The Benefits of Stricter Gun Control Ever wonder why countries like the United States of America experiences the most gun massacres among other developed countries? No, it is not the barbarous minds of the civilians, but perhaps the country’s lenient handgun laws. Handgun laws and licensing are enforced in many countries, limiting and controlling the possession and use of firearms within the civilians. To an extent, gun control keeps crime and deaths in control as well. However, nations with more lenient handgun laws suffer more deaths, crime and struggle at maintaining peace within their population. From time and time again, we see that the aftermath and tragic new stories of gun violence and accidents can be related to the lenient regulations. …show more content…
A clear comparison can be made between the United States and countries like Japan. The Atlantic writes, “Of the 23 ‘rich’ countries, the U.S. gun-related murder rate is almost 20 times that of the other 22” (Fisher, 1). There is an evident correlation between looser gun control laws, higher gun ownership and higher gun-related death rates. In contrast, Japan has one of the strictest gun control laws among other developed countries, and show the least amount of gun-related deaths. The Atlantic also illustrates, “In 2008, the U.S. had over 12 thousand firearm-related homicides. All of Japan only experienced 11, fewer than were killed at the Aurora shooting alone” (Fisher, 1). In Japan, simply firing a gun would break three separate laws; one for holding a gun, one for possessing unlicensed bullets and another for firing them. Simply put, making firearms more difficult to acquire causes less exposure to them, ultimately reducing firearm usage. Not to mention, stricter gun control laws and reduced gun ownership minimizes firearm-related incidents, as can be seen after the mass shooting in Australia. In 1996, the tragic event occurred at Port Arthur historic site in Tasmania, one of Australia’s largest tourist destinations. The shooting resulted in 35 fatalities and over 20 injuries. As a result, Australia has strengthened their firearm control laws, and no …show more content…
A study from the American College of Physicians show that firearm homicides and suicides account for 95.9% of the 464,033 gun-related deaths in the United States of America between 1999 and 2013. This statistic shows the terrifying number of intentional gun-related deaths in a country with looser gun control. Also, people who possess weapons and firearms tend to be involved in violence. With America’s high gun ownership of approximately 112 guns per 100 residents, that tendency seems inevitable to most civilians. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health concludes that “legal purchase of a handgun appears to be associated with a long-lasting increased of risk of violent death” (Cummings, Grossman, Koepsell, Savarino and Thompson, 1). This study shows that being exposed to guns will eventually lead to violence. By enforcing stricter gun control and ownership, gun-related homicide and suicide rates are bound to drop. Not to mention, large homicidal acts such as mass shootings are associated with the possession and use of legal firearms. The article “How They Got Their Guns” by The New York Times illustrate that “a vast majority of guns used in 16 recent mass shootings, including two guns believed to be used in the last Orlando attack, were bought legally and with a federal background check” (Buchanan, Keller, Oppel and Victor, 1). With such
Guns are not the trouble, people are. The United States is #1 in world gun ownership, and yet is only 28th in the world in gun murders per 100,000 people. The number of unintentional fatalities due to firearms declined by 58 percent between 1991 and 2011 Based on these facts, one can see the guns not the causes of gun violence. moreover, civilians who get permits take gun safety courses and have criminal background...
Left, right, Liberal, Conservative, Democratic, Republican. There are a lot of synonyms for the sides of our nation divided. Divided on many things: religion, political views, morals, etc.. For a nation that prides ourselves on extraordinary security and unity, it is quite ironic that so many issues can cause such distress and uproar within communities. One such issue is gun control. As a white male in a middle-lower class family that has never owned a gun, I may be somewhat biased. Objectively as I can, I am going to report the facts and more importantly, try to find the core issues at play.
