Gun Control in the United States - Coursework Example

Gun Control In the United s, guns have been an important factor accountable for the crimes as well as violence in the s. Contextually, there are various mass shooting and homicide incidents leading to death along with injuries of the people in the US. In this regard, the government has developed and implemented gun control policies with the aim of reducing crime rates in the country. Presently, the gun control policies have provided rights to the civilians to possess firearms legally. Subsequently, the changing trend in these polices have increased the availability of weapons, which has acknowledged to have augmented crime as well as violence in the society. Introduction In the United States of America (US), mass shooting has been one of the most significant issues adversely affecting the people and societies in an immense manner. In the history of the US, mass shooting has been an important factor, which has over the years negatively affected the social wellbeing of the people. In this respect, it has been recognized that since the period of 1983, the US has witnessed around 78 mass shooting incidents. According to the estimates of the ‘Congressional Research Service’ (CRS), mass shooting has phenomenally affected the social aspects of the country from the last three decades. Subsequently, the report implied that mass shooting incidents have claimed the life of around 547 people. Additionally, the incidents have resulted in injuring around 476 individuals. Correspondingly, the shooting incidents have been a pervasive threat because of tragic instances occurring in the US (Bjelopera et al., 2013). Contextually, the policymakers in the US have been facing challenges in developing appropriate enforcement laws as well as policies with the aim of mitigating such issues in an enhanced manner. In this regard, the government of the US has formulated as well as implemented effective policies in order to minimize crime rate and violence to a significant extent. Moreover, the government has adopted the measure of improving the education system and public health along with safety concerns (Bjelopera et al., 2013). With these considerations, the essay emphasizes the aspect of gun control and its impact on the society of the US. Firearm Fatalities and Gun Control Measures In the US, mass shooting has been one of the significant societal issues affecting the social life of the people to a large extent. The last three decades i.e. from 1983 until the present scenario, the country has witnessed several incidents of mass shooting that have occurred, which has resulted in the loss of life along with causing injury in an increased manner. In the recent context, i.e. during 2011 in Tucson, Arizona, mass shooting incident killed and wounded around 6 as well as 14 people respectively. During the year 2012 in Aurora, Colorado, mass shooting occurrence in a theater by a homicide gunman killed around 12 people and additionally injured 58 individuals. In the same year, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a mass shooting incident took place in Sikh temple in which around 6 worshippers were killed and on the other hand, around 3 worshippers were wounded. Moreover, statistics generated from the report of the ‘National Institute of Justice’ imply that the possession of firearms by households has augmented in a steady manner in the US. Furthermore, the imports of handguns, shotguns and rifles have increased from the recent past years (Krouse, 2012). In this context, it has been recognized that during the year 2009, the number of firearms possessed by the civilians in the US has been around 310 million which includes 114 million handguns, 86 million shotguns and 110 million rifles. Subsequently, it has been ascertained that firearms are used for various purposes in the US that include non-lethal crimes recreation and self-defense. The gun-related fatalities have been reported on various grounds that encompass legal interventions, unknown circumstances, homicides, accidents along with suicides. In this regard, the survey during the year 2009 revealed that around 11,826 firearm fatalities were reported owing to legal intervention or homicides. Additionally, the number of suicides amounted to around 18,735. There are also incidents of unintentional shootings as well as unknown causes, which accounted for around 554 and 232 firearm fatalities. In this respect, the firearm fatalities have been recognized for people of all age groups (Krouse, 2012; Gross, 2008). Mass shooting incidents in the US along with firearm events have augmented the ratio of crime rate in the country. Subsequently, the policymakers of the US have implemented policies along with regulations with the aim of mitigating the issue of mass shooting. The federal government of the country implemented different regulations with the aim of developing a minimum standard based on which firearms should be possessed and traded within the states of the US. Subsequently, two federal laws which include the ‘National Firearms Act of 1934’ (NFA) and the ‘Gun Control Act of 1968’ (GCA) have been imposed in the country with the aim of regulating possession along with trade operations of firearms. The federal laws implemented in relation to possession and commerce of firearms pose minimum standard inside the country. While, in many states, different firearms laws are implemented, which are more or less restrictive in their approaches towards gun control (Krouse, 2012). In this regard, the NFA implemented in the country was formulated during the year 1934 with the aim of imposing strict regulations for possession. The law imposed strict rules in relation to lethal weapons that include ‘short-barreled long guns’ and machine guns. According to the NFA, taxes were imposed on every aspect of manufacturing as well as distribution procedures of firearms in the US. Additionally, the law implied that production as well as distribution of firearms inside the states should be disclosed adequately (Carter, 2012; Nardolillo, 2011). The GCA was enacted in the US with the aim of aiding state, local and federal laws in enforcing firearms regulation effectively in order to minimize violence along with crime. Besides, the policies of the law also signified that the government would not impose undue provisions on the possession of firearms used for the purpose of personal protection, hunting, target shooting and trapshooting among others. The law also signified that individuals and businesses associated with importing, manufacturing along with trade operations of firearms are required to acquire federal licenses. Contextually, trade operations of firearms conducted interstate are prohibited substantially. The dealers involved with firearms transaction are required to maintain their commercial records. In the US, there are other federal laws that include the ‘Assault Weapons Ban’ and the ‘Brady Law’ which are implemented with the aim of minimizing crime rate and firearm fatalities. The Brady law implemented during the year 1994 implied that