Gun Control in Lessening Violence in Society - Research Paper Example

Module Gun Control is an Important Part of Controlling Violence in our Society Sam Harris once d that the debate pertainingto guns ownership in America is a very significant subject that has both the opponents and proponents in equal measure. The government imposed some reasonable limits pertaining to the sale of guns to people, which is highly disputed by most gun-rights advocates. Nevertheless, those who support tough gun laws don’t understand the reason as to why a person who is not a criminal wants to be provided with a loaded firearm. It is important to place a balance between opponents and supporters of stringent gun laws. I neither support nor oppose this debate just like few Americans and the rest of the World. It is a fact that most people are used to gun culture and, I point this to the biased manipulation of the National Riffle Association, and at the same time discouraging that most Americans are placing gun ownership as a top priority. I do not deem someone must own a gun in order to be safe. Most of people who are civilized believe that possessing a gun poses them and their families a great risk. Unfortunately, a criminal is more likely to use your personal gun against you in the event of a squabble with him. People who are intelligent believe that it is even safer to dial 911 than own a gun. It is important to train with your gun regularly, or spend a full day shooting with a qualified instructor. Although this is a time consuming and expensive practice, it is the responsibility of the gun owner to follow these simple but vital directions. As a student I need adequate security, and have owned guns for many years. The reason as to why I possess guns is to protect myself and family since the police may not respond quickly when called. Guns are important for self-defence given that it may not be possible for the police to arrive quickly if someone raids your premises or attacks you. Although you will blame the police for lack of co-operation, but this is not their problem. I possess a gun as well and really understand the significance of a gun to an individual. I do not believe there is any one who would wish for a world without guns. The world without guns could only be suitable if there could be no violence. Guns protect people from aggressive men who are always striving to do anything they want. This is where a man can commit a serious crime without the intervention of any one. Guards who are not armed are the most people at risk; a few weeks ago a prison guard was stabbed to death by an armed lone prisoner. This is an ultimate proof that gun ownership is very imperative for self defence. Another incident of lack of gun ownership is an attack involving several assailants. I can confidently conclude that a world without guns is not safe to both the rich and poor. It is a reality that owning a gun goes along way with responsibility, but regrettable that most guns kept in the home are most likely used by the owners to threaten family members or to commit suicide instead of self-defence. Gun control is increasingly creating serious attention from the United States of America government and the rest of the world after the appalling mass execution that took place in Connecticut many years ago. I do believe the most important factor to consider when focusing on this particular policy is the magnitude of damage caused by guns and its risks to people. Numerous people have died due to gun violence in the past. Currently the united states of America accounts for approximately 8,000 murders with firearms every year .According to the World Health Organization’s Global Burden of Disease, it states about 1,100,000 years of vigorous life is lost every year due to deliberate brutality. The research further states that approximately two thirds of this are equivalent to 650,000 years, which is about 1% of the entire trouble of disease and grievance in the United States. The research also suggests suicide accounts for years of healthy life lost than murder. According to Wiblin, suicide attempts are successful given that there is easy access to guns. Concerns have been raised globally regarding the extraordinarily increasing suicide rate, for example the United States of America, which is one of the countries worst affected has a suicide rate of 12 per 100,000.According to World Health Organization, suicide accounts to yearly saddle of 1,600,000 years. The research also proves approximately half of these suicides are carried out using firearms, which implies that they have a trouble of about 800,000 years of healthy life. The most significant subject is what measures the government is putting in place to reduce these high rates. It is profound to acknowledge the fact that the connection between the number of guns and violence is fatally disputed. I do believe gun control policies are the most suitable way of significantly decreasing violence. A significant drop in deaths resulting from firearms and injuries is the most appropriate means of averting the loss of 1.15 million years of healthy life annually. The main purpose of the government should be focusing on how to reduce this figure tremendously. This can be achieved by taking into account the number of people that declare to value their lives. It is of immense importance to consider the amount of money it costs to save a life. The British government spends about USD50, 000 annually as the maximum amount at which a treatment is supposed to be funded. Unfortunately, the United States has no essential body mandated to make these resolutions. This entails that no standard trivial costs exists. According to enormous researches conducted throughout the world, the cost of saving lives depends on the approach you take. However, most of the interventions regarding medicine and general safety range between USD 5-50,000 for a year of life. Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League once emphasized that America must have its priorities right. He further stated that safety of little children in their classrooms from gun violence should be one of the government top priorities. According to Morial, the security of Americans children should be the government’s top precedence instead of giving much attention to elected officials. Several gun control advocates have raised concerns pertaining to the increase of firearms in the United States and the rest of the world as one of the key factors contributing to gun violence. A scrutiny carried out by CNN revealed that despite the fact that Americans form only less than one percent of the world’s population, they possess one-third of the guns on the planet. A Gallup poll conducted in 2011 further revealed that approximately 50% of American adults do own guns. According to Marshal, opinions vary, however, on using gun control as a means of controlling violence. The Australian national government does not control matters regarding gun ownership, sale or use. According to Howard, it is possible to reduce the number of hazardous firearms only by persuading the states to enact uniform laws fully prohibiting the ownership, possession and sale of all dangerous weapons .To make this plan attainable, there must be a government financed buy back scheme. In order to accomplish it, there was a new legislation required that was unliterary acknowledged by the politicians, which successfully bought back and destroyed about 700,000 guns. According to a survey conducted by Pew Research Centre for the people and the press, about 35% of Americans say there are guns, riffles or pistols in their homes. There has been consistence for more than 10 years regarding the percentage of public that possess firearms. The proportion of men having guns in their family is slightly higher than women. The research additionally confirms that gun ownership is popular among whites than blacks; 42% of the whites do possess guns in their homes while only 16% of blacks possess. Community type and region are one of the key factors that determine gun ownership. There is a great disparity in the percentage of people living in Northeastern, Midwestern and Southern possessing guns. The research further reveals that a high percentage of people living in rural areas possess firearms in their homes, as compared to those living in suburb and urban areas. It has also been confirmed that gun possession vary by party affiliation, with republicans possessing the highest percentage of guns. There is interrelation between gun control and right to life as compared to favoring gun control and right to life. Some people oppose both right to life and gun control. These are both important but dissimilar issues. Campbell once stated that hypocrisy is not a charge to inveigh lightly. Too often we attempt to accuse those who disagree with us by calling them hypocrites, when in fact, there is nothing more than a projection of our own view of what constitutes consistent positions. Both the modern democratic coalition of minorities, millennial and college educated white men and blue-collar as well as rural white voters have divergent views regarding action on guns. Brownstein once stated that the issue of gun control was lost after US vice president Al Gore lost in the 2000 election. Steinhauser observed that democrats were terribly worried by their dismal performance in the previous election and the fact that they were not able respond to the voters who actually voted for them. It is also apparent that there is division regarding some suggestions to reduce gun violence that is being prioritized by the president. It has become impossible to limit gun violence throughout the world because of the stubbornness of people lobbying for guns. There are a significant proportion of people who support the idea of background checks and they may call a major triumph if it passes. According to Klein, this may not be a major victory. It could be in the end a significant defeat. The United States is leading other western countries in per capita homicide and violent crime rates involving guns. The reasons as to why the United States is leading are limited. I believe our permissive gun laws or customs and practices related to guns are the main reasons as to why gun violence is rampant in the United States, nevertheless gun advocates claim it has nothing to do with this. If we have to agree by the gun advocates, then it means that Americans are extremely aggressive and lacking ethics as compared to people in other western countries. According to McMahan easy access to firearms is one of the main reasons as to why Americans kill each other at an alarming rate as compared to other countries worldwide .I strongly suggest that gun advocates should stay away from supporting policies that promote per capita homicide and violent crimes. According to Sachs, perpetrators of gun violence are not hardened criminals; many have no previous criminal record. It is shocking that America has suffered the highest number of massacres throughout the world in the past 30 years. Many families have experienced worst tragedies, but gun owners still demand for gun possession rights. I secured an opportunity to visit Australia and was able to learn they have an appropriate means of regulating gun ownership. I hope America will also be able to emulate what some of these western countries are doing to limit gun ownership as a means of averting deaths. In conclusion, I believe gun ownership should be controlled for the purpose of avoiding violence in our society. Works Cited Campbell, David. Controlling Access to Guns Will Reduce Violence. March 04, 2013. Web. May 12, 2013. Howard, John. I Went After Guns. Obama can too. January 16, 2013.Web. January 10, 2013 Klein, Joe. Gun Control: What Really Matters? April 15, 2013. Web. May 10, 2013. Marshal, Marylyn. Controlling Gun Violence. January 19, 2013. Web.13 May 2013. Mcmahan, Jeff. Why Gun Control is not Enough. December 19, 2012. Web. January 10, 2013. Pew Research Centre for the people and the press. After Newton, modest change in opinion about gun control. December 20, 2012. Web. 10 April, 2013. Sachs, Jeffrey. Gun Control after Newton. December 17, 2012. Web. January 5, 2013. Steinhauser, Paul. Gun Control Supports Rises but Divide Remaining Over What to Do. January 28, 2013. Web. May 10, 2013. Wiblin, Robert. Is us Gun Control an Important Issue. February 5, 2013. Web. 13 May, 2013. Read More