Have you heard about the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting? How about the Aurora shooting? There are many others, some not as big and others even bigger. These shootings caused a lot of debate on whether guns should be banned. It has been said that with gun control, the crime rates will decrease. “The Golden State definitely has a lower rate of gun deaths … compared with the nation and many other states, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. California had 8.9 such deaths per 100,000 people from 1999 to 2010, ranking 33rd among states and the District of Columbia and falling under the 10.2 national rate. Nevada’s gun death rate ranked sixth, at 15.9; Arizona’s ranked seventh, at 15.3.” (Josh Richman, Los Angeles Times) While others disagree. Guns should not be banned. Many people have guns because it’s what they do during their free time. If guns are banned, criminals will not care. Guns are needed for .
Many people have guns. Not for killing, but as a sport or hobby. They go hunting and shooting to have fun, but in special areas. Jason Lee Van Dyke says " is about more than hunting and self defense. It is about having fun." Others collect guns the same way people would collect stamps or cool rocks. They enjoy having things that are of interest to them. They enjoy having the privilege to show their guns. Jason Lee Van Dyke also says "Fun is the reason many people purchase these so-called 'assault rifles,' because let's face it, the AR-15 is incredibly fun to shoot … nobody 'needs' a Ferrari either - but a Ferrari is a heck of a lot more fun to drive than a Kia.”
Criminals will not care if guns are banned. They will find a way to get one and they could use another weapon. Similar to the debate on whether or not cigarettes should be illegal. People will always find a way to get cigarettes. Criminals will have a way to hurt innocent people. These people won’t have enough protection against the criminals. While the criminal is shooting with his gun, the innocent people are trying to fend for themselves with a knife. The odds aren’t fair.

Guns are needed for . If guns are banned, regular people won’t have sufficient protection. Some people live in bad neighborhoods and live alone. Guns are a way for . . If guns are banned, the criminal will either have a gun or some other form of a weapon. While they have more effective weapons, innocent people have a lesser advantage against them. If someone had carried a gun at any of the shooting that have happened, they could have prevented all of those deaths and injuries. The random person could have shot the shooter and defeated him for a while, maybe even kill him. According to David Kopel from Los Angeles Times, there were many other shootings that aren’t displayed on the television. . Layland Oberschulte says "I know there are still bad people out there," she said. "I feel a peace of mind knowing that the bad people that commit crimes now have one more person secretly fighting against them.”
People state that there are other ways to defend yourself. Although that may be true, those other weapons aren't as are quicker to pull out and have a much greater impact. The shooter won’t be able to come back fast enough.
People also state that guns are not safe to have around. “Anti-gun ideologues invent all sorts of fantasy scenarios about the harms that could be caused by armed teachers. But the Utah law has been in effect since 1995, and Texas' since 2008, with not a single problem." (David Kopel, Los Angeles Times) Gun owners are aware of the consequences that having a gun has. For example, they know that
kids are able to get a hold of one, accidentally. First off, guns have a safety button that can prevent accidents. They also tell the kids about the guns and how they shouldn’t play around with them. Along with that, they hide the guns in hidden, hard to reach places. Jason Bostic is the father of a toddler, he says "He doesn't touch them, he doesn't play with them, and there is no free-willy-nilly pointing toy gun at people, He asks questions when they are out or when I am cleaning and doing work on them and they are answered. Most importantly my guns are secured."
In conclusion, many people are tied to their guns. It’s a way of life to people, like a hobby. If guns are banned, criminals will not care. They will find other ways to get a gun. They could also use any other weapon and still cause trouble. Guns are a vital tool for . Being armed can stop a shooter from killing and hurting innocent people. That is why guns should not be banned.