Thesis: More laws controlling the sale, ownership, and usage of firearms in America need to be passed in order to ensure the safety of all Americans.
Reason: An increase in guns leads to an increase in violence and crime.
Evidence: In 2004, 29,569 people in America died from firearm-related deaths. 11,624
(39%) of those were murdered; 16,750 (57%) were suicides; 649 (2.2%) were accidents;
and in 235 (.8%) the intent was unknown. (WISQARS Injury Mortality Reports)
Evidence: In 2004, firearms were used to murder 184 people in Canada, 73 people in England and Wales, 56 people in Australia, 37 people in Sweden, and 5 people in New Zealand, as compared to 11,264 people in America. America has more guns and fewer gun restrictions than all of the aforementioned countries.
Evidence: In 2005, it was estimated that for every firearm related mortality in America, there were more than two non-fatal firearm injuries. (WISQARS Injury Mortality Reports)
Evidence: In 2005, guns were responsible for 11,346 homicides, as opposed to more than half as many homicides, 5,346, with knives, blunt objects, and other weapons. (U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics)
Evidence: In 2005, 71% of all homicides, 42% of all robberies, and 21% of all aggravated assaults were committed with a firearm. (U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics)
Evidence: Of the 11,346 homicides reported in America in 2005, only 533 were deemed justifiable by law enforcement.
Reason: Guns are currently too easy to obtain.
Evidence: There are currently no required background checks for the sale of guns between family, friends, or other private sales.
Evidence: A survey of State Prison Inmates in 1997 showed that, of those who owned a gun, the gun was from family, friends, a street buy, or an illegal source for 80%. (Bureau of Justice Statistics)
Evidence: “How insane is today’s situation where no civilian under any circumstance can own military vehicles or communications equipment, but where young men barely past puberty can buy the deadliest of all firearms through the simple act of going to any gun shop, filing an application, then waiting a few days as his papers are processed?” (“Gun Control Now” article in The Philippine News)
Evidence: A bill that prohibited the sale and ownership of assault weapons expired in 2004 and was not renewed. People can now legally obtain and sell assault weapons as long as they meet the qualifications to own a gun in the specific state (Brady Campaign). Assault weapons serve no practical purpose in today’s society: hunters don’t kill deer with uzis; a machine gun would not protect citizens any better than a handgun; assault weapons fire at a rate too high to ensure the safety of any bystanders.
Reason: Guns kept in homes pose a great risk to all nearby people.
Evidence: In 2004, on average, almost 8 children and teenagers (age 19 or younger) were killed by firearms each day. (WISQARS Injury Mortality Reports)
Evidence: Between the years 1999 and 2004, on average, nearly 1,000 children and teenagers (age 19 or younger) committed suicide with a gun each year.
Evidence: For every legally-justifiable shooting in a home, there are 22 criminal, unintentional, or suicide-related shootings. (Kellermann, et al. “Injuries and Deaths Due to Firearms in the Home”)
Evidence: The presence of a gun in the home triples the risk of homicide and increases the risk of suicide fivefold. (Kellermann, et al. “Injuries and Deaths Due to Firearms in the Home”)
