Imagine this. A loud noise wakes you up in the middle of the night. Is there anyone at your house? You are not sure. Then you hear another noise: a slight scratching sound. Someone's moving downstairs! You cross the room, grab a small handgun, and go downstairs. You confront a man who walks through your house. He lunges at you, but when he sees the weapon, he stops in mid-attack and runs away. This could happen to anyone. We think, "Oh, that won't happen to me," but the truth is that a house is broken into every thirteen seconds. (Source: savetheworld.com) Think about what could have happened if you hadn't been able to fight back. The power to defend oneself is why people have guns. The government should not ban rifles, shotguns and handguns because the truth is there is no reason to take away guns as long as there are criminals waiting for it occur. Let's take a look at gun control laws. effect at the moment. In North Carolina, you can possess a rifle or shotgun without a license. You can own a handgun after completing a thorough background check (which includes making sure you're not crazy and a convicted felon, among other things), and it is illegal to own a machine gun. In the United States, you need a federal license to sell firearms and a background check must be completed before a sale. These background checks are a good idea, but they often go unchecked because of irresponsible gun sellers. Additionally, in 1976, Washington DC passed a law imposing heavy restrictions on firearms. The law was repealed in 2008, but while it was in effect, Washington's murder rate increased by 73 percent. And in Britain, the government bans all handguns. UK crime rate is higher... middle of paper ......do I actually want lawmakers to do something about gun control? The answer is simple: nothing. Nothing at all. Gun laws currently are where they should be. Guns are licensed, making them very difficult for psychopaths like the Columbine shooters to obtain. On the contrary, the permit must be better enforced. Don't change the laws, but enforce them better. Gun control is a very important and controversial issue in our country today. However, disarming civilians is not the best way to fight armed criminals. The government should let us keep our rifles, shotguns and handguns because we have proven through a background check that we are responsible citizens. If we ban guns, we lose our best chance to defend ourselves against criminals who obtain guns illegally. Ask yourself: do you care about your safety? So defend your right to defend yourself!