Why Gun Control Is Important

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It is possible to make the argument that bearing firearms is a viable form of protection, namely, to protect yourself from others bearing firearms. For example, if you were to ask someone if they had a gun on him or her in the middle of a public shooting (i.e. Sandy Hook) whether or not they would shoot the gunman (be it to kill or injure is irrelevant), I firmly believe that most would choose to act. This seems to confirm for a group of individuals that having a gun in their possession is better than not, because if the situation ever arises, they will be able to protect themselves.
Response
The aforementioned example of a benefit of carrying a firearm is circular, for, if the shooter hadn’t had access to a gun in the first place, there would be no need for you to shoot them with your own. Of course a gun will protect you from other people with guns, but if nobody has a gun, why would you need to protect yourself with one?
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To explain: studies show that if we do not wear a helmet, we are less likely to engage in damaging and detrimental plays, such as in football (Peltzman). Similarly, when we wear a seatbelt, we become more likely to speed. The thing we think is protecting us – the helmet or the seatbelt; and for the sake of this essay, a gun – is in fact subconsciously encouraging us to act more carelessly and put not only ourselves, but also others, in harms way (Peltzman, Specht). The Peltzman effect demonstrates that it is quite possible that things that are meant to keep us safe, in fact, may increase risky behaviour, which in turn, nullifies some or all of the benefits of the object we think is protecting