Gun Control Is Not the Ticket to Peace - Essay Example

Hawraa Kamal Writing 110 23rd October Gun Control is not the Ticket to Peace Political solutions and impromptu legislation have become the norm in handling any problems, whether social, political or economic problems facing the American society. Hence, when a problem emerges involving the shooting of school children and citizens in the public squares or at their residences, then the most effective solution deemed involves creating gun control legislation. It is indisputable that the establishment of a gun control regulation indicates a clear intention of eliminating the incidences of shootings, since some people who may refrain from drawing their guns and shooting other out of fear of the wrath of the law. While it makes sense to enact new gun legislation in an attempt to reduce the rampant shooting, this measure is not guaranteed in completely eradicating such incidences altogether (Griffith). This is because the increase in the incidences of shootings is not caused by the highest number of licensed guns that the government has issued to the civilians. In fact, candidly speaking, if keenly observed, one would come to the conclusion that virtually all the incidences of public shootings are as a result of guns that are acquired illegally (Smith). Hence, while the establishment of gun control laws may help to instill fear on the legal gun holders from shooting at others, such efforts will have no effects on the criminals and social deviants who rule and operate the black markets involving illegal gun trade. It is practical to reflect, on the major reasons why those people who shoot at the public act the way they do. Is it because these people have acquired a licensed gun and were trying to test its efficiency? Is it because they have been licensed to hold a gun and they want the rest of the public to realize that they are legal gun holders who can now freely shoot at anyone, anywhere and at any time without fear of consequence? Or is it because such people have the feeling that their security is highly threatened by the innocent schoolchildren and so they enter the school premises, draw their guns and shoot at them? The reality attests to none of the above. Thus, the solution of this problem does not lie in the possession of a gun; legal or illegal, but in the state of the mind of the gun holder (Pacharis). In this respect, if this problem shooting at innocent children and other unarmed members of the public is to be addressed effectively, then new solutions must be thought of if the society is to proceed in direction of treating this problem of public shootings. Hence, the policy makers should start thinking in terms of why these people engage in public shootings first. Their unstable mental health is a key factor. Hence, legislators cannot work alone if they are to eliminate the incidences of public shootings. They must seek the counsel of mental health experts before suggesting solutions in terms of gun control legislation. This is because credible research has related these incidences to an unstable mental health status of the perpetrators of these crimes (Pacharis). Legislators are can only be relevant if their actions are guided by information revealed through credible research efforts. The tragedy of mass murder is not committed by the majority of the population who are sane, but mostly by just a small section of the society with a mental health problem (Pacharis). Therefore, creating laws that would achieve public disarmament and ensure that only few and responsible people will hold guns will not, in any way, deter the section of the society that has a mental problem from continuing to perpetuate mass murder. Additionally, the fact that a gun control regulation would help to deter the frequency and magnitude of mass murder does not guarantee that even the licensed gun holders will never turn against the rest of the public and cause similar tragedies. This is because, those who are sane and responsible today might turn to be the insane and the highly irresponsible members of the society, based on the stressful day to day situations that these people encounter (Griffith). Social stress and depression, dissatisfaction with life, high level of injustices committed in the society everyday as well as lack of an effective social justice system that addresses issues of racism and other forms of discrimination will always be a time bomb waiting to explode, even if the gun laws are still in operation. The issue of unemployment is also a major factor, given the recent global financial recession that saw many lucrative companies go out of business and consequently, many people lost their jobs. While having a job is important in earning an income, others lose interest in life given that their jobs gave them a meaning to life. These conditions, coupled with increased poverty, are a fertilizer to driving normal people insane and as such, some may engage in incidences of public mass murder even in schools given that no one in his or her sane capacity would intentionally expose innocent school-going children to harm by shooting them. It is cheaper to engage in preventive strategies