In 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 stole from his mother were purchased legally. 

According to a report commissioned by the Pew Research Center, 79% of U.S. homicides involved guns. Some people believe we should have stricter gun regulations in our country that make it harder to obtain guns. However, opponents of stricter regulations 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 stricter gun regulations 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. Supporters argue that if high-capacity guns were illegal, schemes like Lanza’s would result in fewer deaths. 

Most countries have stricter gun laws than the U.S. Often, regular citizens are not allowed to own weapons that can shoot many bullets at a time. They also require safety courses, universal background checks, gun registrations, and waiting periods to buy a gun after requesting one. In contrast, these regulations are not in place in many U.S. states. The rate of gun-related deaths in the U.S. is about 5 times higher than in Canada, 51 times higher than in Australia, 81 times higher than in the United Kingdom, and 862 times higher than in Japan. 

Opponents of stricter gun regulations may say that guns are only dangerous in the hands of dangerous people. Many people say they actually feel safer owning a gun for self-protection. In fact, the dominant reasons gun owners give for owning guns are hunting, sports activities, and personal safety. Also, some people argue that, even if guns like Lanza’s were illegal in the U.S., criminals might illegally import them. Without access to guns, they worry that innocent people would be defenseless against criminals carrying guns. After the Sandy Hook shooting, the president of the National Rifle Association stated, “The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.” He proposed arming teachers to combat school violence. 

Do guns help ensure our safety, or do they create more danger? Should there be more limits on gun ownership, or are current regulations enough?