Running Head: THE GUN CONTROL DEBATE
The Gun Control Debate: A Review of the Literature
Ian Michael Woodruff
The University of Texas at El Paso
Running Head: GUN CONTROL
Abstract
For over 200 years the citizens of The United States of America have been given certain
unalienable rights which cannot be taken away. One in which states, “the right of the people to
keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” An extremely controversial debate has stirred up in
this nation due to several different tragic incidents involving fatalities by armed gunmen in the
United States over the past years. This literature review will provide in depth information from
all sides of this debate. The information included will consist of different opinions, ideas,
proposals, and actions taken dealing with gun control and the safety of the United States citizens.
Running Head: GUN CONTROL
The Gun Control Debate: A Review of the Literature
The security of the citizens in this nation is by far one of the most important issues in
today’s government. The debate of gun control gained a plethora amount of interest due to recent
tragedies that had taken place in 2012. The United States has dealt with several incidents
involving deaths by gunmen years before, but no legislative actions had ever been made. The
country mourned over the innocent citizens that have passed away, condolences were offered,
and life as the country knew of resumed the following day. But the tragedy that took place on
December 14, 2012 in Newtown, Connecticut was one that could not simply be set aside and
forgotten. Lives were lost and anger arose from the citizens of the United States. Something has
to be done to stop the killing of innocent victims in this country. What exactly is to be done is the
question at hand which makes this debate so extremely controversial. There are so many
different points of view from all kinds of people such as politicians (both democratic and
republican), citizens of the United States, The National Rifle Association of America (NRA), and
also the hunters in this country. In order to completely understand the eminence of the issue and
what exactly each group of persons involved in this debate is for and or against, the following
research questions will be answered:
1. Why has the controversy of gun control become so popular?
2. How has the controversy of gun control impacted the people of the United States?
3. What are the various views on gun control in the U.S?
4. What have people already done or suggested to fix or make this issue better?
The following review on literature will focus on answering the questions as best as possible and
provide information on the current status of the debate of gun control in this country.
Running Head: GUN CONTROL
Why has the controversy of gun control become so popular?
The idea of gun control has always been an intriguing issue to citizens and politicians in
the United States. You can infer that everyone is interested in finding ways to make our society
as safe as it can be. Even after all of this, sometimes politicians drift away from this topic of gun
control and safety due to other, more important issues they have on their plate at that very
moment. Obviously these politicians are doing their job by handling issue after issue that are
brought to their attention, but when will gun control and safety be taken care of? This topic tends
to be overlooked time after time, until tragedy occurs. The topic of gun control becomes the talk
of the nation when innocent lives are taken by an armed gunman in the most horrendous ways
that no one ever wishes to be informed about. Any death by gun in this country is a horrible
event, but the events that give this topic of gun control its popularity are the events of school
shootings, and mass killings in our society. The most recent tragedies that have brought this
debate to being is the mass shooting in a theater in Aurora, Colorado , and the School shooting at
Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
On the night of Friday July 20th, 2012, the movie “The Dark Knight Rises” was
premiering in the Century Aurora 16 Multiplex Theater in Aurora, Colorado. Fans of all ages
were present at the showing, some even in costume to show their enthusiasm. The audience was
then allowed into the theater to take their seats so the movie can begin. 24 year old James E.
Holmes was also present at the theater, in costume, purchased a ticket for the showing and
preceded into the theater. Instead of taking his seat, Holmes exited an emergency exit in the
theater and returned shortly after with two smoke grenade or tear gas like devices, an AR-15, a
12 gauge shotgun and two .40 caliber pistols which he bought legally two months prior at stores
in the Denver area. Holmes set of the two gas like devices and some fans cheered thinking this
Running Head: GUN CONTROL
was a performance before the movie began. After setting of the devices Holmes then opened fire
on the unarmed audience killing 12 individuals and injuring 58 others.
The main incident that triggered this controversial debate was the tragic event that
occurred in Newtown, Connecticut. On the morning of December 14th, 2012, 20 year old Adam
Lanza grabbed three guns owned by his mother, an AR-15 assault rifle, and two pistols (Glock,
and Sig Sauer). After getting prepared sometime before arriving to his next location, Lanza shot
and killed his own mother Nancy Lanza. He then continued on to Sandy Hook Elementary
School armed and wearing black fatigues and a military vest. Lanza arrived to the locked front
doors of Sandy Hook Elementary School and had to “literally (shoot) an entrance into the
building” (CNN, 2012). Principle Hochsprung, school psychologist Marry Shurlach and vice
principle Natalie Hammond went to go investigate the loud popping sounds at the entrance.
Lanza shot at the three women killing Hochsprung and Shurlach and wounding Hammond. The
shots were heard throughout the school and teachers proceeded with their emergency protocols.
Lanza walked towards the kindergarten and 1st grade hallway. He then entered a kindergarten
class of 14 and a substitute teacher and killed all 14 students. Lanza then walked over to the next
classroom, shot and killed the teacher (Victoria Soto), and then shot and killed six 1st grade
students in that class. The first call to the police station was received at approximately 9:30 AM.
The first responders to the scene including the local police department arrived 20 minutes after
the first call to 911 was made. Law enforcement then approached Adam Lanza slowly as he
backed into a classroom. Lanza then pulled out his pistol and took his own life. Not one law
enforcement officer fired their weapon throughout the whole incident.
How has the controversy of gun control impacted the people of the United States?
