Child safety is one of the biggest concerns of policy makers in the United States of America. They are so serious about child safety that they have banned sell of kinder chocolate eggs in the America. Kinder chocolate egg is an egg shape hollow chocolate that contains a plastic capsule and a toy into it. A section of society appreciates the step, but at the same time people have started asking that if these chocolates are banned because they can choke kids then why guns are not banned that kill thousands of children every year in the United States of America. This paper intends to discuss child safety in the perspective of the gun violence in the United States of America.
The ban on kinder chocolate eggs has fueled a new debate on the child safety. People have started saying it is not clear that how many children are affected by these toys but everybody knows that thousands of innocent children die every year in the gun violence. People say that banning access of guns should have been the priority instead of banning chocolates and toys. There is a hefty fine on carrying and selling these chocolates, but guns are easily accessible to kids.
A ban was put on Kinder chocolate eggs under the provision of Sec 402 (d) sub sec (1) of Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 1938. This old act bans any chocolate that consists nonnutritive substances implanted inside the chocolate. After the ban has come into effect, these chocolates are seized like drugs. Carrying one kinder chocolate may attract a fine of $2500. This ban has raised many questions, and the gun violence is the most significant question among them.
Thousands of children lose their lives every year due to gun violence in the United States of America. Gun violence is a very complex issue, and its rampant effect is a matter of national disgrace for a civilized society like America. A number of horrible incidents of school killings have appalled Americans and compelled them to reconsider this issue in new perspectives. There is a division of opinion among Americans on this issue. If a huge number of people across the America demand a complete ban on guns in order to stop such violence, other say banning guns is not going to solve this issue.
Not every death, related to gun, is intentional, but there are a huge number of accidental deaths. In a number of incidents children lost their lives while, playing with guns. They are, usually, not aware of operating guns and accidentally fire gun shots. A number of incidents suggest that they tried to copy scenes of movies and killed their siblings or friends. The New York Times report suggests that accidental deaths caused by guns are almost twice than the intentional killings. The main issue is the precious lives of children, and intention or accident comes at a later stage (Luo & McIntire).
Increased incidents of school killings suggest that children lose their patience on trivial things. They, in order to teach lessons to their friends or schoolmates, do not hesitate firing at them and kill them without knowing the repercussions. These incidents are increasing because they have easy access to guns. Children can manage to avail guns either in their house or they can purchase guns from gun shops. Deadly guns are available at shops, and anybody can have one after paying for that.
Incidents of school shootings claim thousands of lives of children across the America. These incidents are a national shame and intolerable for a civilized society. Connecticut school shootings, Albany school shootings, Perdue university shootings, are only few examples that killed a number of youngsters in various educational institutes of America. Dozens of incidents of school shootings are reported in different parts of America every year which is not only alarming, but shameful.
Usually, children are incapable of understanding the repercussions of gun violence. They fire at their friends or in their schools and kill other children. These killings can be controlled by banning guns or regulating them. Guns should not be accessible to kids in any circumstances. Today it is tough to purchase kinder chocolates, but guns are easily accessible to kids. They can purchase deadly weapons from shops, and there is no need to take any permission for any authority.
People argue that if government cannot put a ban on guns, at least there should be some regulations in this regard. Additional safety measures should be taken, and features of guns should be improved in order to avoid their misuse by children. Additional features such as locks or some codes can be introduced in guns that may kill people in order to prevent their operation by children. These preventive measures can certainly improve the situation of child deaths due to the gun violence.
People, who suggest and demand banning guns, say that if policy makers may ban chocolates because they found it choking for kids, why cannot they see that thousands of children are losing their lives every year by these killer guns. They further say that it does not matter whether these children are killed intentionally or accidentally but what matters is the precious lives of children. Saving these lives is the responsibility of people and policy makers of United States of America.
The issue is very sensitive, and there is a difference in the opinion of Americans on the same. A huge number of people believe that guns should be banned while others say that merely banning guns is not going to change the killings. They further say that banning guns may create several other complicacies that would affect society in a negative manner. People who oppose banning guns say that guns are a major reason of fewer crimes in the society and criminals will be fearless if guns are banned.
Banning guns may affect the security of individuals, and they may face a new wave of criminal incidents. Criminals are now aware that people keep guns in their houses, and they think twice before entering into houses of people. They also fear that they will be killed and drop their ideas of committing crimes. There is an abundance of crime in the society even if people have guns. If government bans guns then people will become helpless and situation of the society will be horrendous.
Both sides have their arguments, and none of them can be completely discarded. People see any issue with their own point of view. They are right when they raise questions on child deaths due to gun violence but at the same time people who oppose banning guns are also right. Private safety cannot be left on the mercy of thieves, gangsters and robbers. Every individual has the right to private defense and banning guns deprive him of his rights which are against the constitution of United States of America.
The issue is more complicated than it appears. It needs a nationwide debate and thorough attention of policy makers. It is the demand of time to take action in order to save lives of our children. Banning guns or making laws is not sufficient, and it is the duty of every American to put his effort towards a foolproof solution of this disgracing problem. If Americans are unable to solve their kids, it is shameful saying that they are the world superpower.
Having observed an overview and succinct analysis of the abovementioned subject, this paper concludes that putting a ban on kinder chocolates is justified when guns are banned. If guns keep taking lives of children, banning chocolates because they can choke is a mockery. Chocolates cannot choke and take lives of thousands, but guns do take lives of thousands of children every year in the United States of America. If guns are not banned, at least their availability should be regulated in a way that keeps them out of reach of children. Apart from regulating the availability of guns, introducing additional features and safety measures in guns can produce some positive results. It is necessary to protect children from the guns instead of protecting guns.
Work Cited
Luo, M., & McIntire, M. "Children and Guns: The Hidden Toll." 28 September 2013. The New York Times. 5 October 2014.
