Bob Baumgardner
Rough Draft 8.3
Persuasive Writing Gun control laws in the United States need to be closely evaluated and revised without infringing upon the 2nd Amendment rights of any law abiding citizen in the U.S. so the real issue of unnecessary tragic events and violent crime statistics can be positively impacted. Extending background checks is a good start. Affording more help to individuals with mental disabilities or emotional distress. Most importantly, more attention needs to be directed to illegal possession and sale of firearms. Criminal background checks should be performed upon any sale or transfer related to any and all aspects of firearms. Any and all transfers of a firearm should be treated in like as a motor vehicle sale, as in it should have a title. At the minimum, a firearm sale between to citizens should be in witness and support by a person with an FFL. Ammunition should require equal background checks as the sale of a rifle or handgun. Someone who purchases bulk amounts of ammunition and has no record of owning a firearm can be scrutinized and questioned of the motives for the purchase of the firearms. One system that needs to be overhauled is the way we handle, care for and resources afforded to the mentally ill in this country. Statistically, violent crimes involving the murder of multiple innocent bystanders are committed by an individual who is mentally ill. These individuals should or should not be on medications that alter their mental state. Medical help should be more accessible and easily obtained by the care-takers of the individuals that need them. Sometimes, having someone to talk to is all it takes to save a life. Most importantly, if you share quarters with someone that could possibly be harm to themselves or other, firearms should be restricted. Or at the very least, proof of safe keeping through specifically approved firearms storage units. Regulating the way firearms and accessories are sold is a feasible idea, but banning certain style firearms is ineffective and would not solve the root cause. An assault weapon can be defined as “an unlawful physical attack upon another.” (Ref Page 2). A weapon can be defined as “anything used against an opponent, adversary, or victim.” (Ref Page 2). By those definitions, the federal government enacting a federal Assault weapons ban is completely foolish and it shows the education levels of the ones who regulate our government infrastructure. FBI statistics show that hammers and baseball bats are used in more instances of violent crimes than any type of rifle. For all intensive purposes those should be regulated wherever they are sold. A huge percentage of crimes in inner cities are gang related. More of these violent crimes are committed not be law abiding citizens, but by someone who purchased their firearm illegally. Firearms have become a huge issue in recent months due to the media’s over coverage of tragic incidences. What you don’t hear about everyday is the 15 year old, using an AR-15, that defended his 12 year old sister from intruders that broke into his house, and the perpetrators were later found in the hospital with multiple non-fatal gunshot wounds. With proper training and good parenting, these inanimate objects can do more good than harm.

References
“an unlawful physical attack upon another” Dictionary.com
“anything used against an opponent, adversary, or victim” Dictionary.com