rather than dealing with consequences that are both irreversible and disheartening at the same time. Hence, the government, in collaboration with the health experts and the public, should seek out to such individuals in terms of counseling services. The mental health experts can contribute by offering counseling services and the public can contribute by identifying people undergoing extremely stressful conditions and are in need of therapy. Therefore, to effectively eliminate the concept of mass murder that has been observed to rise at unprecedented levels, it is practical to look at the society and observe the social ills that are contributing to the high levels of stress and depression amongst the people, which ends up giving such people suicidal and lethal tendencies. In the psychologist perspective, an individual drawing a gun and shooting at school children or the public in a public square is someone who is trying to express him/herself (Pacharis). Thus, should such individuals be allowed to express themselves in more positive and socially friendly ways, then, the incidences of mass murder would be prevented. The society should find ways to help people undergoing stressful conditions. Society has the tendency of ignoring individuals who are troubled or are experiencing stressful situations. This is the time for humanity to rise and care for its kind given that such individuals end up harming other innocent humans if they are ignored. Others might disagree on the measure to review gun legislation as a way of reducing mass murder incidences. History as taught that the public disarmament exercise undertaken by the government is always a prerequisite for genocide or civil unrest and revolution (Smith). There is always a danger associated with confiscating the weapons in the hands of the civilians and leaving the citizenry defenseless, because the government can then decide to take any measure that would suit the interest of the regime in power, and the public would be left defenseless against such a situation (Smith). It is this thinking that informed the gun licensing to become part of the law in the first place, not so that people can always stay armed and defend themselves from criminal attack only, but so that the civilians can also be able to resist the will of a totalitarian authority, which might engage in the unexpected. While the government is supposed to guarantee the safety of the people, the people also have a cause to defend their rights and justice against a government that may take up arms against its people (Smith). History has taught the public that what happened once can happen again, and in doing so it did not distinguish when and under what circumstances the repeat would occur (Smith). However, this argument does not seem to hold water in the 21st century, where the world is civilized, democracy entrenched and civil rights fundamentally observed. Therefore, it is deductively logic to conclude that mental illnesses and social ills that bedevil the society cannot be ignored, if a permanent and practical solution is to be sought involving the public shootings and the mass murders that occurs so often in the modern society. The more the leaders attempt to seek impromptu solutions to a social problem that has been simmering under the surface for decades, the more elusive the search for a permanent solution to mass murder becomes. In the search for an effective and permanent solution, the society cannot ignore the fact that someone determined to commit such murders will still find a way out even with strict gun control measures in place, owing to the fact that the black-market is still in place and continues to supply what the laws prohibit (Griffith). This is a sure ticket to a society that is free of public shootings and mass murders, even though implementing them is harder compared to establishing legislation. First, seeking the social ills that are causing high levels of stress and depression in the society, and addressing them including stemming out the persistent injustice perpetrated by the judicial system where the less fortunate will most likely not get justice. Secondly, eliminating racial discrimination and ethnic profiling, addressing the income inequality that keeps widening the gap between the rich and the poor. Finally, addressing any form of mental disorder in good time, may it be in the form of mild stress and depression. Such measures will be the foundation of a healthy society and a sure ticket to peace. Works Cited Griffith, David. “Mass Killers: Gun Control is Not the Answer: The fault is in the killers, not in their chosen weapons.” Police, The Law Enforcement Magazine, June 03, 2014. Web. 23rd October 2014. < http://www.policemag.com/blog/editors-notes/story/2014/06/mass-killers-gun-control-is-not-the-answer.aspx> Pacharis, Dottie. “Gun control is not the answer to mass shootings. Mental health treatment is.” The Guardian, June 22, 2013. Web. 23rd October 2014. Smith, Brandon. “Gun Rights: Are There Any Peaceful Solutions Left?” Alt-Market, 15 February 2013. Web. 23rd October 2014. < http://www.alt-market.com/articles/1337-gun-rights-are-there-any-peaceful-solutions-left> Read More