Guns don't kill people; people kill people. If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have the guns. These are typical sayings of anti-gun control activists who believe that gun usage and ownership should not be controlled by state or federal laws for they do not feel these laws are an effective means of controlling crime. However, guns are an effective means of self-defense, especially for women who are becoming more comfortable with guns and their uses; and gun-related accidents and deaths do not outweigh the positive outcome of gun possession by informed citizens. It is the misinformation given to the public by the media that unfortunately has generated such a widespread fear of firearms.
             Gun control has not been an effective crime deterrent. If criminals want guns, they can easily get access to one despite any law. Thirty-two percent of criminals get the guns they use by stealing them, forty percent or more from the black market, or borrowing, and at least seventeen percent from retail purchase. Laws such as the Brady Bill have not done anything to stop criminals from getting guns. They constitution guaranteed Americans the right to "keep and bear arms" in the Second Amendment. Gardinar believes that the purpose of this amendment was to "secure each individual the right to keep and bear arms so that he could protect his absolute individual rights as well as carry out his obligations to assist in the common defense". The Brady Bill angered gun owners. Mahtesian said NRA membership soared after the bill was passed by Congress. Gun shop reported hug increases in sales prior to the new law's implementation. Many people are concerned that the government is infringing on their rights as American citizens to own a gun.
             An article in Time magazine failed to mention that "the 20,000 existing gun control laws...have failed miserable to curb crime (but have harassed and intimidated law-abid...