In December 2012, Adam Lanza shot his mother with her own gun, stole her other guns, and proceeded to Sandy Hook Elementary School. He shot through the locked doors with a semi-automatic rifle and subsequently fired 154 bullets in under five minutes, killing 26 people.

The guns Lanza’s mother owned were purchased legally. Some people believe we should have gun control laws in our country that make it harder to obtain certain kinds of guns. However, opponents of gun control note that the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizens the right to “bear arms,” or carry weapons. They argue that the founding fathers wanted people to be able to use guns to defend themselves.

Those who favor gun control note that when the Second Amendment was passed, the typical gun was a musket or flintlock pistol (Figure A). These guns held one bullet. In comparison, Lanza’s gun, which looked like Figure B, could shoot dozens of bullets. Gun control supporters argue that if high-capacity guns were illegal, schemes like Lanza’s would result in fewer deaths. The dominant reasons people give for owning guns are personal safety, hunting, and sports activities. Semi-automatic guns are not meant for hunting or basic self-defense.