The United States Constitution has long defended the right of citizens to keep and bear arms. However, anyone researching gun laws in the United States can easily see this is not a clear-cut issue, with each state having its own version of “gun control.”
Since a bill permitting concealed-carry was proposed in Illinois earlier this year, the Internet has been ablaze with heated arguments spewing from both sides.
Aside from the strong emotional responses gun control commonly elicits, both sides have many well-versed arguments.
It is simple to maintain that more guns in the wrong hands leads to an increased risk of violence. And, it has been just as easy to argue the opposite — more guns in reasonable hands can be a deterrent of violence.
The arguments for both sides are strong.
“We need fewer guns, not more. It’s the increased circulation of guns I have a dispassion for,” said Peoria County State’s Attorney Kevin Lyons.
This is the simple argument that more guns equals more gun crime — makes sense.
The rebuttal: Proponents of the deterrent theory say more guns in the hands of the right people means more criminals hesitant to use their own gun or to even attempt a crime.
The rebuttal to the rebuttal: Deterrent theory does not work because it causes escalation of the situation. In this scenario, criminals are actually more likely to use a gun to preempt their victim’s use of a gun.
In a society where it is always better to be safe than sorry, one would think the concealed carry debate would not be so ... debatable. But, it is exactly why every vehicle in America is required to have air bags. It is why the airport is so heavily monitored. Because, even if the chances of having a gun pointed between one's eyes are less than a thousandth of a percent, there is always going to be a fear that it could happen.
And, if it could happen, everyone should have the right to protect themselves.
As a recent example, a gunman, who reportedly developed a mental illness after contracting Lyme disease, calmly walked down the aisle of a church in Maryville during services one Sunday in March.
The alleged gunman, 27-year-old Terry Joe Sedlacek, opened fire on the pastor, who later died of the gunshot wounds.
The pastor’s only defense was the Bible from which he read during that morning’s service. He reportedly held it up to shield himself from the barrage of bullets.
