Persuasive Essay On Assault Weapons

Words: 883
Pages: 4

On December 14th, 2012, Adam Lanza entered Sandy Hook Elementary School armed with an AR-15. Lanza then entered classrooms and shot twenty six children. Four years later in 2016, Omar Mateen entered a nightclub in Orlando, Florida carrying a Six Sauer MCX which is similar to the AR-15. Mateen killed fifty people that night. In both acts of violence, the gunmen were using assault weapons. In the United States, American citizens are legally allowed to use assault weapons. The United States needs to place a ban on assault weapons for US citizens. Assault weapons are more deadly than other firearms. Assault weapons are often used in mass shootings. Assault weapons are unnecessary for self-defense. A previous assault weapons ban was in effect from 1994-2004. In 1994 President Bill Clinton passed the ban on military-style weapons. However, this ban would only …show more content…
The second amendment states that Americans have the right to bare arms. A ban on assault weapons in a way would be against the second amendment because the government would be limiting the citizens rights to have certain weapons. A assault weapons ban is not taking away all guns of citizens, just the guns that were designed for military use. Some people may still feel that their rights are being opressed. However, due to recent events that have taken place, it is the government’s duty to protect the citizens. Safety is the government’s top priority even if it limits that rights of citizens.
A ban on assault weapons is something that the United States needs for the safety of the citizens. Assault weapons are more deadly than other firearms. Assault weapons are frequently used in mass shootings. Assault weapons were designed as weapons of war and therefore unnecessary for self defense. These weapons do not belong in the hands of American citizens. The United States government must take action now to protect the lives of the American