IntroductionIn America guns have been a part of the country's society since its inception. Throughout history, citizens of the United States have used firearms to protect the nation, protect their families, hunt for food, and engage in sporting activities. The issue of guns and gun control is complex. Weighing the rights and freedoms of the individual against the well-being and safety of the public has always been a precarious balancing act. In the United States, gun control is one such tumultuous issue that keeps both parties firmly entrenched in their positions. Those parties in favor of gun ownership and the freedom to use and bear arms rely on the fact that provision for such rights is enshrined in their constitution. In this climate of increasing violence, full of disorder and crime, gun advocates feel more than ever that their position is justified. Because citizens of the “Land of the Free” owning a gun is a fundamental right, and may even be a necessity… Anti-gun lobbyists point to the same growing violence and gun crimes in an effort to demand the government take action. By enacting more laws and stricter controls, these non-gun-friendly people believe society would be safer. There are currently numerous regulations and restrictions on firearms imposed by the government. However, there are no mandatory national requirements or comprehensive legislation. The laws in force vary from state to state and in some cases are poorly enforced. Hard evidence on the effectiveness of current regulations is ambiguous. The question of how government and society address gun control is uniquely a United States issue. In an issue as complex as gun control, both sides of the equation have compelling arguments to be front and center in the “American way of life” and will need to be incorporated into any legal proposal.Works CitedCox, Chris, (02/ 12/11). Update on the court battle: The NRA fights to enforce and expand the rights of gun owners. Retrieved on (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. Retrieved on (02/11/12) http://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp#[6]Liptak, Adams, (04/23/08). Prisoner Count in US Dwarfs Other Nations.http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/23/us/23prison.html?pagewanted=2Stevens, Richard W., (1997). Statistics and "gun control". Retrieved (02/19/12) http://jpfo.org/filegen-am/data-docs.htmWhisker, James B., (1999). The rise and fall of the American militia system, 32-93.