. “Assault Weapon Bans: Unconstitutional Laws for Made-up Category of Firearms.” Harv. JL & Pub. Pol’y 43 (2020): 357.
Spitzer, Robert J. “Gun law history in the United States and Second Amendment rights.” Law & Contemp. Probs. 80, (2017): 55.