background of purchasers should be scrutinized with the assistance of ‘criminal background check system’. The firearm dealers having the system are facilitated with the opportunity of keeping the records of mentally unfit individuals along with criminals in an appropriate manner so that such people might be restricted from acquiring guns. In the same year i.e. 1994, the Assault Weapons Ban had been imposed in the US with the aim of restricting or banning civilians from acquiring different assault weapons (Wagner & Machnowski, 2011). Second Amendment Presently, the gun control policies implemented are based on the federal law of the US. In this regard, Second Amendment has been enacted as an important gun control policy in the US with the intention of enhancing the safety of the US people. The Second Amendment signifies that in order to develop a well regulated state, the people are required to be provided with the right of possessing firearms. In accordance with the right offered through the Second Amendment, it has facilitated the civilians to own firearms irrespective of membership in state militia. The policies of the Second Amendment have been based on the cases of ‘District of Columbia v Heller’ (2008) and ‘McDonald v City of Chicago’ (2010). In this context, from the judgment of ‘District of Columbia v Heller’ (2008) case, it can be comprehended that the Second Amendment provides the people of the US the right of obtaining and acquiring firearms. Also, from the hearings of the case of ‘McDonald v City of Chicago’ (2010), it can be identified that the right of acquiring firearms was first propounded, which might affect firearms policies of local as well as state governments. In this respect, the Supreme Court of the US has passed the legislation that individuals residing in the US are offered with the right of possessing firearms with the intention of self-defense (Wagner & Machnowski, 2011). Implications of the Present Gun Control Policies It has been identified that the government of the US has implemented different gun control policies with the aim of minimizing crimes along with violence in the states. Subsequently, it is ascertained that the gun control policies have changed in their approaches from banning or restricting trade and possession of firearms to providing right to the civilians in acquiring guns for self-defense (Vernick et al., 2011). Correspondingly, the current federal law has prohibited certain categories of people from transporting, possessing, shipping and receiving ammunition along with firearms which include convicted persons and fugitives. Additionally, individuals addicted towards substance abuse, unauthorized immigrants, mentally retarded and individual renouncing US citizenship among others are not offered with the right of acquiring firearms. According to the gun control policies in the US, individuals below 18 years of age are restricted from having long gun and its ammunition. Moreover, individuals below the age of 21 years are not offered with the right of possessing handgun and its ammunition (Krouse, 2012). Effect of Gun Control in the Society In the US, there have been increased incidents of firearm fatalities and mass shooting events. The people of all ages are seemed to be associated with different firearm incidents throughout the country. In this regard, the gun control policies are implemented with the aim of reducing crimes and other violent acts in the country. It has been identified that trend of the gun control policies has changed from restricting to possess firearms to having the right of acquiring firearms for self-defense. The present gun control policies have both positive as well as negative influences towards the society. In a positive manner, the civilians with the assistance of gun control policies are able to possess weapons legally for security concerns. The people of the US are offered with the opportunity of increased access to weapons. The people are possessing guns in order to be facilitated with better self-defense aspect. On the other hand, the increased access to lethal weapons has raised the chances of violence along with instability (Dube et al., 2013; Hemenway, 1998). Subsequently, the people with the opportunity of possessing weapons in a convenient manner are determined to commit crimes and violence acts in an immense way. It has been recognized that criminal offenses have increased considerably in the states of the US which include property theft, violent acts, rape, assault, murder, vehicle theft, larceny and burglary among others. Contextually, crimes have augmented, which in return has led towards instable societal conditions. In the periphery of the US, the availability of guns has adversely affected the societal conditions of the states owing to the augmented rate of destruction, death and injuries (Branas et al., 2009; Moorhouse & Wanner, 2006). Guns are also recognized as an important factor accountable for increased rate of suicides along with homicides in the US. The people in the US are deliberately thoughtful towards safety along with security concerns. In this regard, it can be ascertained that right of possessing firearms has augmented safety risks and health risks. Moreover, guns are determined to be the prime source of criminal acts, which has adversely affected the societal condition (Ziegler, 2014; Wintemute et al., 2010). In the US, the insignificant legislation is relation to crimes committed with firearms has increased criminal felonies and respectively gun ownership amid US civilians to a large extent has resulted in changing the cultural aspects of the society (Marvel & Moody, 2006; Kleck, 1996). Conclusion It can be comprehended from the above discussion that the societal conditions in the US are mainly adversely affected by increased availability of firearms. Firearms or guns are the important factors accountable for fatalities and injuries in the US society. Moreover, historically, the country had witnessed different mass shooting and homicide related incidents in an enhanced manner. The last three decades i.e. from the period of 1983 until presently, firearms have been identified to be the prominent cause of mortality amid individuals of all age groups. In this context, the government of the US has formulated and implemented different gun control policies with the aim of minimizing crime and violence inside the country. In this purview, different federal laws that include NFA and GCA are implemented in order to impose additional taxes on the manufacturing as well as production of firearms in the US. Moreover, the federal law was implemented with the objective of reducing crimes in the states. In the present scenario, Second Amendment has been enacted on the basis of which the people of the US are offered with the right of possessing firearms legally. Consequently, the gun control policies of the US are witnessed to create both positive and negative aspects for the society owing to the augmented availability of firearms. References Branas, C. C., Richmond, T. 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