Gun Control In America Research Paper

Jonathan Nguyen
Professor Shirin Sahani
PSCI G185 60438
5/8/2016
Gun’s in America Vs United Kingdom
Gun control is by far one of the most controversial subjects in the entire world. Whether gun control is good or bad is debatable, though with statistics from two very different countries we will be able to form an opinion and have a better understanding of gun controls effectiveness. In evaluating and studying The United States and The United Kingdom, both being completely opposite from one another in view of Gun control we will be able to see these two different sides. The U.S having a unrestricted gun policy and U.K having a much more restrictive gun policy, we will discover the overall ideological view on culture and political standpoint.
Coming from the 20th century most gun control laws, are based on state policies, as opposed to federal laws, which makes every gun control criteria different. While the process of obtaining a gun license involves mainly the state, federal law, as opposed to state law, requires all those who want to purchase a gun to a background check. The background checks are aimed solely at determining whether or not you are prohibited from purchasing guns under federal law. Some states require some to take a firearms safety course or even fingerprints. Besides having three different branches of government, America has state law and federal law to ensure a separation of power. A federal law applies to the entire nation The U.S. Constitution forms the basis for federal law; it establishes government power and responsibility, as well as preservation of the basic rights of every citizen. State laws are individual laws in which the state carries for itself. The state law then applies to residents and visitors of the state, and also to business entities, corporations, or any organizations based or operating in that state. When a state law is in direct conflict with federal law, the federal law prevails. A state law can afford more rights to its residents than federal law, but is not meant to reduce or restrict the rights of a U.S. citizen. Which makes
With heated debates and arguments about gun control, politicians are forced into “trying” to find a solution. Gun control is a popular subject though does have slow process process in America. Twice in the past two years the gun issue has reached the nation’s highest court. In the 2008 Supreme Court case District of Columbia v. Heller the court ruled that the Constitution protects an individual’s right to own a gun for personal use. But the decision only applied to federal laws and failed to address local and state laws. Thus, in July 2010 the Supreme Court ruled that the federal right to bear arms also applies at the state and local level. The ruling lifted a nearly 30-year-old Chicago gun ban. Obama calls for a “Sense of Urgency” to fight gun violence in a video recorded by “CNN”. Obama advocates for a better and improved ways to distribute guns such as creating more or hiring more people to do background checks. Obama having a Democratic viewpoint, respects the 2nd amendment but wants to bend it to what he believes will decrease violence. On the hand republicans believe the Second Amendment guarantees an individual's right to gun ownership and that government efforts at regulation were unconstitutional. Ownership of guns should be up to the people and not by the government. These two viewpoints besides abolishing the 2nd amendment is what separates American citizens attitudes toward gun control. In