Ahmadzai 1

Hamza Ahmadzai
Davis
Government
17 October 2016
Gun Control
The recurring problem of gun violence in America must be acted upon to attempt to solve
the problem, the Gun Restriction act of 2017 shall send us in the right direction. Gang shootings
that are happening with legally purchased firearms are a clear indication for why we need reform
in our laws over firearms. In 2011 92% of gang related homicides were committed with a
firearm, this bill will be able to cut down the percentages of violence with legally purchased
firearms. This bill shall also increase the difficulty of purchasing firearms for known gang
members and individuals that should not possess firearms. In just the past August 2016, 90
murders occurred in Chicago, mainly from gang violence with firearms - (The New York
Times). This bill should be passed and become a law because terrorism with firearms shall be
lowered, gang violence with firearms shall go down, and more gun control will lead to fewer
suicides and fewer accidental gun deaths.
Mass shootings and terrorisms that are being executed with legally purchased firearms
are a huge epidemic in America, we must pass laws to fight this epidemic. If we pass laws to get
extensive background checks on individuals who wish to purchase a firearm we will be able to
lower the possibility of terrorists purchasing firearms. Over the past decade in America more
than 100,000 people have been killed in a result of gun violence (The White House). The
immense amount of lives lost in gun violence in just the last decade shows us why we need
stricter gun laws. Mass shootings in majority occur from individuals with past criminal records

Ahmadzai 2
or records that show instability in their behavior, we must use this information we have to our
advantage and not allow them to purchase firearms. Today many experts believe the most
effective means to lessen the carnage in attacks like the one in Orlando is to ban high-capacity
weapons (The Trace) Automatic guns with large magazine clips have been used in many mass
shootings in the past and we must not allow further sale of these overpowering weapons.
Firearms with extensive magazine clips do not need to be used for hunting or needed for self
protection so it would benefit safety in America to end production and sale of automatic firearms.
Gang violence in America is a huge problem and it must be controlled as soon as
possible. Almost all of gang murders occur with firearms that are purchased legally and we must
go in a deeper background check on individuals history to be able to stop these shootings.
Making firearms harder to obtain will discourage individuals with questionable pasts to try to
purchase a firearm. Ending the sale of automatic weapons can stop the mass killing that can
happen in gang shootings and can be more controllable. The statistic that 92% of gang related
homicides are caused by firearms - (NIJ 2013) is astonishing because that just shows how much
we can bring down gang homicides with this law. This law's goal is to increase the safety of
American people and lowering gang homicides will be a big step to increasing safety.
This law will mandate safety features on all firearms which will be able to drop down
accidental gun deaths percentages. Putting safety features on firearms will not harm anybody and
it will make sure to keep safety on weapons. Studies show that majority of gun users support
common sense gun control for the safety of others (pro con). In 1996 54% of deaths from
gunfire were caused from suicide more in depth background checks will be able to lower
suicide rates and individuals who do feel suicidal can be offered counselling. Everybody should
be offered help when they really need it and it will result in lowering firearm deaths.

Ahmadzai 3
Those who oppose this law would most likely say they do not want to end the sale of
automatic weapons because it is unfair to take them away. Automatic weapons are not required
for self protection because they are an overpowering weapon that is just too dangerous for
society. Also automatic weapons wouldn't be used for hunting so they are capable to do more
harm than good. Another big argument against more gun laws is that it is against the second
Amendment, but the second amendment also states that we have the right to bear arms to
fulfill the duty to serve in a militia, also as it is stated in The Second Amendment: A Biography
To the framers even our question would make little sense. To us today, their answer makes
little sense (Second Amendment Biography).Today, nearly every state has such a provision in
its own constitution clearly protecting an individual right unattached to militia service
(Gunfight) the right to bear arms was originally made for militia service. Others will say they do
not want to be extensively background checked but it is much better to be safe and know who is
purchasing these weapons. There should not be many opposers for extra safety features on
firearms because they are just adding safety. This bill should not be heavily opposed by many
because it is not hurting many people and it can save so many lives.
Gun control does not have to be drastic for it to be effective, this law will raise safety
without hurting the average individual who wishes to purchase a firearm. Getting rid of
automatic weapons will bring down mass shootings by a great amount which is very important.
Automatic weapons have no place in American society and they must end production of
automatic firearms. Also mandating more in depth background checks can help protect people
from threats of individuals with bad intentions which will help everyone. Safety features on
firearms will help from accidental firing of weapons which can hurt or even kill innocent people.

Ahmadzai 4
The importance of this bill is immense and it must be put in act as soon as possible for the safety
and protection of the American people.

Work Cited
"Firearms-Control Legislation and Policy." Firearms-Control Legislation and Policy. Library of
Congress, 30 Aug. 15. Web. 18 Oct. 2016. https://www.loc.gov/law/help/firearms-control/russia.php
"Gun Violence." National Institute of Justice. Office of Justice Programs, 4 Apr. 13. Web. 18 Oct.

Ahmadzai 5
2016. http://www.nij.gov/topics/crime/gun-violence/pages/welcome.aspx
"ATF." Thefts/Losses United States. Department of Justice, 1 Jan. 15. Web.
https://www.atf.gov/news/pr/atf-releases-2014-federal-firearm-licensee-losstheft-report
"Guns and Gun Control." Nytimes.com. The New York Times, 14 Oct. 16. Web.
http://www.nytimes.com/topic/subject/guns-and-gun-control
"FACT SHEET: New Executive Actions to Reduce Gun Violence and Make Our Communities Safer."
The White House. The White House, 04 Jan. 2016. Web. 18 Oct. 2016.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/01/04/fact-sheet-new-executive-actions-reduce-gu
n-violence-and-make-our
AlexYablon. The Trace Bans on HighCapacity Magazines Not Assault Rifles Most Likely to Limit
Mass Shooting Carnage Comments. N.p., 13 June 2016. Web. 25 Oct. 2016.
<https://www.thetrace.org/2016/06/high-capacity-magazines-orlando-shooting/>.
ProCon.org. "Gun Control ProCon.org." ProCon.org. 28 June 2016, 2:49 p.m., gun-control.procon.org/

Books
Waldman, Michael. The Second Amendment: A Biography. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
Arnesen, Eric. "'Gunfight: The Battle over the Right to Bear Arms in America' by Adam
Winkler." Chicagotribune.com. N.p., 20 Oct. 2011. Web. 25 Oct. 2016.

Ahmadzai 6