For many years, America has witnessed mass shootings within it’s borders. In 2015 alone, there were 372 mass shootings (Oldham). The question most Americans are faced with is: do we need more gun control or is gun control the problem? With more gun control, it can be made mandatory that protective devices are used on firearms to prevent accidental harm. Gun control creates mandatory laws such as the requirement for an individual to pass a background check before he/she is permitted to purchase a firearm. Gun control has also been proven to prevent suicides due to the increased difficulty of obtaining a firearm. Those who believe that gun control is the problem claim that by removing one 's firearms, you are endangering them to threats that
Gun violence has been and continues to be one of the major problems in American. The U.S. has the highest rate of gun ownership in the world and consequently the highest rate of gun violence and fatalities compared to other developed countries. In a study by the University of Sydney it is estimated that there are 270,000,000 to 310,000,000 guns in the United States. According to the same study in 2010 there were 31,672 fatalities caused by firearms and on the following year the number went up to 32,163. Homicides resulting from guns are high in the United States and they are claiming more than eleven thousand lives every year (Guns in the United States: Firearms, Armed Violence and Gun Law). According to Vision for Humanity, an initiative for the Economics and Peace, the United States is ranked 99 out of 162 countries in the 2013 global peace index, homicide rates and violent crimes are among the various criteria used to determine the ranking (Vision of Humanity). Mass shootings at work places, schools, shopping malls and places of worship are happening in an a...
Imagine, a person is sitting in their classroom in college. He or she is focused on listening to the teacher, because he or she needs to pass the final exam in order to graduate. All of a sudden, an intruder charges through the door. The intruder pulls out a gun and starts blasting bullets throughout the classroom. There is nowhere to run and there is no way to fight back. Everyone is hit and on the floor, bleeding. This person is so close to graduating and starting a new life. Now his life has been cut short, because there was someone who illegally brought a gun to a school. Because the school had a symbol of “no guns allowed”. Because the intruder knew there was no one else could shoot back. Now imagine if that student, dying on the floor,
Today in the United States many people argue over the fact of guns being legal or illegal. There are people using guns for personal safety and there are others who use them for crimes, as well as for other situations. Firearm deaths in the United States have slowly been decreasing from year to year with all these bills getting passed to promote a safer country than ever before. Guns are the main weapon for youth suicide, school shootings, and for committing murder. In 2010 there were 2,711 infants, child, and teenage firearm deaths. As in school shootings and in committing murder, studies show shooters often had multiple, non-automatic guns, shootings were planned, most youth tell before shooting, shooters have a history of being bullied or threatened, shooters have mental issues, and shooters have done suicidal gestures before (Gun Control with School Shootings). Although there are people who use guns for murdering, there are also those who oppose guns being used without the proper requirements. 85% of all respondents to the survey supporting requiring states to report people to national background-checks systems who are prohibited from owning gu...
“I believe in 2nd Amendment, but not war weapons on streets”, quoted President Barack Obama ("Barack Obama on Gun Control", n.d., para. 3). The debate on whether stricter gun laws will help deter crime has gained much attention since crime rates started to increase. Many research studies show that stricter gun laws are very effective at inhibiting crime. Arguing on the affirmative side, stricter gun laws will help deter crime by banning ownership of military-style assault weapons, by banning weapons with high-capacity magazines, and by creating new gun regulations that delays the process of gun ownership while significantly limiting weapon access at the same time. If stricter gun laws are incorporated into the system, we will be able to envision a bright and crime-free future ahead of us.
Gun control is a highly controversial topic in today’s world where the fight is between the liberal and the conservatives. Many people believe that guns should be banned due to many recent massacres that have happened whereas others are wanting people to have background checks done before owning a gun. I am against gun control because banning handguns in the United States should not be allowed because handguns fail to protect the people and it is ineffective.
Crime and guns. The two seem to go hand in hand with one another. But are the two really associated? Do guns necessarily lead to crime? And if so do laws placing restrictions on firearm ownership and use stop the crime or protect the citizens? These are the questions many citizens and lawmakers are asking themselves when setting about to create gun control laws. The debate over gun control, however, is nothing new. In 1924, Presidential Candidate, Robert La Follete said, “our choice is not merely to support or oppose gun control but to decide who can own which guns under what conditions.” Clearly this debate still goes on today and is the very reason for the formation of gun control laws.
