Gun control policy has raised several eyebrows among the members of the public with so many questions left unanswered in the minds of the majority. The policy that was meant to reduce the problems faced by members of the public has, on the contrary, multiplied the problems because of increased gun ownership. Death tolls have gone high, as people with more guns tend to eradicate more lives using the guns. Record indicates that countries with high rates of gun ownership have registered a gun-slaying rate of about one hundred and fourteen percent higher than those countries with lower gun ownership (Richardson and Hemenway 238). Gun ownership has been associated with higher dangers of homicide, accidental deaths, and suicide by gun. Domestic violence has taken a new form as women are put under the threat of being killed by husbands who are in the access of a gun in times of household differences. Gun-related crimes have hit the roof as robbery with violence and gun assaults taking the lead. Many thugs take advantage of gun possession to execute crafty activities against innocent members of the society.
Given the problems that touch directly on the majority's lives, gun control policy has raised many arguments among the members of the public as to whether the policy should be retained or not. The dangers and challenges that come with gun ownership has attracted the attention of the majority making the policy a public issue. Gun control supporters argue that there are enough measures to curb gun access by criminals, high-risk individuals and other unauthorized people. They emphasize that there is no constitutional obstacle for registrations of all firearms owners and their firearms. On the other hand, the opponents refute the arguments put forward by the gun control supporters that the control policies prevent the high-risk individual from owning firearms; rather, they claim that the controls always put the law-abiding citizens in undesirable situations. Further, they argue that the extensive gun ownership is the backbone of crime growth while the control supporters maintain that giving public members the opportunity to own guns accords them self-defense (Richardson and Hemenway 243).
In a bid to heed to the public cry on the problems associated with widespread gun ownership, the policy could consider reducing the number of firearms in circulation as an alternative solution to securing more lives (Cook and Ludwig 10). In so doing, the everyday crime might significantly reduce, as well as lowering the gun-related deaths. Nonetheless, this does not imply that people should support gun possession. In as much as there is little to do policy-wise to curb mass killings, the controls could consider having public conversation concerning the gun culture, and the vast power of gun foyer.
While measures are being put forward to down-rate the number of death crimes linked to gun ownership, clear strategies should be laid out to give a permanent solution to the policy issues. Among them include defining proper conditions to forbid individuals from possessing guns. Implementing regulations to inhibit prohibited people from owning guns could also give a solution with far reaching positive effects (Richardson and Hemenway 240). The policy could also consider restricting people from carrying concealed firearms in the public places or outside their homes. Imposing gun ownership prohibition on alcoholics and illegal drug abusers could significantly lower alcohol-related gun violence.
The government should take the sole responsibility of ensuring that the enacted rules and regulations regarding the policy are strictly followed. It should put forward adequate measures to deal with individuals who go against the policy requirements and other uncertainties that may arise against the policy rules. Members of the public as well should take a central position as key participants in ensuring that people abide by the regulations or rules laid down by the policy.
Works Cited
Richardson and Hemenway. “Homicide, suicide, and unintentional firearm mortality: comparing the United States with other high-income countries," Journal of Trauma 70. 1 (2013): 238-243. Print.
Cook and Ludwig. Gun Violence: The Real Costs. New York: Oxford University Press, 2010. Print.
