Controversy continues over Second Amendment right

By Kelcee Mader | gargoyle@flagler.edu

An increase in violence with use of guns throughout America has led to debates in Congress, leading Americans to believe tighter gun controls may be seen in the coming years.

On January 30, former US Congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords, pleaded to Congress in attempt to persuade people to take action and to put a stop to the gun violence throughout the United States.

“Violence is a big problem. Too many children are dying. Too many children. We must do something. It will be hard, but the time is now. You must act. Be bold, be courageous, Americans are counting on you. Thank you,” Giffords stated, according to ABC World News.

Giffords was one of 13 wounded after a gunman opened fired in a grocery store parking two years ago, killing six people.

President Obama, as well as Congress, has proposed several ideas in regard to creating tighter gun controls, according to The New York Times. These include, but are not limited to: requiring background checks on the sale of all guns, including gun sales by private sellers and sales at gun shows, enforcing the ban on assault weapons, limiting ammunition magazine sales, banning the possession of armor-piercing bullets except to members of the military and law enforcement, increasing funding that will allow for 15,000 more police officers to protect the streets and funding programs that will train more police offices, first respondents and school officials on how to better handle armed attacks.

In a recent study done by The Washington Post, 53% of Americans were in favor of President Obama’s proposals on gun controls while 41% were against the proposal. The study also showed 76% of democrats were in favor of Obama’s proposal while 72% of republicans were against it. Independents come in with a close tie, showing 51% for and 44% against the proposal.

The controversy over gun controls continued at the January 30 Congress hearing when the CEO of The National Rifle Association, Wayne LaPierre, stated that gun owners will not take the blame for cominals, nor let the government tell them when they can or can’t own a gun.

The gun controls proposals have strengthened debates after 20 students and six school employees were fatally shot in Newtown, Conn., in December of 2012. These changes proposed by President Obama and Congress will not take away an American’s second amendment right to bear arms.