Gun control may be intended to restrict the use and possession of firearms by private citizens and limits the unassailable right to self-protection. The right to have a gun and protect oneself may be considered as basic right by most gun owners. However, statistics have evidently revealed gun control has been a key issue and needs to be restricted so as to maintain order and save numerous lives all over the world, particularly in the U. S. Restricting guns may be effective in reducing violence in society, enhancing children’s safety in school and reduction of firearms trafficking.
Guns may be very powerful which may cause harm, destruction or to some extent, death to scores of younger generations. Numerous younger children in our current society have turned to aggression and violence with guns. They carry firearms to school for protection, gang-related activities and because of peer pressure. Most children have turned to firearms to defend themselves, to shield their loved ones or even to cause violence and death to other populace of the society (Leiter). It may be very vital to realize that effective laws that are stricter ought to be passed as well as gun control laws. The course that these laws take, affect our society, as well as our future (Sweas).
A large number of people believe that with strict firearm regulation in owning or purchasing firearms; there will be less violence. Moreover, strict licensing and firearm regulation laws may be necessary to save lives in both our society as well as in the school system. The effect that “gun violence” has caused in the society, the school system and in families may be a situation that has got-out of hand in the past few decades. With more strict firearm regulation, violence with guns may be eliminated the numerous school shootings and deaths that occur from firearms violence may decrease. The bureau of fire arms and statics in the year 2000, roughly estimated that sixty percent of citizens in the U.S. were killed with fire arms and the percentage has increased to higher levels in recent years.
Several laws have been put in place to aid the regulation firearms. Generally, two well-known federal laws in the regulation firearms exist. The 1934, National Firearms Act, put in place a firearms registration system that included firearm identification, registration date, and the identification and address of the person permitted to possess the firearm. The 1968, Gun Control Act. The Gun Control Act prohibits interstate and mail-order sale of firearms, proscribes reassigning to minors, limits new assault weapons access, and puts forth licensing requirements and penalties for dealers, manufacturers and importers of firearms. In spite of these regulations that may be put in place, it may still be rather easy to acquire a firearm.
Many enthusiasts basically believe that it may be their “God given right” to have capability to protect them selves, and their families in case of harm. As part of the U. S. Bill of Rights, the 2nd Amendment protects the people’s right to bear and keep firearms (Constitution of the United States). Consequently there may be some factions that believe this right to bear firearms ought to be removed or limited so as to be safer and in spite of the various firearms regulations there may still be a widespread necessity to augment firearms regulations. There may be a need to revise current gun control regulations. In the majority of states a person whose age is eighteen years may acquire a gun. However, it may be required that to acquire a firearm, the firearm ought to be from a dealer licensed federally. Persons have to be a citizen of United States and go through a process of registration to acquire the gun. Certain persons may be prohibited from acquisition of firearms; for instance, convicted felonies and illegal aliens (Davis).
The most disturbing thing regarding today’s teens handling guns may be that most of these teen that carry firearms to use them to kill other teenagers. The issue of gun violence may be particularly severe as regards to young adults and children. In 2001, approximately one thousand and four hundred juveniles murdered forty four percent were killed by use of firearm. As seen in most of the schools shootings in the world, teens have bring firearms to school and shoot classmates due to a lot of rage, fear, jealousy or as a means of releasing their anger. In Georgia, at Heritage High School, a teen went into the dining hall and begun shooting. In this case, no person was killed although many were injured. This ought not to be a normal act for teens and could have been easily avoided.
In another case in Columbine High shooting, three teens entered the school and killed over twenty teachers and teens and after killing them, one of the shooters killed himself. Ever since this tragedy that was devastating, more numerous school shootings have happened all over the world (Cullen). This not only happens in high schools, but also happens in elementary and middle schools. These shootings provoked debates over firearm regulation and the availability of guns in the U. S., and also gun violence among teenagers. Much debate has centered on the nature of subcultures and bullying, in addition to the role of violent video games and movies in the society (Cullen).
Young teens and innocent civilians are also being killed in the neighborhoods and as well the streets. Research has revealed that more than twenty percent of violence takes place in some of the worst neighborhoods where teens as young as nine years old are being shot to dead. Young teens and children may be desensitized to the current gun culture. In a number of neighborhoods, most the teens expect to die in a violent manner, probably through a gunshot (Slovak).
Gun control in the U. S. and other countries has been a contentious topic of debate in recent years. The pressing issue may be how to decrease the amount of murders seen in the neighborhoods and in schools. Despite the overall decline in the figure of gun homicides over the past fifteen years, gun violence incidence remains unbearably high (Walton). The most suitable approach to take when dealing with firearms restriction may be the managerial approach. Trading with firearms in the intellect of a business creates more sense. In this case, rules and regulations for maintaining and obtaining firearms are clearly defined. So as to maximize firearms regulation everyone ought to fall alike under one umbrella as far as civilians may be concerned. Individual ought to conform to the firearms regulation, once the law is put in action. Civilians ought to follow the similar rules so as to avoid inappropriate employment of firearms, particularly when it comes to killings (Davis). There may be an obvious need to regulate firearms for civilians so as to reduce fatalities.
