Recent tragedies prompt increased gun restrictions
In response to recent tragedies in Aurora, Colo,; Oak Creek, Wisc.; and North Minneapolis, several states are increasing restrictions on purchasing and owning firearms. Minnesota current laws fall under the Gun Control Act of 1999. The current laws allow Minnesotans the right to both purchase and use firearm weapons. The are no current proposals to change the firearm laws in Minnesota.
These tragedies raise the issue surrounding the nation’s gun laws and begs the question of what needs to be changed.
Beyond the use of firearms for hunting, guns are an excess liability to the safety of our state. With its strong ties to hunting culture, Minnesota is posed at a prime spot to take on this difficult task of limiting gun sales to hunting firearms only. In the Aurora shooting a AR-15 assault rifle (non-hunting) was used to injure and kill numerous people.
According to Minnesota’s Revisor of Statutes, there are no firearm registration or owner licenses required for shotguns and rifles. Also no permit is required to purchase any style of gun, except military assault rifles and handguns from a Federal Firearms Licensed gun dealer.
Gun rights activists continue to defend gun owners based on the second amendment, making the United States look like much more of an insecure, than free nation, in comparison to other developed countries. With this as really the sole defense of firearm possession people defend a gun-obsessed America with this amendment.
The Second amendment does not specify which firearms or who should possess them. Therefore it is an outdated and unreliable legal defense to American gun-ownership.
According to the American Bar Association, the rate of death from firearms is eight times higher in the United States than in other developed nations. The United States also has the highest rate of youth homicides and suicides from firearms among the 26 wealthiest nations in the world.
Our country’s stance in comparison to other nations makes it evident that the United States has a serious issue with its gun control, and has suffered because of it.
As violence in public areas occurs sporadically, the issue of firearms continues to need to be addressed in a way serious enough to spark regulation.
Minnesota should be at the forefront of limiting gun violence by increasing the difficulty for people to acquire non-hunting firearms. As scenes of gun violence continue to plague the States, the destructiveness and frequency of these events would be largely limited by stopping the sale of assault rifles and handguns.
The age requirements ensure maturity around a potentially dangerous weapon. Those who purchase a shotgun or rifle must be 18 years of age or older. To use a shotgun or rifle a person must be 16 and be firearm safety certified. For those under 16 years old they must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, be 13 years old or older, and be firearm safety certified.
Pistols and military style assault weapons are limited strictly to those 18 years of age or older. For some military style firearms the buyer must provide a permit and go through extensive training. These weapons have harsher restrictions against those with criminal records, including background checks and proof of sobriety.
Owning all types of firearms is protected by the second amendment. Anti-gun supporters argue that the second amendment is outdated. However, the second amendment’s purpose is preserving the country’s safety. Safety will always be necessary to defend.
Minnesota is one of the few states that allow concealed carry permits. Concealed carry allows someone who has gone through extensive training to carry a handgun in a concealed place. According to a study conducted by John Lott, PhD at the University of Maryland, states that have left concealed carry laws intact have lower murder rates by 8.5 percent than states without concealed carry laws.
Minnesotans have the right to carry a firearm at their place of business and their home for protection. Self-defense is a fundamental human right which must be protected by law. According to Gun Owners of America, firearms were used in self-defense 2.5 million times a year.
Firearms even the playing field between attacker and victim. They take away advantages such as size, age and number of people between a criminal and victim.
If Minnesota takes away the victim’s right to carry a firearm crime will only increase. Criminals will still have access to firearms illegally, but the victim will not. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives 68,000 illegal firearms were seized in 2011, and the ATF estimates millions more are still in use. Minnesota cannot jeopardize citizens’ safety.
Those who argue for firearms to be outlawed, say people do not need to protect themselves because society does it for them. Many believe it is the job of the public police force to defend citizens, and citizens should not be allowed to defend themselves. However, the US has the second highest murder rate in a developed country according to an anti-gun organization Think Progress. Until crime can be lowered and fully handled by the public police force Americans need to be allowed to carry guns.
The Minnesota laws are effective without crossing the line and infringing upon rights. In order to provide Minnesotans with sufficient weapons to defend themselves they must be allowed to own firearms. The Gun Control Act must stay in place to keep the U.S. safe, and preserve freedoms.
