Gun Control Fallacy in America

Ashley Catron discusses the history of gun control in “The Fallacy of Gun Control in America” (?), a proposal argument which argues that gun control was mentioned in the Bill of Rights to protect people from tyrannical acts. Catron supports this claim by providing examples that are evident throughout the history of the United States as well as the world. Catron’s purpose is to inform individuals who do not know the historic side of gun control laws what can happen when gun laws are passed, in order to establish reasoning behind why gun control laws are absurd, as evident throughout history. The intended audiences are individuals who either support or do not support strict gun laws and Catron establishes a relationship with the audience by providing emotional examples.

We find ourselves agreeing with Catron on this matter. Catron is absolutely right that guns can protect us from those who seek to do us harm for no apparent reason. There are many individuals out there who seek to enslave a group of people or person. If these people have the option of owning a firearm, then the safety aspect of their life increases a bit. While we do agree that criminals use weapons for bad reasons, that alone is not a big enough reason to control gun ownership.

Catron provides examples of historical events to back up her claim that “defense of one’s life is an inalienable right.” First and foremost, President John Kennedy, Martin Luther King Junior, and Robert Kennedy were assassinated in the 1960’s (Catron 321). Catron implies that this in turn created the 1968 Gun Control Act “banning the interstate shipment of firearms to individuals and strengthening other licensing and regulatory measures” ( 321). Catron then goes on to describe yet another shooting in which President Ronald Reagan, James Brady, Timothy McCarthy, and Thomas Delahanty were involved and again, another gun control law was passed (Catron 322). We can’t forget to mention perhaps one of the most known events in history, the Nazi Holocaust. According to Catron “millions of unarmed Jews in Europe were slaughtered” (322) because guns were outlawed. If these individuals had guns to defend themselves, would the holocaust have happened? “The defense of one’s life is an inalienable right,” (Catron 324) and according to Catron, this right cannot be infringed (325).

Works Cited

Catron, Ashley. “The Fallacy of Gun Control Laws in America” Connections. Southlake: Fountainhead Press, 2013. Print.