One of the paramount ways to resolve the subject of firearm misuse may be to raise the age limit. Most states have their own firearms regulations and age requirement. Teens of age eighteen may be prevented from purchasing certain firearms such as pistols without bear strap. The best resolution to school shootings may be to increase the minimum age limit for acquisition and use a firearm to twenty one years. This can make an immense difference, especially when it comes to judgment and responsibility. By increasing these age limit, mortality rates may be decreased substantially. Another alternative in firearm restriction may be through adjusting the manner in which a firearm may be obtained. The entire process and requirements needs to be modified, which affects every individual wishing to obtain a firearm. President Obama calls for firearms restriction and advocates in making it harder for treacherous people to purchase firearms (Talking About Guns, 34). So as to maintain firearms civilians would on a yearly basis need to update their background-check; hence decrease massacres and fatalities. Brian Doherty states that restricting gun control may not be necessary and there may be no sense in trying to craft firearms restrictions; however, most people disagree with him (Doherty, 46).
Guns may be too easy to acquire no matter where the firearms may be purchased from; such as flea markets, guns shows, or even from traffickers and gangs. The 1999 ATF report illustrates that fourteen percent of firearms employed by juveniles were acquired from unlicensed firearms dealers and traffickers. Unlicensed dealers that work gun shows, magazines and flea markets are not supposed to sell firearms to juveniles; however, they may not be required to run background checks or request for proof of age. Large amount of firearms acquired from gun shows are used in various crimes involving violence and drugs according to the police (Walton). Moreover, guns obtained from the black market may be very hard to restrict or regulate. The United States black market involves new and second-hand firearm deals in which illegal transfer among buyers and sellers happens.
Firearm trafficking may be the primary source of firearms used in numerous criminal activity. There are mainly four basic means through which firearms make their way into these black markets: licensed individuals selling to forbidden purchasers, unlicensed sellers selling to forbidden purchasers, persons purchasing firearms on behalf of forbidden purchasers, and theft of firearm. There ought to be stricter laws restricting firearms from the black market to make it more risky to getting caught for sale or possession of illegal firearms. Stipulated that selling or purchasing illegal firearms was considered an offense with higher penalties, this would result in less crimes in the society; hence, stricter laws may aid in making our streets and schools safer.
In conclusion, firearms need to be more restricted. Illegal firearms result in more deaths, keeping track of firearms may effectively reduce violence in society, enhance our children’s safety in school and reduce firearms trafficking. Strict background checks while acquiring firearms ought to be put in place to aid in reducing the quantity illegal firearms in wrong hands.
Works cited
“Constitution of the United States: Second Amendment”, United States Government, P. O.,
November 1996. Web. 28 March 2013. Retrieved from,
<http://www.gpoaccess.gov/constitution/html/amdt2.html>
Cullen, Dave. Columbine. Grand Central Publishing, 2009. pp. 214-261. Print
Davis, K. Reshaping the Society: The Dilemma of Gun Violence. New York: Routledge, 1995.
Print.
Doherty, B. “Gun control couldn’t have stopped it.” Reason.com. April 2011, 42, pp.46-47. AN:
59284708. Web. 28 March 2013. Retrieved from,
<http://reason.com/archives/2011/02/17/gun-control-couldnt-have-stopp>
Leiter, R. “Gun control.” National Survey of State Laws, Detroit, 2005, 5th ed. Vol 1. pp.157
172. Retrieved from Gale. Gale document number: CX3456200020
Rosenbloom, D., Kravchuk, R. & Clerkin, R. Public Administration (7th ed.). New York:
McGraw-Hill. 2009.
Slovak, K. “Gun Violence and Children. Factors Related to Exposure and Trauma.” Health &
Social Work, May 2002, Vol. 27 Issue 2, p.104. Web. 28 March 2013. Retrieved from,
<https://webspace.utexas.edu/klw584/class%20blog%20info.pdf>
Sweas, M. “Under the Gun. How violence takes a toll on our kids.” U.S. Catholic, July 2009,
Vol. 74 Issue 7, pp.12-21. Web. 28 March 2013.
Retrieved from, <http://www.uscatholic.org/culture/social-justice/2009/06/under-gun>
“Talking About Guns”. New York Times, March 2011, p.34. AN: 59340462. Web. 28 March
2013. Retrieved from, <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/17/opinion/17thu1.html?_r=0>
Walton, R. “There are a lot of guns in some small towns.” Indianapolis Star news, July 2004.
Web. 28 March 2013. Retrieved from, < http://www2.indystar.com/articles/6/161596 9976009.html>
“What are the latest developments in the U.S. gun control controversy?” NewsBatch. February
2013. Web. 28 March 2013. Retrieved from, <http://newsbatch.com/guncontrol.htm>
