Centro Venezolano Americano

Las Mercedes, Caracas

Advanced Studies
Module 5

Arms control in the United States

Teacher: Student information:

Yánez, José Braz, Daniel
C.I: 29.611.014
Caracas, March 24, 2018
 The United States is the country where it is fully recognized, with few limitations on
the part of the law, the right to bear arms. This right is reflected in the second amendment
of that country. The United States became the country where there are more registered
weapons in private hands than in any other country in the world. However, many citizens
have expressed their dissatisfaction with this law, after a series of incidents that occurred in
the nation; and they have also expressed their desire to change this law to end the violence
that has taken root in the country. That is why many plans have been proposed for several
years to improve the arms control in the country.
In favor of developing a good plan for the control of arms in the country, some
citizens, journalists and governors have given a series of arguments to try to convince the
entire population to be able to make this change and have a better control and function of
this system. Mainly argue that there should be a greater restriction of weapons since it has
been shown that greater the number of weapons in citizens is, higher the homicide rate is. It
is also said that indirect violence caused by accidental shootings in homes would be
reduced. Another strong argument in favor of gun control is that only low-caliber weapons
should be allowed for the use of people's self-defense, and the use of high-caliber weapons
or war weapons should not be allowed, as they bring many more dangers to citizens.
On the other hand, the fanatics of the arms, some republican governors and
organizations like the NRA (National Rifle Association), display a series of arguments in
favor of the arms. They claim that weapons are used as a method of self-defense, as they
provide immediate protection to the person who carries it, especially considering that the
bodies that are responsible for public security (such as the police and the army) may be
slow to respond. They also argue that they are vital for hunting animals (either hobby or
feeding), since it is the "most humanitarian" method of hunting. In addition, weapons are
used in several competitive sports.
Despite the aforementioned, I agree that there is a change in the laws of this nation
to favor the arms control in it; since it has been seen that in recent years, weapons in this
country are being misused by mainly young people and adults, this is being reflected in a
significant increase in the number of incidents, massacres perpetuated in different schools
of the country. Nevertheless, representatives of the Republican Party and the arms sellers
continue to claim that there are no dangerous weapons but there exist dangerous people. I
think it should change the age to carry weapons from 18 years to 28 years of age. Age in
which young people should be graduating from college or forming a family, and these
should already have sufficient mental maturity to distinguish good from bad. Another thing
I would add might be that people who want to buy a gun should be subjected to a series of
mental studies.
Some citizens say they feel much safer when carrying a weapon with them. Others
would prefer that these were used only by those in charge of public security and not by any
citizen, though. As in the country several misfortunes have occurred due to misuse of
weapons by adolescents or people with mental disorders; many more people have joined
the initiative to improve arms control in the country. Because of this, the current president,
Donald Trump, has said he will take the necessary measures to avoid the shootings, the
incidents. Although the government thinks what to do, the number of shootings is
constantly rising, as well as the number of deaths. The question, then, is whether this time
will be different.