• According to research, the U.S. has 5% of the world’s population, but 31% of all public mass shootings!
  • The U.S. has more mass shootings than any other country in the world, but opinions on gun control are still divided.
  • What are the two sides of the gun control argument, and what do political leaders support? We explain it all.

According to a 2007 report by the Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey, citizens in the U.S. own around 270 million guns! That’s truly a startling number. Interestingly, after the mass shooting in the Florida nightclub this July, Hillary Clinton tweeted this statement:

This is quite ambiguous. Is Clinton suggesting that it’s alright for America to freely sell guns, as long as a few ‘suspicious’ people can’t own them? This statement is an irony in itself. How is it practically possible to keep “guns out of the hands of violent criminals,” when guns are freely available across the U.S.?

Donald Trump, on the other hand, doesn’t seem too keen to tighten gun control. Here’s what he tweeted after the Paris terror attack:

In fact, this August, Trump made a shocking statement. During a rally, he said that the “Second Amendment people” can do their job if Hillary Clinton wins the White House and selects the next Supreme Court justice . To clarify, the Second Amendment is a legislation that states “the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” In simple words, it promotes the idea that civilians should own and use guns. Was Trump suggesting Clinton’s assassination?




Clearly, it seems like Trump thinks a ban on selling guns won’t do much for America. He is not alone, though. There are several support groups which back this idea. Amongst them, is the National Rifle Association. Founded in 1871, the primary goal of the association is to “promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis.” In present-day America, the NRA is mobilizing supporters to protest against strong gun control laws. The NRA wants guns to be sold and used freely by civilians across the U.S. Their argument: restricting the purchase and use of guns is infringing the liberty of citizens. It’s no surprise that the NRA is supporting Donald Trump for President in 2016.  

However, with mass shootings happening in public places and schools, the U.S. does need to reconsider its gun control legislations. It’s clear that the unrestricted access to guns is undermining the security of innocent children in schools, and American citizens in general. Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump seem to be unsure about how they will handle gun control if they come into power. In either case, it’s definitely an issue that should be high on the Presidential agenda!

Image credit: Elvert Barnes/flickr