Crime in America is at a higher level than ever before. People blame many different things for this peak. Amongst many other things, people consider guns to be a major contributing factor to the problem of crime. I do agree with this, however I disagree with the methods that many people propose will end this vice. Although most people believe that gun control and firearm restrictions will end the problem of gun-related crime, I believe that the answer to the problem of gun-related crime in our country is mass proliferation of firearms throughout the general public. This proliferation plan would be based on giving a government issued firearm to any citizen, age 18 years or older, who does not have a criminal record.
There are, obviously, many arguments against this plan. People will argue that such an increase in firearms will only increase civilian casualties, both criminal and domestic. This, however, is not quite true. Criminal in our society who want guns will always get guns, no matter what restrictions our government puts on firearm distribution/use. If a criminal is willing to shoot another human being, he/she isn't going to have any problem obtaining a gun illegally. So, restrictions on firearms isn't going to decrease violence, only make it a little more difficult for the criminals to get guns. By giving guns to the non-criminal faction of our society, we will be arming the victim, not the victimizer. The number of guns in the hands of criminals would not increase, and therefore this plan
would not increase crime.
The other initial problem with this plan is the fear of accidental casualties in the household that would result from the increased amount of firearms in American homes. This problem, in fact, is already a vicious problem in our country. However, I assure you that the main reason that these accidents occur, especially to children, is not the presence of the firearm itself, but rather the lack of knowledge on the part of the person(s) who handle the gun. Children not properly educated about a gun don't know exactly what one is, and this curiosity and the resulting search for information often results in tragedy. This plan of mass distribution would coincide with a project of mass education. People who get the guns, and the children of those people, would be offered programs that would teach the proper use of guns, and also how dangerous a gun can be, if handled improperly. Consequently, the domestic casualties due to accidental discharge would actually decrease because of the plan's educational program.
Now that the potential problems have been dealt with, the positive outcomes of this plan can be focused upon. Giving guns to the law abiding victims of crime increases the risk a potential criminal has to take to commit his/her crime. No longer will the criminal be breaking into a helpless household. No the criminal will be intruding upon a household armed and ready to defend itself, if need be. This risk will surely deter criminals from committing the crime, and , therefore, the crime rates will
to down.
Also, as mentioned before, the educational programs that would accompany this plan would decrease the casualties related to accidental discharge of firearms, especially by children. Another bonus that would result from this plan is unrelated to crime. An economic rise would occur if this plan was to be implemented, due to the sudden rise in demand for guns and ammunition. This need would result in not only more jobs for the public (possible employment for prospective criminals?), but also an increase in the sale of ammunition, which would put money back into the economy. Once recognizing all of these benefits, one can truly comprehend the positive power of this plan.
Most people believe that gun control, increasing the restrictions place on the sale and distribution of firearms, is the answer to the rising crime and accident rates. However, considering the plan I propose, it is easy to see that controlled gun distribution throughout the non-criminal faction of the population would combat these vices more effectively. If executed correctly, this plan would result in a flood of benefits. It is time to realize that we, as Americans, must deal with the problem of crime related to guns in our country "by any means necessary". This plan, extreme as it may be, is just the necessary means we need to take to work towards ending the problem of crime, especially gun related crime, in our country today.