Guns in the United States - Essay Example

Guns as a Public Health Issue al Affiliation) Guns as a Public Health Issue Guns in the United s have been a topic of discussion for some time now. People argue whether or not guns are a public health concern. Guns in the United States are legal as long as one possesses a genuine gun license. However, this has not prevented guns from being sold in the black market, which ends up in the wrong peoples’ hands. This has led to many gun associated violence. A study has shown that, in the United States, there are 11thousand homicides reported each year that are associated with guns. 19000 cases of suicides are also reported with guns as their sources of death. To add to these fateful and saddening statistics, 2000 cases of fatal accidents that involve guns are reported annually. This data was confirmed by over 100 thousands medical physicians, led by one Vivek Murphy. Murphy was to be nominated as the surgeon but controversy surrounding his nomination stopped the process (Harris, 1993). Going by these statistics, it would not be wrong to say that guns have become a public health concern. On the average, 88 people die each day from gunshot wounds. This is tragic. These numbers have reduced from the 1993 peak but still, the deaths are so many. Many medical physicians agree with the facts that guns have become a health issue. Another research has shown that four people are killed accidentally each time a gun is used for self-defense. A further 11 suicides and 7 homicides are report for every single case a gun is used for self-defense. This research was carried out in three major cities in the United States. In some states, the deaths recorded for car accidents are much lower than those deaths caused by guns. Clearly, gun deaths have become a national disaster in United States (Kim, 1999). Mass shooting have also been experienced in schools and colleges. Examples are the mass shooting in a school in Troutdale, Shooting in a college in Seattle and another similar case in Isla Vita. These incidents led to many deaths and caused several injuries. With all these mass shooting, experts believe that guns shooting have become a public health issue. The government of the United States spends over 2 billion dollars each year for medical care for injuries caused by guns (Harris, 1993). Apart from causing injuries and death, guns have other effects on humans and environment. The bullet casings contain lead has effects on the environment when left on the ground. They may pollute the water system and contaminate the soil that is used for farming. Survivors of gunshots may develop post-traumatic stress diseases that will totally change their way of life. They may become a burden to their relatives who will have to take care of them and pay their medical care fees. This may become difficult for them, as they may not be able to pay the medical bills. These post-traumatic stress diseases may also affect the shooters and the witnesses. The community as a whole will be traumatized with these incidences (Kleck, 2000). These effects of gun shooting greatly affect the health of the people in the community. Experts believe that gun killings and injuries should be handled as a disease and medical experts should chip in and provide solutions to help curb this problem. Many medical practicing organizations agree that medical experts have a very important role in fighting this major public concern. To this effect, proposals for policies to treat guns as public health hazards have been brought up in legislative platforms. However, this has not been received well by certain politicians in the government (McCarthy, 2013). Groups advocating for the reduction of gun violence have argued physicians to actively participate in counseling patients on the need of gun safety. The gun owners should be argued to keep their firearms safely to avoid accidents and stealing of these guns. Lost guns may end up in wrong hands that will continue perpetrating gun violence. They should keep them away from children, people abusing drugs and the mentally challenged to avoid accidents. It is also suggested that the doctors be trained on violence management to help them prevent the recurrence of gun violence. The doctors are argued to actively participate in community efforts to push of limitations of individuals who purchase handguns. This has not been received well by those people who sell guns, as it would mean a reduction in business for them. There have also been suggestions that guns designed for military use should not be sold to the civilians. This includes guns that are semi-automatic and rifles (McCarthy, 2013). It is suggested that guns should be designed in a way that only their owners can use them. This would be engineering guns that can register the identity of the owner by scanning their fingers. The guns should also have safety locks that can only be unlocked by the owners. This will go a long way in ensuring that they do not end up in wrong hands. It will also reduce the number of accidental cases. In general, firearms have an adverse effect on the health of the people and should be addressed by everyone, from the individual person to the government and non-governmental institutions. Treating guns as a public health issues will go a long way in addressing it as a main concern to the whole community. Guns in the United States have been a topic of discussion for some time now. People argue whether or not guns are a public health concern. 19000 cases of suicides are also reported with guns as their sources of death. These incidents led to many deaths and caused several injuries. With all these mass shooting, experts believe that guns shooting have become a public health issue. These effects of gun shooting greatly affect the health of the people in the community. Groups advocating for the reduction of gun violence have argued physicians to actively participate in counseling patients on the need of gun safety. References Harris, L. (1993). A survey of the American people on guns as a childrens health issue. S.l.: LH Research. Kim, H. (1999). Guns and violence. San Diego: Greenhaven Press. Kleck, G., & Patterson, E. (2000). The Impact of Gun Control and Gun Ownership Levels on Violence Rates. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 249-287. McCarthy, M. (2013). Reviving research into US gun violence. BMJ, F980-F980. Read More