Gun Control in the US - Research Paper Example

?Gun Control Introduction America has often been regarded as one among the biggest democracies in the world. These democratic aspects of the country are quite evident in majority of the issues related with America. Therefore, any policy concerning the rights of the individuals will have far reaching implications in America. Same is the case with the policies of America on gun control which has now been assumed as a major issue affecting the images of American Democracy. Even the political parties in America, especially, the two prominent— the Democratic and the Republicans take different stands concerning this issue. When one observes the recent political scenario in America with regard to this issue, one can see that the Democrats stand for the gun control measures and the Republicans oppose it. Many are of the opinion that the issues related with handgun by civilians and students have now become a severe issue and a real threat to the day to day life of the Americans. Even the sniper shootings are capable of providing the civilians sleepless nights. Some of the recent studies have identified that different states of America are in two layers regarding this issue. The sect that protests strongly against the gun control is the gun lobby which has gripped American society like an octopus. NRA (National Rifle Association), the most prominent gun lobby in America, upholds the Second Amendment of the American Constitution that protects individual’s right to use firearms for self defense, in order to hide their secret desires. In addition to this, they also resort to the verdict of the Supreme Court in the year 2001 that protected the right of the individuals to use fire arms. As it is the current state pertaining to the use of guns in America, there arise a notable question concerning the abuse of guns by the criminals, mentally ill persons and children. When people are protected by law with regard to the use of guns, one can certainly say that there is more probability for its abuse. The recent shooting at Chardon High School in Ohio and many other incidents invite one’s attention to the hazard of bearing weapons among the citizens. In the United States, gun related violence among the criminals; mentally ill persons and children show a gradual growth in recent years. Therefore, there should be strong regulations on when and how these weapons are practiced. Analyzing the cause and effects of increasing gun related violence, one can find the fact that gun ownership has become widespread and easier in the United States in recent years. Nowadays gun related deaths and injuries among the public became a serious trouble in the United States. Existing mandatory laws in the United States permits lawful use of guns for personal defense among the public. Unfortunately, many people use their hand guns illegally and produce harmful effects. Persons who protest the gun control laws strongly argue that there are nominal evidences which prove that gun control reduce the crime rate. Increasing gun related crimes in the United States create relevant challenges against national security and individual freedom. However, an effective law or strict regulation is essential against the use of guns in the hands of criminals, mentally ill persons and children. The issue of gun related violence among the criminals, mentally ill persons and children in the United States Persons from criminal backgrounds often practice guns for their criminal activities and it causes for number of deaths, gun related injuries and heavy violence. Dissimilar from ordinary people, criminals have the tendency to misuse gun in their daily life. In other words, people who engaged in criminal actions create their own law and social system. Therefore, gun uses among these criminal groups covey a negative message to society. In addition, the increase of gun related violence is a serious issue that reveals the failure of judiciary and legal system in the country. James K. Stewart, Director, National Institute of Justice, rightly observes that “The armed predators who use guns in the course of their crimes are the source of much of the violence and fear that plague many urban neighborhoods” (Wright). Use of gun among the criminals has raised some relevant questions about public safety. In spite of practicing gun in their crimes, they often act as exporting agents. Therefore, strict regulations or effective preventive measures are necessary to resolve this problem. Supporters of the gun rights strongly believe that the misuse of these weapons among the criminals and terrorists should be the true focus of law enforcement procedures. In the online article entitled Guns and Violence: A Summary of the Field by Gary Kleck, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida State University gives evidences that gun ownership among the Americans show a gradual increase from the 1960's through the 1980's, particularly in handgun ownership (Kleck). In 1994, the Democratic Congress passed The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act which prohibit the sale of new assault weapons (The free dictionary). Unfortunately, serious discussions and debates about gun control are not quite common either among the policy makers or in the media. Because of the emergence of mounting international terrorism, regionalism, and changed life style, people in the United States became more conscious about their security. Subsequently, large number of people in the United States began to concentrate in buying gun because of its lethality and easier accessibility. It is a part of common knowledge that people who engaged in criminal activities often misuse the right to use firearms. Excessive use of firearms among the criminals raised problems related with public security, peace, and violence. As Gary Kleck, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida State University, comments, “some of the increase was due to the formation of new households and to growing affluence enabling gun owners to acquire still more guns; however, a substantial share of the increase was also a response to rising crime rates among people who previously did not own guns” (Kleck). As a result of increased gun use, the number of gun related violence show a terrific growth in the United States. As part of ensuring security and peace, both Federal and State governments should pass strict regulations. Availability and large quantity of weapons play a vital role in the process of increasing gun related crimes in the nation. Through simplifying the rules and licensing procedures, government indirectly promotes the manufacturers of firearms in selling large quantity of weapons. Subsequently, the producers are allowing their products to fall into the hands of criminals. Geraldine Woods, tutor of English, simply underlines that “By selling large quantities of weapons to the shady dealers, critics claim, the manufacturers are allowing their products to fall into the hands of criminals” (Woods 103). The study entitled Evaluating Gun Policy :Effects on Crime and Violence by Jens Ludwig and Philip J. Cook mentioned that the absence of strong regulations on firearms in the United States are responsible for the high rate of gun related suicides, homicides, and accidents among children in that nation (Ludwig & Cook 7). Another problem is that children having guns, who are sometimes frustrated, tired, angry, who are not skilled in dispute resolution