Incidents of shooting at schools and colleges have become one of the most important issues in modern times in the land of America. Many lives are lost in the shocking incidents that seem to occur recurrently all over the state. Innocent children and teenagers meet with their untimely demise due to such unprecedented attacks that are carried out at educational institutions. Thus, it has become one of the most stirring issues of the society in the present day. The law and order of the nation state is also in jeopardy owing to such shocking incidents that amount to loss of lives and trauma to the family members of the hapless victims. A supplement of statistical data along with a holistic perspective regarding the matter would make it crystal clear why gun-control is the need of the hour in the nation state of America.
It is often seen that one individual starts the attack inside the premises of the institution killing a number of persons within a matter of few minutes. There is chaos and trauma all over, as the unsuspecting students find themselves amidst such a dangerous situation that can harm them. The problem is that parents are also feeling unsafe to send their children to schools fearing for their lives in apprehension of such incidents.
Thus, it is of primary importance to ensure the safety of the youngsters, so that they can go to the educational institutions without any fear for studying. The authorities of the schools or colleges have to implement the regular procedure of security checks before the students enter the campus, so that the threat of carrying any fatal ammunition can be nullified.
Such incidents occur suddenly, and there is prior knowledge of the intention of the gunman. Thus, it is the need of the hour to function in a way that would ensure optimum safety to the children and teenagers across the educational institutions. Although the laws of owning a gun are not that stringent across the state of America, there can be strong measures that are taken on the part of the administration and authority to ensure a safer ambiance for the people keeping a check on the security of the premises.
It is the onus and responsibility of the educational institutions to ensure a safe ambiance to avert any such incidents that can amount to such bloodshed and loss of lives. Hence, the security needs to be beefed up immediately. Regular and stringent security checks that are conducted on every student can be a good way of deterring the attacker from indulging in such acts of violence. However, this needs extensive planning on the part of the authorities.
The easy availability of guns is also a threat for the society. The threat transcends the boundaries of the schools and colleges, as it is a key instrument in the crimes that are committed by thugs affecting the civilians. The criminals use guns to scare the victims, and thus carry out their criminal activities.
Thus, the easy availability of guns is more of a matter related to the disruption of law and order holistically. The state needs to be take a firm and immediate stand on the matter, so that things do not become worse with time. There has to be control over the availability and usage of guns as it is amounting to severe threat to the civil life of the citizens of the nation state.
One can look back into the history for tracing how guns became so easily available for the public. Before the 1970s, guns were used by sportsmen’s club for training and marksmanship. However, in the very recent decades, the use of gun has transcended the purpose of training and teaching. The language of the Second Amendment does not talk about any sort of gun control.
According to a report on gun control that was published in The Economist, named “Home on the Range”, 80 percent of the American population is in favor of restrictions imposed on the availability and usage of guns in the society. About 30 percent talk in favor of a ban on use of guns in the state by civilians. Thus, it can be opined that a large number of people want some sort of control over the use of guns by people.
However, the relation between guns and crime rate still remains a debatable one. A statistical data reveals that the number of violent criminal activities that involve usage of guns has enhanced by a striking 55 percent during the years 1987-92. Thus, it can be voiced that guns act as a catalyst in acts of crime across the state as the ammunition makes it simpler for the criminal to carry out the crime.
It has to be understood that the same gun that can be used by a law aboding civilian as a measure for self-defense can also be utilized by a thug or a criminal to commit an unlawful act that can amount to disruption of law and order in the state.
Gun control would be instrumental for the change of the disruptive and threatening scenario if the measures of control are implemented at federal level. A law that was passed in the year 1938 made it mandatory for the dealers to have license for selling guns. Then again, some classes of gun were banned by the state in the year 1968. Interstate sales of gun were also prohibited in the same year. It has to be understood that the measures of gun control are passed by the Congress when the fear of the mass reaches the brim. The case was the same in the 1930s and 60s in America.
However, as the panic among the civilians dies down, the rules for keeping guns are relaxed by the authorities. The Firearms Owners Protection Act can be cited as an example of this as the act stipulated the number of inspections of dealers. It also checked the record- keeping needs for the dealers of ammunitions and even banned attempt at registration of guns.
It has to be noted that as many as 67 mass shooting were carried out in the nation from the year 1982 that is enough to raise the alarm among the civilians. The incidents occurred across 30 states of the country including those of Hawaii, Massachusetts and Mother Jones. At least a thousand Americans got injured in the course of these violent attacks by gunmen. Strikingly, more than half of the victims were in schools or offices when they got attacked all of a sudden by gunmen.
Also, 23 mass shootings were reported all across the nation within a span of 12 months from December 15, 2012 to 2013, as reported by The Telegraph. The loss of lives went up to a staggering hundred. The loss is more than just the number of deaths. One should also think about the families of the bereaved who go through a lot of agony and trauma after the incidents. The loss of lives is irreplaceable.
