Task 2 model answer 6: Individuals should not be allowed to carry guns

There are some who hold the opinion that gun ownership should be restricted, as it is in many countries, and that people in general should not be permitted to keep them. This is an opinion which can strongly be supported as will now be discussed.

A major reason why governments should not allow people to have guns is because of the potential for accidents. In America, for example, it is legal to shoot another person if they are found in a private home committing a crime, but this can lead to people dying over cases of mistaken identity. In addition, there are crimes where people act rashly or in anger, so guns that were intended for defence are often used aggressively.

There is also the intentional damage caused by guns. It is statistically evident that the number of gun-related crimes is higher in countries where firearm ownership is legal. Countries like America, for instance, suffer from disproportionately high number of fatal shootings in comparison with most other countries.

Some people, however, argue that shooting is a sport, thus being prevented from owning their own firearm is both unjust and a violation of their rights. Yet this must be balanced with the overwhelming number of people who use these guns for criminal purposes.

To sum up, it is clear that the proliferation of guns leads to injury and death both intentionally and unintentionally. Although there are points to support gun ownership, they are weak in comparison to the rising tide of gun crime, a situation which will only continue to worsen under current laws.