Gun Control Leading Debates in Gun Control Policy

Gun Control Leading Debates in Gun Control Policy

Gun Control • Can gun-safety laws help prevent accidental shooting deaths and injuries? • Do laws making it easier to carry concealed weapons reduce crime? • Does the 2 nd Amendment limit the government’s power to regulate individuals’ possession of firearms?

Can gun-safety laws help prevent accidental shooting deaths and injuries? • Since 1990, 15 states have passed laws requiring adults to either: – Store loaded guns in a place reasonably inaccessible to children – Use a device to lock the gun • Adults can be held criminally liable if a child obtains an improperly stored, loaded gun

Do laws making it easier to carry concealed weapons reduce crime? • John Lott – More Guns, Less Crime • Not only do ‘right to carry’ laws not increase violent crimes, but they actually have a significant effect decreasing them – Murder – Rape – Armed robbery • ‘Right to carry’ laws do seem to lead to increase in property crimes

2 nd Amendment Debate • “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed. ” – Supreme Court and lower federal courts have treated 2 nd Amendment as limited to protection for state militias – ***No federal firearms legislation has been struck down based on 2 nd Amendment