This issue of gun control has been up to debate ever since the recent shootings that have afflicted our country. Notorious shootings such as those that occurred in Aurora, Ft. Hood, and Columbine High School has sparked public outcry for harsher sanctions on gun control laws in the effort to deter such tragic events. However, strict laws have been least effective in the recent years. Currently the nation stands divided on the issue - it is then that we must ask ourselves: Should our nation act on stricter gun laws and legislation? Would new gun laws help or hinder the gun crime rate in the United States? Proponents of stricter gun control laws argue that the number of and different types of guns in the hands of the American public is simply too great. According to National Rifle Association, in 2013 there is an estimated number of 300 million legally own firearms which the number rises up roughly 10 million a year. (Long 2013) Furthermore, the United States is the leading nation in gun ownership per capita. Our country also leads the highest homicide ratio per 100,000 people: U.S 3.21, Canada 0.51, Australia 0.14, Israel 0.09, United Kingdom 0.07, Norway 0.05, Japan 0.01 (Masters 2013) While gun laws across states vary, it is common for prospecting owners to merely fill out an application, get a psychological evaluation by punching in your social security, and ensuring that your firearm is registered. With that in mind, are the current laws effective in deterring gun related deaths? Furthermore, if we take a look at the guns involved in the tragic events that entail mass shootings we’ll find that most involve some form of semi-automatic weapon. For example the Aurora Theatre shooter James Holmes who killed 12 people utilized a semi-automatic variation of the military’s M-16 rifle, a pump-action 12-gauge shotgun and at least one .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol which are all popular firearms available in the U.S market. (Dao 20