Should guns be permitted?

With reference to the recent Virginia Tech rampage shootings, it is evident that America does not limit the usage of weapons like guns. The absence of such official sanctions creates an environment where anybody can own firearms, reason being the American government believes in a liberal society. One would be able to own these weapons which are deemed as a means of self-defence.

Guns are not necessarily harmful weapons. They act as a means of self-defence in cases of threat. Imagine if you are at risk of being harmed by another party, having a gun would put you at an advantage as you can now practise self-defence. You would not feel as vulnerable, but instead relieved that you have a weapon to rely on.

Afterall, it is up to the individual to decide his intepretation of guns. If he has morals, he would not utilize the gun in the wrong way, which is to harm others. In the case of the Virginia Tech rampage, Cho the killer decides to use the gun on wiping out people. This unprecedented incident, which has never occured in American history proves that most do not misuse guns as weapons for attacks.

However, some might think otherwise. They would percieve it as a destructive weapon and see it as an imminent threat to their lives. Guns are only destructive in the wrong hands; in people who have lost their sense of moral and start misusing guns.

I feel that guns should not be permitted on a large scale, but rather with stringent qualifications to own one. For example, people who wish to purchase guns would have to fill in their particulars and history records, which are to be verified by the authorities. The authorities would then decide whether or not to approve his purchase.

If guns were not permissible, would people be able to save themselves from an impending rape or assault? I believe on the whole that guns are still beneficial to a great extent, for it protects the well-being of oneself.