United States and Australias Gun Control Laws - Essay Example

Gun Control Lecturer Gun control Introduction There has been a raging debate over the right to bear arms in almost all the s in the United States and Australia. Even though some people and institutions have expressed that carrying weapons warrant protection, many state legislatures and governments are opposed to the measure on the basis that it may raise a violence spike. In addition, with citizens carrying arms, the threat in opposition to law enforcement may amount to an issue. Because of the many debates in full force, legislations and laws on gun control have been put into operation in order to curtail the amount of weapons on the streets of the United States and Australia. Gun control is any policy, law, practice or proposal that is designed to limit or restrain the production, possession, shipment, importation, use and/ or sale of firearms. While many have opposed the strict gun control laws, their implementation is associated by many pros that ultimately benefit the Australian and American societies as a whole. Both the United States gun control laws and the Australia’s gun control laws have decreased suicide rates and mass shootings (Baker & McPhedran, 2007). This paper seeks to discuss gun control in United States and Australia. Through doing so, the paper will discuss: how the benefits of gun control could decrease mass shootings and suicide rates; how important it is for the United States especially during this time to pass a law as soon as possible before situations gets out of hand; national security of the United States; how implementing the same laws as Australia may not work here in the United States or how it could be challenged due to the difference in government laws; and few cases that have taken place in the United States such as the Sandy Hook mass shooting, the Batman movie shooting, and present casualties that were affected and how many lives were taken due to the United States law of owning guns. United States and Australia’s gun control laws Gun control policy and laws greatly vary across the world. Countries such as Australia have very strict restrictions on possession of arms, while others like the United States are relatively modest on the same. The opponents of gun controls argue generally on individual liberties and rights of self protection. As mentioned earlier, the benefits of gun control aids in decreasing mass shootings and suicide rates in countries such as Australia and the United States would find it important to pass and implement similar laws in Australia to control gun possession. Although these laws could be challenged due to the differences in Australian and United States governments, the gun control laws in Australia would be beneficial if implemented in the United States due to the pros that comes with it: decrease in crime rates and violence, the Australian gun control laws would vastly minimize both indirect and direct violence. Accidental shootings among children, robberies and gangs would lessen where there is no ability to acquire firearms. Passing gun control laws before the situation gets worse in America is also very important. This is because the United States would be able to add special stipulations for obtaining firearms. This would make it harder for any non law enforcement citizens to obtain guns. These laws will ensure that, people with substantial criminal backgrounds, people with gun convictions, mental illness are eliminated from obtaining guns, and keeps those with guns licensed (Black, 1999). Australia is one country with very strict limitations of gun possessions. For this reason, there have been very minimal cases of mass shooting in the country as opposed to the United States. This has raised many questions on the national security of the United States. For this reason, it is very important for the United States especially during this time to pass a law as soon as possible before situations gets out of hand. In addition, being that Australia is one of the countries that have succeeded in implementing gun controls and minimized mass shootings, violence, and suicides, implementing the same laws as Australia may be vital here in the United States even though the two countries differ in governance. This is because, the gun control laws will enable the government to dictate the type of weapons that are availed for purchase, and firearms such as machine guns, high powdered rifles and larger pistols would be eliminated from the market. With United States implementing gun control laws, it will enable the local and state governments to decipher what is good for their counties. It is also important for United States to pass gun control laws in order to eliminate the one size fits all concept of gun control. This is because all areas differ, and at the same time allowing the state and local governments to tailor regulations laws and policies in order to fit their needs (Foley, 2013). In the United States, those opposed to the gun control laws look at self defense as unalienable and a fundamental human right. They believe that firearms are relevant tool with respect to exercising that right. The opponents view gun control as unethical. The history of gun control however began before the civil war ended. At this time, slaves were prohibited from owning guns by the state slave codes. Even after the abolishment of slavery, black people were prohibited from possessing guns under the Black Codes. However, the Congress of the United States through passing