Introduction
In the recent, past the possession and ownership of guns have become too easy. This has raised concerns, especially about the safety of the persons in such societies. Illegal sale and purchase of firearms has become a prolific business that happens in the backstreets. This poses a hight risk since it avails efficient means to criminals to steal and even kills their victims. Furthermore, mentally unstable persons can access these firearms. They pose the risk of using firearms to settle feuds and arguments. The legal sale of firearms requires the establishment of the sanity of the purchaser.
However, the easy access of guns through illegal channels bypasses this check. If the relevant authorities manage to set up an efficient gun control scheme then security will improve tremendously. The current restrictions enforced by legislation are not sufficient controls since this fight against insecurity and anarchy. Currently, even underage children can access guns. They pose a high risk of killing one another since they tend to mimic what they see in the movies. The increase in the number of gun-related deaths can be linked to the poor control on access to guns. Broken families, loss of loved ones and economic suffering are the consequences of the shootouts that happen in the streets. In view of the severe consequences of gun possession, there should be implementation of new reforms and mechanisms to ensure efficient gun control.
Small firearms are now the most common instrument of violence in the modern day. This is especially so because of their high availability and simplicity of use. These weapons are very lethal because they are durable. They are transferable from one community to the next very easily. This global business continues to maim our societies with the ability to destroy thousands of lives, leave alone the numerous fatalities. Agencies such as the UNWHO recognize the need to curb any further proliferation of guns (specifically small arms). The laws that are currently in implementation are inadequate in the control of firearms (Spitzer, 2009). Furthermore, countries have not managed to formulate a single control tool or collaborative mechanism to curb the business of guns.
Legal gun owners are law-abiding individuals. However, there is also a risk in providing access to guns to majority of the citizens only because they are law abiding. Mass shootings have occurred in several areas, such as Tucson and Newtown, and innocent lives have been lost. In some instances, students shoot fellow students in rage attacks or as show of rebellion. The main reason gun control is essential is the hazard it poses if these arms fall into the wrong hands. Gun buyers ought to go through a rigorous background check to ensure that they are not former felons and perennial convicts. Inefficient mechanisms are the reason the crime rate has escalated. Furthermore, recent statistics indicates that 60% of the gun related deaths are suicides. This is whereby gun owners shoot themselves and this count for 50% of most suicides. This is as per data obtained from the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). In 2010, 19,392 Americans killed themselves with a gun hence indicating the need for control of access to guns by citizens. Furthermore, suicides have now become more the number of homicides due to small arms.
Regional agreements are necessary if the war on illegal small arms is to be successful. This means regional co-operation to aid in monitoring of porous areas around the borders. The majority of the victims of gun related violence are women and children. Sexual violence and offences have increased with women being raped a gunpoint in many occurrences. In some areas, access to guns has promoted tribal wars and hence leading to displacement of people from their homes and separation of families. Starvation and death are the results of the violence and havoc induced by the easy availability of guns. The effect, though indirect, is still catastrophic (O'Neill, 2000). FBI statistics shows that the number of handguns has increased significantly over the past two years. In states such as California, the number of gun related deaths were as high as 1304.
Conclusion
A review of the possible effects of gun control shows that crime rate is bound to decrease if the authorities manage to limit the access of this population to small arms. An analysis of the background of persons purchasing guns is necessary to ensure they are mentally stable and have no criminal records. This would reduce instances of maniacs holding students, and other people in public, at gunpoint just because life has not been fair to them. Therefore, countries ought to make a combined effort to ensure that an efficient system is established in the control of small arms. Gun control is the only way to end the increase in gun related violence and number of deaths that have escalated in the last few years (Doeden, 2012).
References
Spitzer, R. J. (2009). Gun control: A documentary and reference guide. Westport, Conn:
Greenwood Press.
O'Neill, T. (2000). Gun control. San Diego, Calif: Greenhaven Press.
Doeden, M. (2012). Gun control: Preventing violence or crushing constitutional rights?.
Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First Century Books.
