Gun Control in America Essay -- Second Amendment The Right To Bear Arms

One of the biggest issues facing our nation today seems to be gun control. The government is constantly proposing legislation for more and more gun laws. There are people that feel strongly on both sides of this issue. Neither side wants more gun violence; the question is how to control gun violence. The Second Amendment to the United States constitution states â€Å"a well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed†(U.S. Constitution). The founding fathers included this in our bill of rights because they feared the federal government might oppress the population if the people did not have the means to defend themselves as a nation and as individuals. Law-abiding citizens should have the right to protect themselves against danger. One way citizens can protect themselves is through concealed carry permits. A concealed carry permit allows the permit holder to carry a gun (concealed) in most public places. If an applicant meets a set of requirements, a concealed carry permit is issued. These requirements may consist of a licensing fee, safety training course, fingerprinting, a clean record and no history of mental illness. This is also known as â€Å"shall-issue† laws. Thirty-two states have enacted "shall-issue" concealed carry laws (New Mexico being the most recent in April 2001), and one state, Vermont, does not require any permit of its residents....