the Civil Rights Act of 1866 overrode various portions of Black Codes and denounced statutes that denied the blacks firearms access. The Southern states however banned inexpensive guns and imposed very high taxes on guns so as to price destitute people out of the gun market (Baker & McPhedran, 2007). On the other hand, the Constitution of Australia does not confer power on Commonwealth to enact gun laws. Gun laws proposals began as early as 1988 in the report of National Committee on Violence. The Australian National Firearms Agreement imposed ban on all semi-automatic and pump action shotguns and semi-automatic rifles. In addition, the agreement created very tight and strict ownership and licensing system. Australia was committed to taking guns off the streets. For example, the Australian Constitution introduced Medicare Levy Amendment Act in 1996 in order to offer revenue for the program of national firearms referred to as the gun buy-back scheme. The scheme purchased and destroyed all semi-automatic rifles. In fact, there was a government policy that compensates shooters for giving up their sports. Many pistol shooters (25%) took this offer and relinquished their licenses. This aided in eliminating guns in Australia. These gun control laws have seen a decrease in mass shootings, crime rates and suicides in Australia (Magarian, 2012). National security of the U.S The national security of the United States seeks to eliminate any gun threats in the country through both state and local governments. They ensure effective implementation of the theories that apply to gun control through the law enforcing agencies such as National Security Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, and Military Intelligence, Federal Bureau of Investigations and the state police departments (Foley, 2013). In order to ensure effective implementation gun controls and national security, the following policy measures are up held: Marshaling the power of economy in order to elicit cooperation Using diplomacy to isolate threats and rally allies Maintaining effective armed forces Ensuring redundancy and resilience of critical infrastructure Implementing policies of emergency preparedness and civil defense including legislation of anti-terrorism Tasking secret police or counterintelligence to protect the country from threats posed by gun possessions Using intelligence to avoid or defeat detected espionage and threats, ad protect classified information The national security of the United States has since remained stable fundamentally from 1947, when the National Security Act of 1947 was signed by President Harry S. Truman. The security of the United States is ensured by the mentioned agencies. Gun control is one such way of guaranteeing security to the citizens (Magarian, 2012). Conclusion In summary, many countries have various gun control laws trying to take off guns from the market. United States is one such country. This is due to the high rates of gun injury and mortality which are often cited as the major drive for gun control policies. Violence by guns is a serious economic and public health concern. For example, in the U.S. there are about 32300 deaths, most of which are suicides, and average of 69,000 injuries per year primarily associated with gang violence involving young adults and male juveniles. The costs of these injuries and deaths have been estimated at $100 billion. However, the United States has remained divided over restrictive gun control policies. Scholars have even attributed the low life expectancy in the United States to the gun possessions. There are also varying disagreement among academics on whether there is a causal relationship between violence and gun availability, and if any, whether gun controls would lower violence that are related to guns effectively (Black, 1999). This paper has for the above reasons discussed gun control in United States and Australia. Through illustrating how the benefits of gun control could decrease mass shootings and suicide rates; the importance of passing gun controls in the United States; national security of the United States; and the implementation of the same laws as Australia in the United States . References Baker, J., & McPhedran, S. (2007, May). Gun laws and sudden death: did the Australian firearms legislation of 1996 make a difference? British Journal of Criminology, 47(3), 455+ Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.fiu.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA166850380&v=2.1&u=flstuniv&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w Black, M. E. (1999, July 17). Over our dead bodies: Port Arthur and Australias fight for gun control. British Medical Journal, 319(7203), 199< Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.fiu.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA55397045&v=2.1&u=flstuniv&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w Foley, J. (2013, February 1). Federal Gun Control Requires IT Overhaul. Information Week, (18), 3. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.fiu.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA318382030&v=2.1&u=flstuniv&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w Magarian, G. P. (2012, November). Speaking truth to firepower: how the First Amendment destabilizes the Second. Texas Law Review, 91(1), 49-99. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.fiu.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA317378966&v=2.1&u=flstuniv&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w Read More