and afraid have the chance for risky gun uses. It is a common part of knowledge and widely acceptable fact that “other than self-defense, the use of a gun against another human is socially undesirable” (Bulletins). Various studies concerning this issue have identified that that more than 20,000 children and youth under age 20 are killed or severely injured because of gun related violence in the United States every year. Parents of these children are not fully aware about the seriousness of gun use and related violence. The economic costs of gun related deaths and injuries against children have reached at $15 billion per year. It is significant to mention that various psychological effects like posttraumatic stress, poor academic performance, augmented delinquency, risky sexual attitudes, substance abuse, and depression force children and youth to use their gun in an improper way. The consequences of gun related violence are severe and it became a serious legal problem among the federal, state governments. Gregg Lee Carter observes that “Evidence indicating that Americans under the age of 19-especially African Americans- are far more likely than children and youth in other industrialized nations to suffer firearm-related injury or death” (Carter 111). Large number of innocent people became the victims of these gun related violence. Therefore, current circumstances strongly demand that Federal State and Public Healthcare agencies should make immediate attention and strict regulations against this violence. In 2011, a 22 year old high school dropped out Jared Lee Loughner fired arbitrarily in to the assembled crowd during a public meeting held at Casas Adobes, near Tucson, Arizona. Six people were killed in this attack and more than 19 people were injured, including the U.S. congress member Gabrielle Giffords. The event paved the way for more discussions and debates concerning gun control among the mentally ill persons. Police records give evidence that the man, Loughner was mentally unstable. Persons with mental illness such as schizophrenia are more likely to be assaulted by others than to commit violent crime themselves (Metzl). As a result of their illness, mentally ill persons often show the tendency to engage in some kind of anti-social activities. There is also possibility for the mentally ill persons to get involved in aggressive crimes. Frequent homelessness, drug abuse and alcoholism may also enkindle the fire in them. Consequently, the tendency to practice gun and other weapons reaches in higher status. Criminalization is another significant problem that underlines the necessity of strict regulation or law making in preventing crimes among the mentally ill persons. Police records and case studies explore that police officers frequently come across with mentally disordered persons. Therefore, one can comprehend that gun ownership and gun use among the mentally ill persons paved the way for critical legal problems. A study conducted by the Lincoln Police Department makes known that they have spent large amount of time in the cases related with mentally disabled persons and gun uses. The Lincoln (Nebraska) Police Department found that it handled over 1,500 mental health investigation cases in 2002, and that it spent more time on these cases than on injury traffic accidents, burglaries, or felony assaults (Cordner). The lack of proper safety problems and abuse of guns have paved the way for the killings of number of innocent people in the United States. Existing mandated regulations in gun use and the need of strict regulation Debates about gun related deaths and violence among the criminals; mentally ill persons and children often lift up a significant question that Why they get access to gun killing innocent People? Existing mandated laws related with gun use reveal that the right to use firearms as an effective means to ensure self-defense. The Second Amendment of the American Constitution protects the right to firearms for self- defense. Consequently, use of firearms among the criminals, mentally ill persons and children reached at a dangerous level. Exponents of gun control in the United States strongly demanded that strict laws are essential in registration and licensing of guns. BBC reporter Jane O'Brien remarks that “Surveys estimate that there are 90 guns for every 100 citizens in the US, making the country one of the most heavily-armed nations in the world” (O'Brien). So the excessive use of firearms among the criminals, mentally ill persons and children create some relevant questions about national security and it needs strict regulation. Conclusion In the final judgment, it is clear that, formation and execution of effective gun control laws among the criminals, mentally ill persons and children is an essential step in the process of reducing gun related crimes. Undesirable gun use instead of self-defense among the people is a serious problem and it requires the establishment of strict regulations in gun use. The Second Amendment of the U.S Constitution ensures the right to use firearms for self defense. Existing mandatory laws for mentally ill persons and children needs appropriate modifications. Weaker gun control laws often act as a catalyst in promoting gun use and exporting. Unrestrained gun use among the children has become a serious issue and it will question the existence of national security. Existing mandated laws related with gun control promotes the use of firearms among the criminals, mentally ill persons and children. Therefore, it is obvious that both Federal and State governments should establish strict regulations against unrestrained gun use to maintain national security and peace. Works cited Bulletins. Comparing the Incidence of Self-Defense Gun Use and Criminal Gun Use. Harvard Injury Control Research Center. 2009. Web. 27 March 2012. http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/research/hicrc/files/Bullet-ins_Spring_2009.pdf. Carter, Gregg. L. Guns in American Society: A – L. illustrated edn. ABC-CLIO, 2002. Print. Cordner, Gary. The Problem of People with Mental Illness. Centre for problem-oriented policing. 2006. Web. 27 March 2012. http://www.popcenter.org/problems/mental_illness/print/. Kleck, Gary. Guns and Violence: A Summary of the Field. School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Florida State University. 1991. Web. 27 March 2012. http://www.catb.org/~esr/guns/point-blank-summary.html. Metzl, Jonathan. M. Why are the mentally ill still bearing arms? The Lancet. 25 June 2011. Web. 27 March 2012. http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(11)60950-1/fulltext O'Brien, Jane. Deep divisions over US gun control. BBC News, Washington. 31 Dec 2007. Web. 27 March 2012. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7153975.stm. Woods, Geraldine. Right to bear arms. Illustrated edn. Infobase Publishing, 2005. Print. Wright, James D. The Armed Criminal in America. National Institute of Justice. Nov 1986. Web. 27 March 2012. http://rkba.org/research/wright/armed-criminal.summary.html. The free dictionary. The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. Farlex, Inc. 2012 Web. 10 April, 2012. http://legaldictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Violent+Crime+Control+and+Law+Enforcement+Act+of+1994 Ludwig, Jens., Cook, Philip J. Evaluating Gun Policy. Brookings metro series. 2003. Web. 10 April, 2012. http://home.uchicago.edu/~ludwigj/papers/Brookings_Pragmatic_Gun_Chapter1.pdf Read More