The Truth About Mass Shootings and Gun Controls - Article Example

College The Truth about Mass Shootings and Gun Controls In the event of a national catastrophe, we are encapsulated with fear. Due to bitterness we begin to point fingers at the evils with us. Adam lanza, an honors student robbed his mother of four guns, killed her and most abominable of all: murdered twenty unarmed innocent children and six adults in cold blood. The truth contradicts with what politicians and the media propose shows that actually none of these could prevent the occurrence of this crime or any that is yet to materialize. No law, logic or legal ramifications can deter such people or completely eliminate the taking of innocent human lives. Rational signals or laws may just spur them to do worse while making their misdeeds look appealing. There is hue and cry on what should be done. The media firmly supports disarmament although many will be left defenseless . Aspiring politicians further bend the sandy hook tragedy denouncing ownership of firearms for their own career boost (Domenech 45). According to Grant Duwe’s research, both mass murders and homicides have dropped since 1960s. Criminologist, Fox also shows that mass shootings victims have been roughly consistence with margins being credited as sheer coincidence or copycats. As appalling as these murders are, these culprits are not responsible for 1% of the nation’s homicide cases. Criminology studies also support Duwe’s research accusing the media of not laying the true facts of mass murder ignoring the most prevalent cause of death. Political fires are brewing with Senator Diane proposing an ineffectual bill to ban 120 firearms. The bill would also force government seizure of previously bought firearms. In addition debating this bill will ensue in reactions from lawful gun owners. Piers Mogan agrees with democrats blaming the policies that allow gun ownership as a vent of causing violence and denounces the 2nd amendment. Focusing on the UK a handgun ban in 1998 following a shooting massacre was unprecedentedly followed by a rise in serious crime. Shocking as this may be in 2011 the number of legal gun ownership went up by a third and coincidentally the number of gun related crimes dropped by 74%. Majority of shootings is however classified by place and race. Statistics show that 58% of the crimes were in large cities and done mostly by blacks. This represents 16% of the homicide victims. There is no comprehension however of the weapons that the villains use. Research shows that in 2% of gun crimes assault weapons are carried. Adam Lanza used the ar-15 rifle which takes a standard 223-caliber bullet. The rifles used by Lakota and Arapaho Indians fired bullets almost 10 times larger than the.223. The caliber does not however determine the lethality of the gun. Others argue that the main issue is the mental health system to not giving proper care to the mentally ill. Steps may be undertaken to ensure they do not possess guns but hurrying to committing to the mentally unstable has its cons: having them bear a lifetime penalty for transgressions never to be committed. The Secret History of Guns Supporters of gun rights argue that the second amendment gives right to gun ownership but portrays no regulation. Advocates still do not support the amendment arguing it covers state militias and is not strong enough to mandate disarmament. The founders of the nation made hard-core gun laws that denied ownership to many people. Individual allowed to own guns had to report regular musters for gun inspection registered on public rolls. According to newton the civil rights movement caused more violence. Malcolm x and the panthers however argued for their gun ownership right based on the constitution. Guns became a piece of their identity. Luther’s application to own a firearm after his house bombing was denied .The panthers started giving public display of their firearms. Once Newton was stopped by Oakland police to show his gun but he vehemently refused grounding his rights. No arrest was made. The event inspired the joining of new recruits. Mulford, a conservative from Alameda was firm to end this evolution by proposing a law that banned gun-ownership in California. Republicans in California termed firearm possession ridiculous further supporting Mulford Act. A wave of violence in 1967 was considered to be because of the guns easy availability. In 1968 James ray killed Luther using a deer rifle. Two months later Robert Kennedy was shot using a .22 caliber. This followed the passing of the first federal gun control law. Together with the gun control act of 1968, the licensing system was expanded specifying what people allowed to own firearms and banning inexpensive pistols. Indisputably, these gun laws were racial bias.in the north however after the civil war blacks could own rifles. After the civil war, the southerners adopted the black codes to dictate what freedmen would do. In response to this, the northerners sought to reaffirm their rights.in 1866 Sickle ordered the right to own firearms not to be infringed even to blacks. Southerners disapproval of this made congress pass an Act which gave ex-slaves right to own arms. Congress further passed the Cavil’s Act which made it an offence to infringe anyone by race. President Johnson forbids both laws a move that lead to his impeachment (Winkler 67). The NRA which had Fredrick’s law had 3 elements: that no one publicly carries a firearm without permit, gun dealers mandated to report every sale and it imposed a 2 day wait on gun sales. Today the NRA regards these elements as ineffectual. NRA endorsed the first federal gun law that congress proposed in 1934 which further pushed high taxes on guns. Fredrick however claimed that he never considered any conflict with the federal gun law with the second amendment. After the assassination of Kennedy, NRA proposed the ban of rifle sales. In 2008 the government was ruled that it can never completely enforce disarmament. Gun rights groups applauded the ruling. Their opponents however criticized the ruling. Both envisioned situations that haven’t come to pass.in essence, the founders imposed gun control laws but none to ban mentally ill from gun possession. This era is the product of these restrictions Work cited Domenech, B. "The Truth About Mass Shootings and Gun Control Crime and Killings Have Fallen As Gun Ownership Has Increased." Commentary New York American Jewish Committee. (2013): 25-29. Print. WINKLER, A. (2011). The Secret History of Guns. New York, N.Y., W.W. Norton & Co. Read More