Gun violence is a tremendous problem in the United States. Guns have a profound impact on all members of the population, but especially youths. Firearms result in approximately 16,000 deaths and injuries to children each year (Ruggles and Rajan, 2014). The issue of gun control and gun policy has been received increasing media attention in light of recent mass school shootings like Columbine, Virginia Tech, and Sandy Hook. In the aftermath of a school shooting, most policymakers and lobbyists will advocate for stricter gun control laws. This is not a surprising reaction, considering that there are at least 200 million guns and firearms in the hands of the American people (Kelly, 2008, p. 567).
It is difficult to research the precise effect that guns have on reducing or increasing rates of violent crime. There are two sides to the gun control debate. Those who oppose stronger gun control laws regard the right to own a gun as a fundamental right enshrined in the Second Amendment (Whittlesey, 2008, p. 1448). On the other hand, those in favor of stricter gun control laws point to guns as instruments of death and that such laws are essential to protecting public safety (Whittlesey, 2008, p. 1448). These opposing policies must be examined in light of the particular circumstances of a given community, city, or region. For instance, the problem of gun violence is much more pronounced in urban cities than in rural parts of the nation (District of Columbia v. Heller, 2008, p. 634).
The purpose of this paper will be to examine the history of gun violence and how it affects the gun control policies in the United States. Important historical events, such as mass school shootings or a significant increase in the perceived rates of violent crime, are expected to influence what gun control policies are carried out through various legislative means.
References
District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008).
Kelly, R.J. (2008). Defensive shootings and error risk: A collateral cost of changing gun
laws? Yale Law and Policy Review, 567-599).
Ruggles, K.V. and Rajan, S. (2014). Gun possession among American youth: A
discovery-based approach to understand gun violence. PLoS One 9(11).
Whittlesey, J.W. (2008). Second-amendment scrutiny: Firearm enthusiasts may win the
battle but ultimately lose the war in district of Columbia v. Heller. Case Western
Reserve Law Review, 1423-1450.
