Gun Control: Local Government Implementation - Essay Example

Gun Control Introduction Gun control has been an issue that has for long been debated in America with people emphasizing that it should be implemented in all states. Gun control has been assumed to lead to the rise of crime, both from sane and mentally unstable people in the population. Mentally challenged people or emotionally unstable people should not be allowed to possess guns in their homes. Conversely, the sane and self-controlled individuals require these guns for protection. One of the states that is currently under much pressure to enact a gun control policy is Delaware. The crime rates in the state have escalated and the main blame being the fact that people in the state can freely own a gun, as long as one does not have a critical crime record. But the main question arises when the assessment of how efficient gun control can be to a state such as Delaware and the assurances it brings that the enactment of gun control would outright eliminate crime in the region. This paper explores the issue of gun control in Delaware, the various steps and measures that have been taken so far, and the ultimate sources of resistance to change in the governments overall operations of implementing gun control. Thesis: Although Gun control in Delaware is primarily aimed at the reduction of gun ownership rights among people, ensuring that even the emotionally unstable are critically assessed before qualifying to own a gun, the success levels of the gun control bill in the state are diminishing by the day with citizens of the state opposing the bill strongly. Research Purpose, Aims and Objectives The purpose of this research is assessing the need for implementation of gun control strategies in Delaware and assessing what strategies can be used to impose gun control. Arguably, the research will equally assess whether gun control should be implemented in Delaware to curb the levels of crime in the state, or the policies that can be better adopted without necessarily brining in too much opposition to gun regulation by the Delaware citizens. The research will equally assess the viewpoints of various scholars, bloggers and newspaper authors pertaining to the issue. Research Questions 1. Why is it necessary to implement gun control in Delaware? 2. What are the current hindrances and sources of opposition to gun control in the state? 3. What is the likelihood of gun control strategies ever being implemented in the state? 4. Which strategies can be adopted to reduce resistance to gun control in Delaware, and if possible all other states debating on the same issue? Methodology Data for this research will primarily be obtained through the assessment of pre-existing literature on the issue. Books will form a solid foundation for the development of the structuring of the research, development of recommendations and assessment of causes of resistance to gun control measures in Delaware and other American states as well. Secondly, the research will largely be founded on newspaper articles on the issue. The news is the source of new information pertaining to the topic at hand. Primarily, the news outlines the current progress levels and the reasons for resistance by citizens for the implementation of these gun laws. Finally, scholarly articles also form a reliable database for the research in that they underline the various societal issues and their attachment to guns. Literature Review Assessing the need for gun control is crucial considering the cases of mental instability that have led to the ultimate result of mass deaths. The shooting in schools, for instance the shooting that happened in Connecticut, are some of the key motivators of gun control incentives being implemented by the local governments (Yourish et al "State Gun Laws Enacted in the Year since Newtown"). Since the shooting in Colorado, countless other episodes pertaining to the use of guns by emotionally and mentally unstable people have recurred, such as a shooting where a gang opened fire in a crowded place, a shooting in school where a student came to class with a shotgun, injured one of the students before killing himself, and countless cases of homicides based on mental and emotional instability. As such, the implementation of gun control laws in Delaware and all other states that have been pushing for the change is a key consideration that must be taken into great detail. However, with the primary focus of the paper on Delaware, and assessing the Delaware state of affairs pertaining to the issue shed light on how important the local government gun control policy is. The gun control implementation policy in Delaware is a sensitive issue that has been met with a lot of opposition. The main issue being questioned by a majority of citizens and their representatives is the extent to which gun control measures are to be adopted. Most of the laws developed are primarily aimed at controlling gun ownership using intensive measures that only spark opposition from senators, congressmen and even citizens in the various states. However, this does not show that Delaware gun control measures have completely failed. Currently, Delaware has already instituted new gun regulations laws which demand the conducing of background checks prior to any individuals receiving a gun – even for private sales (Richman "One year after Newtown, the gun control debate rages on"). As such, Delaware gun control strategies have not been completely ineffective, but rather have also had some positive outcomes. Regardless, the regulation of gun control measures in Delaware were not a smooth sailing with the various court cases that had the gun control measures deemed inapplicable to the Delaware state constitution. Primarily initiated by Beau Biden, the son of Joe Biden and the attorney general of Delaware found great opposition in having the bill signed into law. The lawmakers in the state were largely opposed to gun control, despite the reasonable approach that was used to present the law (Chase "Delaware Gun Bill Defeated in State Senate"). As such, gun control is not an issue that is outright straightforward as is the case with most security related issues in various states. Gun ownership freedom is a sensitive issue, and a unique right to Americans, a right that defines the American lifestyle and that defines their values as different from the rest of the world. As a result, gun control measures cannot be easily administered. Delaware inability to exercise complete control of gun purchases has thus taught that despite the willingness to implement an effective bill, if the citizens are not in agreement with your practices, despite their functionality and efficiency, approval is almost impossible. Various strategies have been adopted to remedy the resistance from the people pertaining to the implementation of the gun control strategies that have been effective in other states, such as New Mexico, can equally be administered by Delaware to increase the curbing of rates of crime and deaths in the state and elsewhere in the country. Primarily, the establishment of the gun-free zones can be a measure that can be implemented to prevent the entry of guns in certain compounds such as schools following the never ending shootings (Doeden 100). Despite the resistance by people to maintain the ownership of their guns, establishment of gun-free zones would relatively improve the safety levels in the respective states. Conclusion New policies have been developed and enacted amongst these nations. Evidently, one of the new policies developed by the Delaware local government is the banning of the use or carrying of firearm in various areas such as the laundry rooms of their buildings, which has failed in the Supreme Court, with opposing evidence being voiced against the proposal. Primarily, self-defense in Delaware is a key consideration that has been recurrently used to show the need for limited gun control (Root "Delaware Supreme Court Upholds Gun Rights for Public-Housing Tenants"). It is evident that gun control in Delaware might never get implemented. People in the state value their safety more than anything else, and in the never ending need to be safe, they have placed the safety of other people in check. The recurrence in cases of mass murders, or homicides that would have otherwise been avoided if the state had a gun control policy dictate that the state largely needs to implement a gun control policy. The need for gun control, countered with the current state of safety in the state shows the clear need for critical thought for the manner to be solved. Works Cited Chase, Randall. Delaware Gun Bill Defeated In State Senate. Huffington Post, June 27, 2013. Web. April 9, 2014. Richman, Josh. One year after Newtown, the gun control debate rages on. San Jose Mercury News, December 12, 2012. Web. April 9, 2014. Root, Damon. Delaware Supreme Court Upholds Gun Rights for Public-Housing Tenants. Reason, Mar. 21, 2014. Web. April 9, 2014. Yourish, Karen. State Gun Laws Enacted in the Year since Newtown. New York Times, December 10, 2013. Web. April 9, 2014. Read More