The case for a
gun ban has at least one very strong
argument: if a gun ban is effectively enforced, the number of
lethal violence will
decrease over time. Many countries,
Japan and
Singapore for instance, who banned guns enjoy a relatively
crime free society. During election periods in the
Philippines where a
gun ban is enforced,
police records show that
gun related crimes from
both licensed and unlicensed
firearms decreased
dramatically.
Personally, I believe the "right to bear arms" is obsolete, and does more harm than good. However, I do recognize that the US is different from Singapore and Japan, and due to political, geographical, and cultural reasons, the second amendment will not be repealed in the near future. Therefore, the current trend towards more regulation and education is a welcome alternative. Especially since I'm going to be living in the US for two years starting this August.