Dodging the Bullet - A Tale of Two-Gun Policies - Essay Example

Dodging the Bullet: A Tale of Two Gun Policies Gun policy in the United s lags far behind that of England. After evaluating England's strict gun control laws, it has become apparent that change is necessary in the United States. Improvement, meaning stricter, gun control laws banning handguns like those in English will reduce gun related crime. The functional process model must be follow to enact permanent and progressive change within in the United States as America's culture is infiltrated with guns. Therefore, results will not take place overnight and there will be incredible backlash, but the right to bear handguns should be revoked and the Second Amendment of the United States will have to be altered to make possible a safer America. Dodging the Bullet: A Tale of Two Gun Policies Would the "home of the brave" be a better place with a stricter gun policy Indeed, all we have to do is watch the news to know our country could use a few new gun laws. It seems that every day there are shootings all over the news in all regions in the United States. While some regions are more prone to gun violence than others, this is not acceptable for an entire nation to be victim to a weapon- especially if that weapon is legal. The United States certainly has an excess of gunfire amid its streets and alleys and compare that to England. As the administration has seen very recently, the English are much safer in their country than Americans are here. The Second Amendment has always given us the right to bear arms, and it's perhaps the most upheld Amendment. It is now that Englands's gun laws can be seen as truly beneficial. It has come time to take action; United States gun laws are antiquated. After witnessing the positive progress in England, the United States must follow suit and amend the Constitution and it must ban guns to reduce the level of violence Background England has, for the past ten years, become a much safer counter, largely because of successful gun laws. In 1996, England's gun policy grew much fiercer with the introduction of several new laws that resulted in the banning of handguns in March of 1998 (Gun Control Alliance). It simply took England to go through one school shooting before they realized the danger of handguns. Following the establishment of these laws, crime shootings have continuously dropped (Gun Control Alliance). Though England still carries a surplus of air guns, with which crime is still possible, violent shootings have drastically lowered. Though perhaps it is not possible to promote such restricting laws in the United States right away, the English example can be followed as one that, if adopted in the United States, will gradual make American society safer. Contrary to England, the United States has had a cultural obsession with guns that continues to this day. In the United States are popular not only on TV, but as collector's items, video game symbols, and on the streets as a power icon. Replica guns are just as realistic in appearance as their real counterparts (Gun Culture). In America, the gun is not simply a tool, but an item reflecting our culture. However disturbing this might seem, no policy can erase this from an entire generation's mind that have lived their entire lives with the acceptance of guns. A change in policy can, however, make the United States a safer place in the long run. The Second Amendment has always given Americans the right to bear arms: "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed" (The United States Constitution). From the English Common Law of 1689, to the early days of nationhood, to the present day the American Second Amendment has been nearly inviolable. To successfully enact a new gun policy, the Constitution has to be changed, so that there can be no Constitutional challenge to a new law. In order to have a gun policy akin to the English, drastic changes must take place. Procedure There are countless ways to introduce new laws into the country, as well as to enforce these laws, but the most effective in this instance will be the Functional Process Theory. This process will gradually help to alleviate the gun problem in the United States it promises gradual change in a manner more easily adjustable to than instant law-making (About Policy). Using the Functional Process Theory, we can create policy, make it legitimate, implement it, then evaluate the changes on America. The United States can afford the patience to build a safer society. First off, gun organizations such as the National Rifle Association must be made aware of the plans, and they must be warned regarding the future of America's gun laws. Organizations such as the NRA are among the largest proponents of firearms in the United States and the proponents of pro-gun policy carry a large constituency. There will be considerable backlash to changes in the status quo, so small steps must be made to enact the necessary anti-gun legislation. It will not be possible to outright ban handguns and take them away like England successfully accomplished the late 1990s. Thus, we have to first increase gun awareness and recommend alternatives to purchasing handguns. A daunting task, but this can be done with commercials, signs, and with the creation of new gun safety administrations. One such method would be to publicize certain websites within schools that will invoke higher awareness within children. One example currently in place is Kids and Guns which is a website about gun safety aimed towards kids (Kids and Guns). The United States would have to take the