Essay Example on Carrying Concealed Weapons: Majority of US States Allow It

Majority States in the United States have permitted citizens to carry concealed weapons such as the handgun. Some of the states require people to acquire permits before taking guns around, unlike in other developed countries. For a person to own a gun, he or she must be twenty-one years old and pass both mental and criminal checks. People argue that the acts of others have become unpredictable and threatening; hence, a person cannot entirely rely on the security officers for safety. Majority of the United States citizens believe that every individual should obtain a license to carry a weapon because it gives a person the ultimate power and control. However, civilians should not carry concealed weapons because they do not make them safe but rather put them in a position to commit a crime as discussed into detail in this essay.

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The states that permit carrying concealed weapons have higher rates of criminal activities. In a country where every individual takes a gun after acquiring a permit, the rates of murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault increase. The country has experienced several mass shootings lately while on the other hand, gun homicides are increasing every day. People tend to misuse opportunities and powers given to them. So, a person carrying a gun has a higher chance of committing an unplanned crime, trying to prove. This happens because the law allows a twenty-one old to possess a gun and other concealed weapons. Majority of people at this age group let emotions control them; hence, a person can do anything to prove a point without thinking about the repercussions that will follow. For instance, most reported gun homicides are from young families caused by solvable misunderstandings. However, people die trying to prove points to their partners.

A confrontation can escalate and turn lethal quickly if an individual carries a concealed firearm. An individual carrying a concealed weapon for self-defense has a higher chance of getting injured in an assault than a person with no gun. People with firearms tend to initiate disagreements, which escalate so fast, especially in social places, such as bars. The disagreements in such areas tend to cause more harm than good as many lead to physical fights. In such a case, the threat is the person carrying a weapon. Therefore, the gun owner can get hurt by others when trying to protect themselves. Moreover, the law prohibits the consumption of alcohol while carrying a weapon. If a case involving police occurs, an individual with a firearm can face harsh charges and have their permit revoked. Conversely, some people still have the mentality that only criminals carry a concealed weapon unless the person is a police officer or an undercover. So, if an incident occurs involving an individual with a firearm, one tends to carry all the blame. A person can also die quickly through mob justice if not given a chance to explain that their firearm is licensed and for self-defense. Moreover, a person can end up in jail for the crime he or she did not commit.

The application requirements and background check done before issuing permits do not inhibit dangerous individuals from obtaining weapons. People acquire weapons for different motives, where some reasons are genuine, while others are not. Most of the criminals hide behind good people's faces to pass the background check. Most of the crimes today are committed by individuals who own weapons such as guns, legally. According to Manner and Miss Chapter seventy-nine (2017), eighty-one percent of people arrested due to weapon-related crimes had license and permission, allowing them to carry concealed weapons. Additionally, forty percent pleaded guilty, while eight percent had active injunctions regarding domestic violence. The public feels unsafe, whether walking or driving in the streets after knowing some civilians carry concealed weapons, yet they never went for training. Moreover, many lives get in danger due to weapons carried around by dangerous human beings with license and permission from the federal.

Conclusion

In conclusion, civilians should not carry concealed weapons around because they do not make them safe. The states that permit carrying of concealed weapons have higher rates of criminal activities. The rates of murder, assaults, and thefts in such places increase on a daily basis. On the other hand, a confrontation can escalate and turn lethal quickly if a person carries a concealed weapon. This is because people still believe that apart from police officers, only criminals carry weapons around. Additionally, the application requirements and background check done before issuing permits do not prevent dangerous individuals from obtaining guns. People acquire weapons with different motives, and since it is challenging to determine people with genuine reasons, they fall in the wrong hands. People who commit most of the crimes possess licensed and permitted weapons. Hence, the public feels unsafe, knowing there are civilians carrying weapons around. Therefore, the government should abolish the Act that allows civilians to carry concealed weapons.

Work cited

Manners, Miss. "Chapter 5 location." Private Guns, Public Health (2017): 79.