Gun control is a very sensitive issue in the developed countries like the United States. Whether a person should carry a gun or not, or what could be the limitations that can regularise the manufacture, transfer or use of the firearms (including small weapons like pistol revolver). With the advanced scientific technologies, more and more deadly weapons are being invented. Gun control deals with the regularization of the production, transfer, possession, sale and utilization of the firearms. Firearms are always a threat to the lives of the individuals. There should be proper regularization on the usage of such weapons. The licences should be issued under proper scanner of the individual including his family background and last life history.
The guidelines in possession and use and even the manufacture and sale of firearms vary from state to state. In certain states, the possessions of the weapons have huge restrictions as compared to the other. Gun ownership comes with potential threats to the normalcy of a peaceful environment. People with an easy access to gun and other weaponry intervene in various issues to represent their power and authority. Young people often commit serious crimes if they found access to gun and weaponry. According a study, it is predicted that eight hundred seventy-five million small arms are dispersed amongst private citizens, law execution organizations and fortified militaries, globally (Karp, 39). This denotes the threat and danger to the human civilization throughout the world. Out of the total small arms distribution, six hundred fifty million include the civilians and out of which, two hundred fifty million are spread to the citizens of the United States alone.
Guns escalate the rate of crimes and injuries throughout the globe. In the United States, its usage accounts for most of the crimes that have a hazardous impact on the social harmony of the country. Distribution of arms without any control is an invitation to increase the tension within the country. It is quite obvious that what is the usage of a gun – of course it kills (Dyer, 33). So, there must be very appropriate regulations to check their usage. Also, it has been quite observable that the introduction of guns has created more chaos among the states of America.
There are certain groups that argue that there is a very less effect of availability on the increase of the crime in the world and its control cannot reduce such issues. Even some state that the regulations can intervene with the individual liberty of the people. But, the most important thing is that when there is an easy access to gun, crimes increase, and it affects the normalcy of the social environment. Despite various measures by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on the possession of small arms by the civilian individuals, it does not seem effective.
There has always been a debate whether the possession of a gun increases or has no effect on the crime, suicides, injuries, threat, and etcetera. However, certain studies, Arthur Kellermann and Matthew Miller, have shown that possession of a gun at home increases chances for suicide (Kellermann, 23; Matthew, 16).
Manufacture, transfer, sale and possession of firearms should be regulated with concrete policies in order to make sure the safety of the civilians. Also, only after a certain age limit an individual should be allowed to keep a gun. Guns are directly related to the chaos. There usage will always create tension among the people and will pose a threat to the human existence.
References
Dyer, Gwynne. War: The New Edition. Random House. ISBN 9780307369017. 2010.
Karp, Aaron. "Completing the Count: Civilian Firearms". In Berman, Eric G. et al. Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City. 2007. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521706544.
Kellermann, A. L. et al. "Suicide in the Home in Relation to Gun Ownership". New England Journal of Medicine 327 (7): 467–472. 1992. doi:10.1056/NEJM199208133270705. PMID1308093.
