Gun Control Debate

It is unlikely that everyone who has ever stepped foot in an American voting booth before has taken a moment to understand the importance of what they were doing. On an individual level, they were participating in the wishfully unadulterated democratic process of popular sovereignty. Popular sovereignty is the backbone of the democratic process in that it is from the voting and opinion of the voters where the political system derives all its power. The government runs at the request of the people. If public policy does not follow public opinion, the will of the people is thus not perceived correctly. Therefore, it is the duty of America’s public servants to apply their influence in making public policy through the opinion of the voters. …show more content…
Are the issues presented by the voters of this country actually being addressed? Take for instance the issue of gun control in the United States. Although it is a very controversial issue and is constantly debated, it is a fact that a majority of the country supports some form of gun control. According to a survey by CBS/NY Times in 2015, when asked the question “In general, do you think laws covering the sale of guns should be made more strict, less strict, or kept as they are now? A total of fifty-eight percent of surveyors demanded for the more strict option. When asked "Do you favor or oppose a federal law requiring background checks on all potential gun buyers?" On the same survey a total of “ninety-two percent surveyed responded that they were in favor of some form of background checks” (pollingreport.com). Yet, in the last two decades since the beginning of the recent trend of American mass shootings there have been no legislative bills passed by congress that deal with these issues. How can there be such a disparity in how a government can continue to operate the way it is when a majority of the country is calling for the opposite form of action. This is the same case for the issue of …show more content…
Hodges. (supremecourt.gov) However, before this decision, gay marriage was a national pressing matter. According to a report published more than a year ago by the Washington Post before the Supreme Court decision, about fifty-three percent of the United States agreed with the legalization of gay-marriage.(Washington post) Yet, there was no national attempts or bills passed to ratify any gay marriage rights. However, like most national matters, gay marriage was first handled at a more minute level through the states. In June of 2015 before the Supreme Court decision, there was a total of thirty-seven states, including the District of Columbia, that legalized gay marriage. (Governing.com) The same goes for the issue of Marijuana in that it is currently a matter being handled by the states. As of November 2015 “Four states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for recreational use as well as nineteen states have legalized medicinal marijuana use.” (governing.com) If only congress would take the lead from the States and learn to listen to the opinion of the voters. Instead, congress today chooses to waste precious tax payer dollars on other matters that are not important to a majority of voters, such matter like repealing the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. According to a NBC report “Most Americans (56 percent) would

Show More

The Gun Control Debate

The Debate On Gun Control