Caleb Murphy, a Patrick County High School senior, won the weekly Bill of Rights Institute’s Join the Debate competition.
Murphy wrote his essay as a classroom assignment and answered the question: Should the U.S. Increase Regulations on Firearms?
He said he selected that topic because it was “an issue that felt important.”
Murphy’s winning essay is printed below:
America does not need stricter gun laws or restrictions. I do not believe in universal background checks, or the ban on “assault weapons”. There are more important issues that contribute to gun violence in the United States. Issues such as mental illness, and poverty are leading factors in gun violence. The United States needs more firearm training to better prepare someone to use a firearm safely. Having stricter gun laws will not help law abiding citizens because criminals do not and will not follow the law.
An idea that people are taking into consideration is to issue universal background checks. The problem with this is that the criminals will not follow the procedure. Law abiding citizens already follow the current procedure to purchase a firearm. Issuing a stricter background check will improve nothing, just make the process longer for good people to obtain a firearm. The criminals will continue to loot or purchase their firearms from the streets. In today’s laws, not following the proper process to purchase a firearm is illegal, but that does not stop criminals.
Some people will argue that having stricter gun laws would stop gun violence in the United States. They believe that when firearms are restricted, the crime rate will decrease. However, most of the mass shootings or any shooting incident points directly onto mental illness. People who are diagnosed with mental illness are not themselves and are heavily monitored and medicated. Sometimes you could never tell if a person has a mental illness. These types of people are more susceptible to psychological problems resulting in them “flipping” and committing suicide or mass shooting. Others believe the gun does the shooting not the person. This is the same ideology as telling your teacher that the pencil gave you the bad grade. This belief is shrewd because it is the person behind the gun that is doing the shooting.
In cities and poverty areas across America, gun violence is on the rise. For example, Chicago and New York have seen an increase in shootings, murders, and armed robberies in the last year. These areas are lower income, poverty areas where crime is excessive. To coincide, these areas are often overseen by Democrat politicians who oppose firearms and push the legislature for stricter firearm policies. People who reside in these areas oftentimes agree with these politicians and their policies. As a result they can not defend themselves when someone attacks them. However, the criminals will not comply with their laws, resulting in an increase of crime throughout their neighborhoods. If people carried firearms and knew how to use them properly, neighborhoods and cities would be a safer place, as criminals would soon realize that their life is at danger the next time they rob a house.
Instead of stricter gun restrictions, people need to be taught the correct way to handle and shoot a firearm. A firearm is there for your safety. If a criminal is coming at you with the intent to harm you, there is no way to protect your life. Even if you do not conceal carry, it is important to understand the fundamentals of shooting and firearm safety. This will ensure that you keep yourself and others safe. If everyone is safe and understands how to use a firearm then there will be less unnecessary gun violence.
There is no purpose in having stricter gun laws. The idea of universal background checks will achieve nothing, but make it harder for law abiding citizens to obtain firearms. People need to realize the threat of mental illness linked to shootings. The person does the shooting not the gun. Above all things, teaching firearm safety will prevent gun violence and allow for a safer future in all neighborhoods across the United States. If there are strict gun policies, criminals will still not comply with the laws.
(Worked cited foxnews.com)
Murphy won a $25 gift card and other items, including a T-shirt from the Bill of Rights Institute, a nonprofit educational organization in Arlington, VA. His name will be entered along with other winners for a chance to win a grand prize of a $1,000 cash scholarship.
Murphy is a member of the Patrick County High School fishing team, Senior Beta, Patrick County 4-H Marksman Shooting Team, VA 4-H Shooting Sports Ambassador, and an Eagle Scout. He plans to attend Patrick Henry Community College.
