IntroductionIn America, guns have been a part of the country's society since its birth. Throughout history, American citizens have used firearms to protect the nation, protect their families, hunt for food, and participate in sporting activities. The issue of guns and their control is complex. Balancing the rights and freedoms of the individual with the well-being and safety of the public has always been a precarious balancing act. In the United States, gun control is one of those tumultuous issues on which both sides are firmly entrenched in their positions. Parties in favor of gun ownership and the freedom to use and keep guns rely on the fact that these rights are enshrined in their constitution. In this climate of increasing violence, unrest and crime, gun advocates believe more than ever that their position is justified. As citizens of the “Free Country,” owning a gun is a fundamental right, and may even be a necessity... Anti-gun lobbyists point to the same increasing violence and gun-related crimes in the aim to call on the government to take action. By enacting more laws and stricter control, these people who are not pro-gun believe that society would be safer. Currently, there are many regulations and restrictions on firearms imposed by the government. However, there are no mandatory national requirements or comprehensive legislation. Current laws vary from state to state and in some cases are poorly enforced. Concrete evidence for the effectiveness of these current regulations is ambiguous. The question of how government and society handle gun control is unique to the United States. In a complex issue such as gun control, both sides of the equation have valid arguments to be middle of paper......the "American way of life" will have to be incorporated into any legal proposal . Works Cited Cox, Chris, (02/12/11). Court Battle Update: The NRA is fighting to uphold – and expand – the rights of gun owners. Accessed (02/15/12.) http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Court+battle+update%3a+the+NRA+fights+to+enforce--and+extend--gun...-a0248818799James D. Agresti and Reid K. Smith, (01/22/12). Gun Control Facts – “Number of Hunters in America.” Accessed (02/11/12)http://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp#[6]Liptak, Adams, (04/23/08). The number of prisoners in the United States exceeds that of other nations. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/23/us/23prison.html?pagewanted=2Stevens, Richard W., (1997). Statistics and “Gun Control.” Accessed (02/19/12) http://jpfo.org/filegen-am/data-docs.htm Whisker, James B., (1999). The rise and decline of the American militia system, 32-93.