policy much farther, however, and begin to raise a generation that abhors guns and is understanding of their danger. It order to implement permanent change, the United States must address the issue at its core, and that is to make guns taboo at a very young age. This will help to eliminate the gun culture in the United States and will help America to be more like the English in the long term. Legal action, however, will be necessary as education can only do so much. While the campaign against guns will accomplish some changes, it will not remove guns physically from public life. The first step would be to enact a law to ban guns from being carried in public entirely, by all those except law enforcement. This would have to be followed by a law similar to that passed in England that banned handguns entirely. Important to these laws is that they have to be Federal. Currently the 50 states vary across the board in terms of the strictness of gun laws. Some states, like Massachusetts and Hawaii are very strict while others such as Maine and Louisiana are very relaxed (Gun Report). It is crucial to note about these laws that they are very detailed and it is hard to determine information on them (Gun Control). The confusion and lack of uniformity leads to the availability of guns. There must be a uniform law across the country to ban guns. Only then, will there be progress. Of course there will be a great deal of controversy to such a decision because the United States has been obsessed with guns since its inception. However, guns are a major concern as nearly everyday a story like this can be found that, "A gunman killed six people at a one-room Amish schoolhouse Monday morning" (San Diego Sun). Such is the reality, and darkest horror of America, and guns are the cause. Guns must be removed from society and kept under watch. Discussion New legislation will make guns as illegal as cocaine or heroin. It will be up to enforcement and the judicial system to enforce these laws and ensure they are followed. There must be high fines and strict punishments for those who violate the laws, and prison must be considered a possibility for those guilty of breaking the new gun laws. Allowing states to administer gun laws allows for too much freedom to individual legislatures. A federal movement to ban guns can thus have a positive impact. However, these laws would not come without a challenge. There will be political repercussions, and any support in pro gun states will surely diminish. But if the administration is truly concerned with America's safety and future, it must act now. One problem will perhaps be the prevalence of illegal guns; but contrary to this is that there are so many illegal guns in the United States today, that current gun restriction laws are failing in their intention and purpose. Results The success of these gun laws will lead to positive change in America. Gang violence through guns will be reduced as will school shootings. The dangers of getting shot by your neighbor will be non-existent. Those that do not follow these laws will be persecuted within complete extent of the law, and it will take time, but the results will be of lesser gun violence in the US. The NRA will no longer be able to encourage weapon use to the everyday citizen, nor will other gun companies remain lucrative in their handgun sales. Conversely, the Second Amendment cannot be completely disintegrated; thus there shall continue the ownership of rifles and other large firearms for the sake of hunting and for use in the police forces of America. This will appease some citizens, and evaluation of the laws and the allowed gun policies in the United States will have to be made later. Additionally, among other nations, America's image will strengthen as a safer place, with a strong yet fair government, that is much more liberal in its need to ensure security within its own borders. Conclusion Progressive change resulting in a policy similar to England, the complete banning of handguns, is necessary to ensure the improvement of the United States. The administration is under the impression that gun laws need to be made stricter, and England can be used as a model. Imposing strict gun laws will lift a dark cloud that exists in the United States today. It will not be easy, but it is necessary. References Common Sense About Kids and Guns Website. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2007, from http://www.kidsandguns.org. Functional Process Theory. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2007, from About Policy Web site: http://www.aboutpolicy.com/direct/functional.html. Gun Control in the U.S. (2000). Retrieved February 21, 2007, from http://www.soros.org/initiatives/justice/articles_publications/publications/gun_report_20000401/GunReport.pdf. Gun Laws and Crime in Britain. (n.d.). Retrieved February 20, 2007, from the Gun Control Alliance Web site: http://www.gca.org.za/facts/briefs/23.htm. National Rifle Association Official Website. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2007, from National Rife Association Web site: http://www.nra.com. Replica Gun Spotting. (February 23, 2007). Retrieved February 24, 2007 from the Gun Culture Web site: http://www.gunculture.net/. Six killed in Pennsylvania school attack. (Oct. 2, 2006). Retrieved February 21, 2007, from Sign on San Diego News Web site: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20061002-1015-crime-schools.html The United States Constitution. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2007, from http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am2. Read More