Running Head: GUN CONTROL
After the tragic incident in Newtown, Connecticut the people of the United States were
devastated and wanted something to happen. Not only did the citizens of the country pay close
attention to news updates and press conferences held by the politicians of America, but also
wanted to get involved and help in whatever ways they can. A national survey was conducted by
the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, and showed that the public in fact were
closely tracking the gun debate and were not hesitant to express their opinions. This mix of
ratings is the public’s response to Presidents
Barrack Obama’s gun proposals. “A 39%
plurality say Obama’s proposals are about right
while another 13% say they do not go far
enough. About three-in-ten (31%) say the
president’s proposals go too far; 17% do not
offer an opinion.” (People-Press, 2013). The
graphic provided represents a graph that was
created by the Pew Research Center to show
the percentages of the public’s opinion on gun
control from the years of 1993-2012. As you
can see, between the years of 1999-2008 the majority of the U.S population favored to control
gun ownership than to protect gun rights. This resulted from two specific tragedies that occurred,
one in 1999 (Shooting at Columbine High School), and also in 2007 (shooting at Virginia Tech
University). Shortly after the election of President Barrack Obama in early 2009 is when the
countries opinion on gun control became closely divided. This debate impacts citizens across the
nation in several ways but most are impacted emotionally and ideologically.
Running Head: GUN CONTROL
What are the various views on gun control in the U.S?
The gun control debate in the United States is one that has become an intense fight with
punches coming from all directions. The three contenders involved in this battle are those
individuals of the Republican Party, the Democratic party (referring to the President of the
United States, Barrack Obama), and the National Rifle Association of America (referring to the
CEO of the NRA, Wayne LaPierre). The Democratic Party’s view on this issue is to create and
have a lot more control on gun ownership in the U.S. At the other end of the debate, the
Republican Party and the NRA are more interested in protecting the rights of Americans own
guns. All groups are for the control of guns in the country but obviously interpret “gun control’
in completely different ways. I recently conducted an interview with ICE agent Eric Olivas on
the issue and asked him a handful of questions to find out what he believed should be done in
this situation. Olivas first looked at me in the eye and said, “First, citizens need to educate
themselves more on the topic before “choosing sides”, whether it is watching the news or doing
their own research using the internet.” Olivas then continued on saying that, “with or without the
new proposals, we (the citizens of the United States) will always have the right to bear arms.”
Olivas believes the guns citizens should be able to own are handguns for protection, and hunting
rifles for those citizens who hunt regularly. “The high-powered semi-automatic guns are meant
for law enforcement officers and military use in time of crisis or war.” He stressed that it is
unnecessary for regular everyday citizens of the United States to own these high powered
weapons. Olivas ended the conversation by telling me, “Whether or not the new proposals
infringe the 2nd amendment in anyway, the people of this nation will always have “the right to
bear arms”.”
What have people already done or suggested to fix or make this issue better?
Running Head: GUN CONTROL
Politicians on both sides of this debate are working hard on finding some sort of solution
to this gun control problem to help make our country safer but agreement amongst the two
parties is hard to achieve. Not only are most Republicans against President Obamas proposals,
but the NRA also opposes the president’s proposals which can influence some Republicans
decisions. Although Republicans have not set forth any type of proposal for legislative action,
they simply let the public know they disagree with Obama’s new proposals. On the other hand
the CEO of the NRA (Wayne LaPierre) responded to one of Barrack Obama’s press conference
by saying, and I quote, “I call on congress today to act immediately to appropriate whatever is
necessary to put armed police officers in every single school in this nation.” (LaPierre, 2012).
At the opposite side of the debate the President of the United States also has proposals to
bring to the table. President Barrack Obama’s proposals consist of four main points. Closing
background check loop holes is one of the main points that will keep guns out of the hands of the
criminals. Another part of Obama’s plan includes banning military style weapons and high
capacity magazines. To make schools safer is a big priority and also increasing access to the
mental health services. 23 executive action reforms have been created by Vice President Joe
Bidden and members of the president’s cabinet that follow Obama’s proposals. The president sat
down and signed these reforms on January 16th, 2013 after announcing his new measures to
prevent gun violence.
Conclusion
This debate on gun control is still in the process of each party making their proposals to
congress. These proposals range from stricter background check when selling guns to citizens to
having armed police officers in every school in the United States. All that we know as citizens to
Running Head: GUN CONTROL
this day is that something needs to, and will be done to help make this country safer from gun
violence. Half of the work needed to fulfill these need has been done by the debating between the
democrats, the republicans and the members of the NRA and also the new proposals set forth by
the groups. Now waiting is the only thing the citizens can do until congress has come to a
decision to make the new reforms actual laws or not.
Running Head: GUN CONTROL
(2012). Sandy hook shooting: what happened?. Retrieved from
http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2012/12/us/sandy-hook-timeline/index.html
(2012). Gunman turns ‘batman’ screening into real-life “horror film’. Retrieved from
http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/20/us/colorado-theater-shooting/index.html
(2013). President Obama announces new measures to prevent gun violence. Retrieved from
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/01/16/president-obama-announces-new-measuresprevent-gun-violence
Castillo, M. (2012). Nra clear on gun debate stance: arm schools. Retrieved from
http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/21/us/connecticut-school-shooting/index.html
Clement, S. (2013). Republicans are open to gun control. But not president obama’s gun control
plan. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/thefix/wp/2013/01/24/republicans-open-to-gun-control-but-not-president-obamas-plan/
(2013). Mixed reactions to obama’s gun proposals. Retrieved from http://www.peoplepress.org/2013/01/22/mixed-reactions-to-obamas-gun-proposals/2/
(2012). Public attitudes towards gun control. Retrieved from http://www.peoplepress.org/2012/12/14/public-attitudes-toward-gun-control/
Organizing For Action. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.barackobama.com/gunreform?source=gunreform-20130117-hp