is that gun violence is not as relatedto the number of guns as it is to whom owns them. As an anti gun control slogan states,€œif guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns€ (Bernards 54). This is true,stating that if the circulation of firearms was limited to only officials, meaning thatprivate citizens would not have guns, then only criminals would have firearms (illegallyof course) and the public could not defend themselves. Most of the criminals whocommit violent crimes with guns did not obtain their guns legally. Toughening up guncontrol laws is not going to reduce crime. Gun control activists say that waiting periods will reduce the number of criminalswho obtain firearms, but the NRA says that waiting periods are ineffective. They arguethat if a criminal€™s mind were set on committing a crime, a waiting period wouldmerely become another obstacle. Even if a background check were to take place duringthe waiting period, and the criminal was denied the sale of a gun, a weapon could easilybe obtained elsewhere: stolen, bought illegally, or another weapon could be used. Thepoint is that a criminal with the premeditation to act out a crime is going to do so,whether a waiting period is present or not. Guns stored at home are not great dangers to innocent people like children,despite what the public thinks. The slogan of the National Rifle Association says it thebest, €œguns don€™t kill, people do€ (NRA). Children who are properly taughtgun-safety measures are less likely to be involved in gun-related accidents or with crime. If an adult in the household has access to a firearm, such a child€™s life could actuallybe saved if an intrusion were to take place. As David B. Kopel states, €œGun controlAdvocates are hammering at the issue of children and guns as never before in the hopethat it will be easier to enact gun controls aimed at adults in an atmosphere...