The issue of gun control has always been a hot topic among the American public. Most everyone, if asked, will tell you that gun control is an issue needed to be dealt with because of the event that took place at Columbine High School back on April 20th, 1999. The American public has been wrestling with gun control long before then. If we take a look back at August 1st, 1966 at the University of Texas, a man armed with a hunting rifle committed one of the most violent mass murders in history. Gun control refers to the Government placing restrictions on the American public to buy, own and sell firearms. If we read the constitution, our second amendment right is the right to bear arms. This has been the ongoing controversy of this issue. We the people say our constitutional right to buy and own firearms is being seized from us. The government is using our society’s violent incidents as cover to place restrictions and bans on firearms. This essay’s purpose is to provide proof that buying and owning firearms is our legal constitutional right and that our government is trying to attack the wrong angle when trying to fight crime involving guns in the United States.
Greetings Doctor Benjamin S. Carson, my name is Trevor Mangru. I have recently seen your Press Conference concerning your viewpoints on gun control, as well as how it is your belief that it could have prevented the Holocaust from taking place. Recently, gun control has been presented as a controversial topic all over the United States, as day by day, illegal weapons are being found. We are presented
Gun violence in America is a public health crisis, which needs to be recognized and changed by legislatures, and the voting American. As conscious Americans, we need to vote for changes to gun laws that would improve background checks nation-wide, make firearm registration mandatory, restrict the sale of assault weapons and weapon modifications that give the shooter military-grade fire power, and invest in gun-safe technology and safe firearms storage designs. This type of technology will help prevent criminally oriented people from accessing guns, and will help prevent the accidental deaths of many children by guns. This essay will explain the reforms needed to help ensure Americans can still exercise their 2nd amendment right of owning firearms, and preventing the unnecessary deaths of many Americans at the same time.
43 of 50 states do not require permits in order for individuals to purchase guns. However, statistics show that these states have higher rates of firearm assaults (Pappas). In addition, proper background checks are not conducted on those making the purchase (Teen Vogue). This is significant because perpetrators look for the easiest way to let out their aggression, and complete the task efficiently. With a majority of states providing such easy access to this weapon, the main method of attack can easily be established. If the American Government improves this single factor, it is guaranteed that there will be improvement. In fact, this adjustment has been proved successful in Australia. In the 18 years before the Port Arthur tragedy of 1996, there were 13 gun massacres that occurred (Datz). The Government recognized that there was a fault in the system, and so, a mandatory buyback of all semi-automatic long guns was ordered. Alongside, laws regarding purchase of firearms were modified to be more effective (Datz). In the 20 years since then, there have been zero mass shootings. However, this is an action the American Government is unable to perform, resulting in more frequent reoccurrences. In conclusion, mass murders are rising, and will continue to rise, because of insufficient implementation of gun safety
The Economist states in an editorial that when people can get guns more easily there are more deaths which are caused by guns. There is a research result in 1996 about murders with guns. According to this research, there were two murders in New Zealand, fifteen in Japan, 30 in United Kingdom, 106 in Canada, 211 in Germany. On the other hand, in the USA, there were 9,390 gun related murders (America, 1998). This is a plain fact. Though there is a difference in population between each countries, it seems that there are too many gun related murders in the USA. Firearms-related incidents are taking place even in countries that it is illegal to possess guns. Therefore, it is needless to say that more gun related incidents would be occurring if the government permits gun ownership.
Gun control is an awfully big issue in the United States today. Many people in America don’t agree with the gun control laws that they have today. Gun control laws only take guns and freedom away from law-abiding citizens. Many citizens have their own reasons for owning a gun. Why would the government want to make it harder for people to own a gun? People that own guns aren’t very likely to be attacked by criminals. Owning a handgun is one of the best ways of protection when used correctly. The second amendment states “the right to bear arms”; does this grant everyone the right to own a gun? Gun control laws have not been proven to do anything for citizens. Gun control laws just make it harder for the good guy average Joe to own a gun. Gun control laws are not a good idea, and are taking part in the loss of our freedom that was given to us.