The Issue of Pro-gun Control in The United States

This essay will focus on the issue of pro-gun control in the United States. The subject of the legality and practicality of firearms is the most controversial topic throughout all modern countries. The United States is at the center of the gun control debate because of its strong pro-gun founding principles. The United States was born with the principles of the Bill of Rights. The second amendment to the Bill of Rights establishes the right to possess firearms. The second amendment and the right to bear arms is a heated debate within itself, but the US took it a step further with laws such as Right to Carry, and Right to Conceal. The ability to conceal a firearm out in public or concealed carry seems ridiculous, or even stupid. However, concealed carriers help keep this country safe from threats domestic and foreign.

Concealed Carriers as Protectors

Concealed carriers are the fire extinguishers for violent crime. Concealed carriers are compared to fire extinguishers in the article Does Carrying a Pistol Make you Safer?, “Of the millions of Americans who get a concealed handgun permit, only a tiny fraction ever use them. Pro-gun folks compare it to a fire extinguisher in the home — you have it just in case.” Concealed carriers can be compared to fire extinguishers because of several reasons. People who get their CCW never think they will ever have to use it, just the same as when someone buys a Fire extinguisher. The idea is that it will never be needed and is only for a just in case. They are also both temporary solutions, the Fire extinguisher does not replace the fire department, it's just meant to put out small fires, or delay larger ones while the person waits for the fire department. , on the other hand, are used to stop a potential or active shooter, while the police are on their way, in other words, it's not meant to replace the police, only fill their place while they are not present. The whole premise of concealed carry is a self-insurance that will hopefully never be needed just like fire extinguishers, home insurance, and warranties. When someone gets their CCW he or she never expect to use it, it's only there as a just in case type scenario or a better be safe than sorry. They would rather be in an active shooter type situation with a concealed firearm, then no firearm at all. The reason they fight so hard to keep the right of concealed carry, and why it's keeping this country safer is because it allows people to become walking fire extinguishers for criminals. The firearms they carry might not even need to be used to prevent crime, just the thought that someone around might be carrying a gun would deter people from committing criminal acts.

The Counterarguments

A Lot of people would disagree with what was said above and they have their right to do so. Just thinking about the fact that 5% of the US population conceals carry firearms could be shocking to some people. The major legitimate pro-gun-control argument against concealed carry is that more criminals and felons are going to arm themselves and carry concealed firearms because the public is also going to be armed as stated in this quote from ProCon, “Felons report that they often carry firearms to deter victims from resisting. According to a survey of incarcerated felons by the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research, 75% reported carrying a gun while committing a crime because 'there's always a chance my victim would be armed.'” This raises the fair question if none of the public was permitted to carry concealed firearms would more criminals stop concealing weapons to? The reason they carry a firearm now is for authority and in the event that someone decides to fight back. By allowing the general population the chance to conceal carry a weapon, we also allow criminals to conceal a weapon. With more and more of the public concealing a weapon, then there's going to be an increase in criminals with concealed weapons and violent crime. This makes sense because if someone knows what his or her opponent is going to do when he or she are going to respond accordingly by either matching or by one-upping their opponent. So if someone looks at the concealed carry problem through an optimistic lens then by removing the right to conceal carry, then criminals would also back down because they now know that no one around them is armed. In a perfect world, this would work and solve most problems with violent crime.

The Reality of Violent Crime

The part people seem to miss with looking at most problems in the world, is that this isn't a perfect world and there are people out there who will do terrible things and abuse the system. In a perfect world removing concealed carry would only make things worse. If CCWs were removed then the only people who would conceal guns would be criminals. They would have almost unlimited power in the precious minutes before the police arrive. According to Procon, “A 2013 research article in the Wall Street Journal reported that the average police response time to an emergency call is 11 minutes, with some responses taking much longer. In Detroit, the average response time is 58 minutes. Arizona Sheriff Richard Mack said, 'police do very little to prevent violent crime. We investigate crime after the fact.'” With no CCWs those 11-58 minutes become a slaughterhouse because everyone is defenseless. The idea behind concealed carry is giving people the chance to defend themselves in those few minutes where police aren't present. This is why we see many mass shootings happen in “Gun free zones” because the criminals know that no one else in these areas is armed because they are law abiding citizens. If this country removes the right to conceal carry then everywhere becomes a “gun free zone” and it gives unlimited authority to armed criminals because no one stands a chance at fighting back. No matter what this country does criminals are always going to get their hands on firearms, and they are always going to conceal them. By keeping the right to conceal carry we allow law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and others from the criminals of this imperfect world.

The Importance of Safety First

This country may be divided by on the issue of gun control but hopefully, everyone can agree that safety should be our number 1 priority. Whether it be from threats foreign or domestic. While the military protects from threats aboard we need to rely on CCWs to help make this country safer from people who mean harm to others. In no way do CCWs replace the police, however, CCWs need to supplement when police aren't available or aren't on site yet. CCWs are only meant to keep a peace of mind insurance knowing that someone around is willing to help protect the general public from anyone who would tend to harm them.