Gun Control

In movies they are used in mob shoot-outs, for bank robberies, and headline titles for five o’clock news. Overall, guns have a negative connotation as people are fearful of their easily manipulated ability to end a life. People who have never been exposed to a gun in their life are many times afraid of guns. Guns take time for people to develop a sense of comfort around them and to realize that they are not a toy, or something to be condemned out of fear, but rather a means to ensure protection.

A little more than a year ago, I was afraid of guns (I still am); however, now I realize the importance of guns and the message that is behind them after receiving an email that had an enclosed PowerPoint presentation about gun control. After reading the Universal Declaration of Human Rights I realized that nowhere in this document was there any reference to the right to bear arms. In the preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights it states “Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law.” In addition to this statement and Article 2, I began to think that gun rights should be in place. It is ultimately up to the people to protect their rights. Check out these statistics according to the PowerPoint I received from John Santanen.

Gun control was established in the Soviet Union in 1929, and between 1929 and 1953, there was genocide of 20 million people. Gun control was established in Turkey in 1911, and between 1915 and 1917, there was genocide of 1.5 Armenians. In Germany, gun control was established in 1938, and between 1939 and 1945 there was genocide of 13 million Jews. In China, gun control was established between 1935 and between 1948 and 1952, genocide of 20 million dissidents occurred. Similar occurrences such as the previous examples where gun control was established followed by genocide has occurred in Guatemala, Uganda, and Cambodia. Overall, during the 20^th century over 56 million people have been the victim of genocide as a result of gun control rights.

I realize that many of these countries have separate situations; however, there seems to be correlation between the two. These interesting facts have sparked my decision to further research gun control and to determine if it should be included (in my opinion) into the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Initially hearing these statistics, what are your opinions on gun control and right to bear arms?