Angelo Ortega

Professor Gammage
English 102



Armed America

The recent debate on gun laws has recently swept the country with both
controversy and applause. On one hand pro-gun activists constantly fight for their
constitutional right to legally bear arms while on the other hand anti-gun activists gain
more and more publicity and backing due to all of the recent mass shootings around the
United States.
The reason anti-gun activists are gaining so much backing recently is due to the
fact that multiple media outlets are constantly reporting from capitol hill on new gun
restriction policies and gun tragedies in general. More specifically mass shootings such
as the Aurora Colorado and Sandy Hook incidents really hit home to a lot of Americans.
Many people believe that if guns were restricted, many of these recent mass shootings
would have never have happened. Astound researcher and commentator, Adam
Ozimek, author of Some Thoughts on Gun Laws shares his opinion and states that
even with gun control, someone willing to commit mass murder on such a large scale
would not let a few gun restrictions stop him from getting a deadly weapon. In relation
to the Aurora shooter, James Holmes, Ozimek comments that the IEDs and explosives
that filled his apartment suggest that strong illegality wouldn't have stopped him, as
explosives like this are obviously very illegal. It just seems illogical that the media is


constantly pressing the information that gun restrictions will stop people like this from
committing such heinous crimes. This is where pro-gun activists have the upper hand
on anti-gun activists. The logical side to things will always overcome quick thoughts
and fast judgement on issues.
Pro-gun activists tend to have the upper hand on this issue due to the historic
significance of America and its gun culture. It was written in the constitution that
Americans have the right to bear arms. Many people play around with the actual
meaning of what it means to bear arms, but it essentially means it is any Americans
right to purchase and possess a firearm within state and federal law, and this
constitutional right alone has given most americans the opinion that gun laws should
NOT be further restricted. According to a recent gallup poll, people that feel that gun
laws should be further restricted is down 9% (2013) and is now at 49% (2014). This
means that 51% of the American public feels that gun laws should either be left alone or
even less restricted. Pretty much, aside from the passing surge of support for stricter
gun laws after the Newtown shootings, Americans' support for gun control has tapered.
How are these people even developing their own opinions though?
Not only is their a simple yes or no to the subject. There are many factors that
play into whether a person believes in anti-gun policies or pro-gun policies. For the
most part people do take sides according to numerous media outlets, but who is talking
on those particular media outlets? Many media outlets are very left wing or very right
wing, which means they tend to lean towards a certain political orientation. So your
thoughts on the gun control debate largely rely on which political party you get your
information from. According to gallup.com Popular demand for tightening legal controls


on gun sales varies most by political orientation, with Democrats broadly in favor of
stricter gun laws and more than a third in favor of banning handguns. Overall, political
orientation and the particular sources you get your information from largely depict your
views on the subject.
Bottom line is President Barak Obama and the Republican party have thus far
failed to compromise on further gun restrictions. No matter what the Democrats or
Republicans specific intentions are for gun control, public demand for further gun
restrictions has waned.














Citations





Ozimek, Adam. Some Thoughts on Gun Laws

Saad, Lydia. U.S. Remains Divided Over Passing Stricter Gun Laws/October 25,
2013http://www.gallup.com/poll