Criminals will arm themselves anyway. Criminals intent on obtaining guns will find a way to circumvent legislation. The only ones hurt by tighter restrictions are regular citizens who want the weapons either for sport or self-protection. Even if criminals are intent on acquiring guns, the cost, time, and risk involved would be far higher if there were strict gun laws on the books. Incidents such as the Columbine High School shooting demonstrate that, where guns are easily accessible, they can often fall into the hands of minors and others with tragic consequences.
Guns protect the rights and freedoms of the individual.
Our country began when a group of colonists rose up in arms against British rule. The regimes of Hitler's Germany and Stalin's U.S.S.R. recognized this principle and seized all weapons, precluding any effectual resistance to their tyranny. Our options would be limited if the government were given a monopoly on guns. One need only read the newspapers in New York and Los Angeles to realize that even the innocent have cause to fear the police. Communities around the country are justifiably hesitant to relinquish their weapons and be at the mercy of local law enforcement.