Monday, December 3, 2012
Gun Control Laws
Is it easy or hard to
purchase and maintain possession of a firearm? The first question to ask is how
old must a PA citizen be to purchase a firearm? In the state of PA it is 18
years of age, with two exceptions. The first exception is if “The minor is
under the supervision of a parent, grandparent, legal guardian, or an adult
acting with the expressed consent of the minor's parent or legal guardian and
involved in lawful activity”(PFOA). The second exception
is if “The minor is lawfully involved in hunting or trapping activities”
(PFOA). So a minor could
possess a firearm under the age of 18 if they are involved in lawful hunting,
trap, or target shooting with a parent/guardian. However, these exceptions also
come with exceptions, because “any person who knowingly and intentionally
delivers or provides to the minor a firearm in violation of subsection (a)
commits a felony of the third degree” (PFOA). So overall, looking at PA laws on
minors possessing a firearm, one can find that it is fairly strict, however,
are the exceptions too empty in significance. How could police be knowledgeable
of what people are really doing with so called “hand and hunting guns”? Could
these guns really just be flooding the American streets with more weapons that
eventually get turned on police? I think we need to look at what we want for the future of America. Do we want our country to turn into the wild west? Or should we get a little more strict on laws that control the purchasing and owning firearms? There are many factors that need to be rieviewd when looking at whether or not it is too easy to buy a gun, I only discussed one factor but I believe we need to get more strict laws.
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I have a dissenting opinion in that we don't need stricter gun control laws. Rather we need the laws enforced and harsher penalties for violent crimes. Criminals are not getting their guns through legal means so as it is. I don't fear the US becoming the Wild West because we evolved from that before most gun control laws were put into effect.
ReplyDeleteGun Control Timeline:
http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa092699.ht
"Wild West" or American Frontier Period was 1600 - 1910
Thanks for sharing this information. Stricter laws might help, but there are always loop holes where people fall between the cracks.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good link but i think it would be better for a little bit stricter gun laws.
ReplyDeleteInterestin choice of topic! PMathys
ReplyDeleteI agree with Polly. Is there a reason you chose this topic? I have mixed feelings about the topic, but the information you have provided helps me understand your side of the issue.
ReplyDeleteI actually own a few guns and so does my father. Most are hand guns and I don't really hunt. We have them to target shoot and for home protection. There are several laws that make it difficult for the wrong people to get their hands on guns. Stricter laws may be a good thing but there will always be ways of getting firearms. Even if guns are completely abolished people will find other weapons to harm and kill people.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. I believe that the laws should be more strict. For example, I believe that the legal age to purchase a weapon should be at least 21.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting idea. I am somewhat torn by the two sides in this topic. I do believe that gun laws should be enforced more aggressively; however, we have a 2nd amendment that protects our rights to ownership of arms, and I believe you shouldn't alter or ignore constitutional rights unless a cultural change or technological innovation demands for a new amendment. The first 10 are unchangeable. Good work.
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