Thus, there is no doubt about the fact that there has to be strict laws for the purpose of regulation of gun availability among the people of the state. The state cannot afford to tolerate such incidents any more at the cost of the lives of innocent civilians. It is the moral responsibility of the authority to ensure the safety and well-being of the citizens of America as it is ensured by the constitutional structure of the state.
A ray of hope was found in the actions of the present President of America, Barrack Obama, as he went on to announce an aggressive gun-control plan to combat the crimes committed by gunmen across the state of America.
However, the federal legislative failure of 2013 impeded the success of such an initiative on the part of the authority. The Democratic-controlled Senate in April could not pass stricter background checks of the people who wanted to purchase guns in different parts of the state. To add to the complexity, the Republican-led House refused to consider the issue with any importance. Thus, the initiative of imposing a federal ban on gun went haywire.
However, some states are successful in implementing measures to control the use of guns by civilians. States like Colorado, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Delaware, New York and Maryland have already passed laws that have made gun-control more regulated.
A positive step toward gun control was seen in the failure of bills in Montana and Utah that would have relaxed the background-check and permit needs in the case of buying guns. Also, a legislation that was aimed at broadening the number of places where guns could be carried was defeated in the states of Georgia and Wyoming.
Thus, it can be understood that with time a larger number of common people as well as the ones in state administration have comprehended the risk of such free usage of guns by civilians. There is no point in risking the lives of innocent people by letting the laws loose on owing guns by people.
Firearm injuries are very high in number in the state of America in stark contrast to the other parts of the world. Another grave issue that needs to be taken into consideration is the fact that firearm suicide rates are greatly impacted by the rate of ownership of guns by people. It is a fact that the number of guns that are in the hands of the private civilians of the nation exceeds that of other nations by a huge number. This “gun culture” of America is a very serious threat to the society and it needs to be checked with immediate effect.
The non-fatal injuries that are inflicted by firearms account for a large number of visits to the hospitals. A statistical data reveals that as many as 478,400 incidents related to gun injuries in the country are reported till date. Of this huge number, as much as 80 percent had to be admitted to hospitals.
Another alarming issue when it comes to guns is the safety of children. Children can meet with an untimely demise while playing with guns that they find at their home. Thus, it can be opined that possession of guns by civilians amounts to immense threat.
Gun control laws are thwarted by the political opposition and difference of opinion between the Democrats and Republicans. It has to be noted that nearly three-quarters of the Democrats opine that the Congress requires passing new laws that would protect the common men from violence inflicted by guns.
However, the perspective of the Republicans is totally opposite to that of the Democrats. As much as 65 percent of the Republicans opine that no such laws are needed to regulate the use and possession of guns in the nation of America.
The difference in opinion has its roots in the difference of beliefs in the role of gun in the society of America. However, all have to understand that possession of firearms involves a large amount of safety issue for the people who own the arms. Thus, there has to be a path that would guide people to have a holistic view of things in this regard. Lives cannot be lost in the name of protection by possessing guns.
The people have to reach a consensus regarding the issue, so that the issue reaches the highest level of importance. Only then the politicians and state machinery would be able to understand the paramount importance of the matter. The people need to understand the guns make them vulnerable, and such firearms should be kept away from the reach of commoners. A regulation on possession of guns would also be very helpful for the cause of maintenance of law and order in the nation. The criminals would not have ammunition at their disposal so easily.
It is high-time for the general masses of the nation to come together and speak in favor of the restriction regarding the possession of guns by people. The state has to stop the increasing threat to the citizens, and act with full commitment and force to ensure a better life to the masses. The state needs to comprehend that guns make people vulnerable to injuries and death in the name of providing safety. While guns can be used by criminals, wrong usage can cause severe consequences by civilians also. Hence, there should be a holistic understanding regarding the matter.
The nation of America has a long history of witnessing incidents of fatal accidents and firings. Many innocent lives are lost already in the occurrences that have battered the civilians with all the horror and agony. The state should wait no more, and take a firm stand on the issue. While the crime rates seem to enhance with each passing day, and the threat and challenge of the terrorist attacks loom over the security of the nation, there is no need to let such incidents of firings add to the threat for citizens of the state. The authorities need to comprehend that just like the security is beefed up against any sort of anti-social activity and terrorist attack, there has to be optimum control on the use of guns by the private citizens within the state.
Works Cited
“Beliefs About Sandy Hook Cover-up, Coming Revolution Underlie Divide on Gun Control.”
publicmindfdu.edu. fdu.edu, 1 May 2013. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
“Gun Control Issues, Public Health, and Safety.” library.med.utah.edu. n.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov.
2014.
“Home on the range.” vserver1.cscs.lsa.umich.edu. The Economist, 26 March 1996. Web. 10
Nov. 2014.
“Will we come to our senses on gun control in 2014?” www.northwestern.edu. n.p., 3 Feb. 2014.
Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
