Changes

'''Gun control''' refers to all laws enacted at the federal, state, and local level with the intent of placing restrictions on the right of individual private citizens to keep and bear [[firearms]].  The [[United States Constitution]] explicitly recognizes a right to bear arms.

'''Gun control''' refers to all laws enacted at the federal, state, and local level with the intent of placing restrictions on the right of individual private citizens to keep and bear [[firearms]].  This right is a [[natural right]]{{fact}} (similar to the right to Privacy) which we are endowed by our [[God|Creator]] with, and the [[Second Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]] explicitly recognizes a right to bear arms.

"Gun control" is the use of legislation to place restrictions on this right.  This can include:

"Gun control" is the use of legislation to place restrictions on this right.  This can include:

Interestingly enough, the Patriot Act is another law that restricts liberties in the name of safety, yet those in favor of the Patriot Act are often opposed to gun control.

Interestingly enough, the Patriot Act is another law that restricts liberties in the name of safety, yet those in favor of the Patriot Act are often opposed to gun control.

Studies by John Lott and others have suggested that gun control isn't practical and doesn't help public safety <ref>http://www.johnrlott.com/</ref>.  [[Washington, D.C.]] has one of the highest crime rates in America even though it completely bans private handguns <ref>http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/dccrime.htm</ref>.  Opponents of Gun Control claim that such crime statistics show that guns don't kill people, people kill people.  However, proponents of gun control often point to the murder-by-handgun rate in the USA, which runs greatly higher per capita of population than any other nation on Earth.

Besides the wisdom of natural rights, studies by John Lott and others have proven that gun control isn't practical and doesn't help public safety <ref>http://www.johnrlott.com/</ref>.  [[Washington, D.C.]] has one of the highest crime rates in America even though it completely bans private handguns <ref>http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/dccrime.htm</ref>.  Simply put, crime statistics show that guns don't kill people, people kill people.

After decades of increasing infringement on Second Amendment rights, the current trend is in the direction of more gun rights.  The 1994 Omnibus Crime Bill included a ban on certain rifles labeled "assault" rifles solely because of features of their appearance.  This law recenly expired and was not renewed by Congress.  Also, Washington's gun ban was struck down as unconstitutional by the U.S. Court of Appeals on March 9, 2007.<ref>http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20070309-102401-2730r.htm</ref>

After decades of increasing infringement on Second Amendment rights, the current trend is in the direction of more gun rights.  The 1994 Omnibus Crime Bill included a ban on certain rifles labeled "assault" rifles solely because of features of their appearance.  This law recenly expired and was not renewed by Congress.  Also, Washington's gun ban was struck down as unconstitutional by the U.S. Court of Appeals on March 9, 2007.<ref>http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20070309-102401-2730r.htm</ref>