The "Gun Problem": Does It Truly Exist in America?

 Disclaimer: This post reflects only the opinions of myself, Michael Pamon, and no one else.

Guns. Man-made weapons invented to discharge a projectile. Since their creation in the 12th century, many people have viewed guns as weapons of murder and destruction. Many also view them as cultural necessities, especially in the United States of America. The second amendment to the Constitution states that every citizen has the right to "keep and bear arms." However, there has been a disturbing rise in gun violence the last few years in this country, and it is evident that we have a major gun problem...or do we?

Does the gun problem truly exist, or is it all a part of Obama's "liberal agenda" to "get rid of the guns?"




Let me make this clear before I go any further: I am a firm believer that this country has a gun problem. We also have a people problem, but that's a discussion for another time. The point of this post is to bring to light the disturbing reality of that problem. 

Now, any conservative, gun-loving GOP or Tea Party member will tell you that there is no gun problem and this is just part of President Obama's "liberal agenda" to take all our guns. This is simply not true. Even if he did want to do that, you have to understand how hard it would be to do such a feat. There is an entire amendment to the U.S. Constitution protecting gun rights that would require two-thirds majority vote to even change that. There is no grand government conspiracy in the works trying to take away your rights, people. You need to look at the Republicans if you want to know who's truly trying to take your rights away. But that will be a conversation for my next post.

 I'm sure you are all familiar with the terrible tragedies that occurred in Newtown, CT and Aurora, CO. You may also be familiar with the violence tearing apart my hometown of Chicago, IL. If you aren't, then that rock you're living under must have an excellent mortgage rate. These national tragedies happened, and the violence in my city is continuing as you read this. This is just inexplicable proof of how something must be changed if we don't want anymore people being murdered. Not enough proof for you? How about the fact that 29% of homicide victims in Chicago are teenagers? Or how about that of the 506 homicides reported in the city in 2012, 87% of them were gun related? I'd pull even more numbers out, but I think (and hope) you get the point.

In closing, the answer to the opening question is yes. The gun problem in America is truly and frighteningly real, and we must act now if we want our kids to have a future not dictated by the fear of guns. I am not saying that we must ban all guns. I am simply saying that the government has to crack down harder on the guns that are illegally making their way into our communities. There should also just be stricter gun control laws put in place to determine how one legally obtains a gun. Stricter background checks, examination of the purchaser's mental state and of those he or she may live with, etc. etc.

I honestly do believe that people should have the right to protect themselves from home intruders and such. If you feel the need to protect your family from possible robbers, you should be able to own a handgun or shotgun. However, we do not need to be owning semi-automatic and automatic rifles. Those types of guns should only be used by trained professionals (cops, sheriffs, military officials, etc). A handgun is just as capable of killing someone as an AK-47.

What is it going to take for all of us to come together and finally say enough is enough? Are we going to have to let another Sandy Hook shooting or two happen and watch 18 more children DIE? Does another 15-year old girl have to be shot in a park in order for us to take a stand against this problem? We have the power, guys. It is up to us to demand change from our government. Let's make it happen.

Main stats source: http://www.redeyechicago.com/news/crime/