Stopping Mass Shootings in the United States - Essay Example

Stopping Mass Shootings in the United States Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Course Name Date of Submission Stopping Mass Shootings in the United States Introduction Gun violence is serious issue in the United States. Mass shootings in particular, have become a common phenomenon that worries Americans, according to Beck, Balfe and Beck (2013). The recent San Bernardino mass shooting that left 16 people dead and 14 other seriously injured is just one of the many incidences involving mass shooting in the country (Ehrenfreund, 2015). This incidence has ignited the debate among policymakers and the American public on how best gun violence can be addressed once and for all in America. America is one of the few countries where gun ownership is legalized and a section of the society has blamed America’s gun culture for the wave of gun violence and mass shooting is the country. Presently, most Americans have become fearful for mass shooting committed by Americans even more than external terrorist threats (Burrus, 2015). As such, it has become increasingly necessary that a solution to gun violence and mass shootings in America be found to ensure that Americans live and do their businesses peacefully without fear of attack by gun holders. The question that arises, however, pertains to whether or not mass shootings can be stopped in the United States. However, based on evidences in other developed countries, it becomes apparent that America can put mass shootings to a stop as long as there is a will. This essay presents reasons why mass shootings can be stopped in America. Gun violence is not a new phenomenon in the United States; rather it is something that has been going on for many years unabated. According to a study conducted by Mother Jones that tracked gun violence over the last three decades, the staff of the organization found that there have been 72 mass shooting incidences in 31 states since 1982 to 2013 (Ehrenfreund and Goldfarb, 2015). The Congressional Research Service, however, puts the number of gun violence over the same period to 78. The researchers found that at least 547 people were killed in those mass shootings with hundreds others suffering injuries with varying degrees. Burrus (2015) defines mass shooting as a gun violence involving indiscriminate shooting of people in the public places by lone shooters who have no profit motive. Mass shooting incidences have increased significantly in the recent times. According to a study by the FBI, the country has recorded an average of 16.4 active mass shootings per year over the last seven years (Beck, Balfe and Beck, 2013). The increased prevalence of gun violence in the recent years has reignited a debate on gun control. The most recent mass shooting being the San Bernardino gun spree that left 16 people dead and 14 others serious injured (Ehrenfreund, 2015). Just a week before this mass shooting, a gunman shot and killed three people including a police officer at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado. During the 2014 summer, at least two parishioners were killed in a church in Charleston, South Carolina in a mass shooting, nine slain and several others injured (Ehrenfreund and Goldfarb, 2015). These are just few incidences that indicate how common gun violence and mass shootings have become a commonplace thing in the United States today. However, it is important for American President and policymakers to realize that the more they fail to act, the more millions of Americans lives at placed at risk of gun violence. Presently, the issue has been marred by politics that has made addressing gun violence and mass shootings appear as a normal thing. However, based on evidence on the ground and in other parts of the world, mass shootings in America is stoppable. The first and surest solution to mass shootings in the United States is enacting stricter laws on guns. Webster and Vernick (2013) observed that the majority of the mass shootings that have been happening in the U.S. are committed by legal gun holders. This is a clear indication on the weakness of the gun laws that makes it possible for legal gun holders to misuse their firearms to kill innocent people. Therefore, to address this growing health problem, American government should tighten laws on gun ownerships. One such policy that America should consider is enacting a laws that requires that a criminal background check is conducted on individuals seeking buy a gun. This would ensure that no gun is sold to people with criminal records. For instance, Dylann Roof, the suspected mass shooter in Charleston, South Carolina that left a couple of people dead and several injured had a criminal record and was prohibited from purchasing or holding a gun (Ehrenfreund and Goldfarb, 2015). However, because South Carolina does not require a background check on individuals seeking to a purchase a gun, this makes it possible for gunmen like Roof to purchase gun through legal means and use it to kill Americans. This argument has been supported by President Obama’s administration that is considering making it mandatory for a criminal background check to be conducted on all American gun holders and those considering purchasing a firearm as this strategy will ensure that only responsible people in the society with no criminal records and of sound mind are given a gun ownership license. Secondly, to address the gun violence and mass shooting being witnessed in the country, the American policymakers must move with speed and address the gun transfer loophole. According to Burrus (2015), a vast majority of mass shootings have been committed by guns that transferred from legal gun holders to others who later use them to conduct mass shootings. For instance, the mass shooting that occurred at San Bernardino was conducted by guns that were transferred to the shooters. Investigations found that the firearms that Tashfeen Malik and Syed Rizwan Farook used in the attack were purchased by someone else other than the two, who then transferred ownership (Buchanan et al., 2015). The same gun transfer was blamed for the Charleston shooting incidence as it emerged that the shooter, Dylann Roof was given the gun by his father who was a legal gun holder. Similarly, the Sandy Hooker Elementary school mass shooting was conducted by Adam Lanza, a teenager that used a firearm legally owned by his mother Nancy Lanza. The shooting resulted in the death of 20 students and six adults (CNN, 2014). There are many other such mass shootings that have been conducted by people who hold guns transferred to them by legal gun holders. Therefore, to combat this public health problem, the government must enact tougher laws on gun transfers as these would ensure that whenever a legal gun holder transfers his/her ownership to another person or child, the transfer is documented with the authority who would conduct a background check on the transferee to ensure that firearms do not end in the wrong hands (Webster and Vernick, 2013). As things stand now, guns are being transferred in the U.S. without detection or accountability and this makes it easy for shooters to perpetuate their heinous act. Therefore, gun transfer should require the official transfer of title the same way automobiles are transferred to help address mass shooting. Although a section of lawmakers and Americans have strongly objected the idea of requiring official transfer of titles of gun ownership claiming that the policy will not work, it is critical for critical to understand that holding people accountable for crimes committed by their guns is one of the most effective way of combating gun violence in the country. Holding people whose guns are used to commit crime will see a decline in the straw gun purchase prevalence (Beck, Balfe and Beck, 2013). This is because legal gun holders will be fearful and less likely to sell their guns to others without valid transfer titles as they would be aware that they would be held personally accountable for any crime committed with the guns they transferred as an accomplice. Secondly, holding people accounted for crimes committed with their guns will see a drop in the number of gun theft as legal gun holders would be more vigilant and have a greater incentive in ensuring that their guns are secure (Prevention Institute, 2016). Additionally, this would prevent people from loaning their guns to relatives or friends as happened in the case of Charleston and Sandy Hooker Elementary school shooting that was conducted by shooters who obtained their guns from their parents (CNN, 2014). Additionally, America can stop mass shootings by convincing institutions to ban guns in public places, such as college campuses, restaurants, stores and workplaces. To date, there are many incidences of mass shootings that have occurred in public places, such as schools, churches, workplace and restaurants. For instance, the San Bernardino shooting at a workplace party could have been avoided if the company had banned entry of firearms in the workplace by ensuring that people are inspected before entering the workplace (Buchanan et al., 2015). The mass shootings at schools, such as the Sandy Hooker Elementary school shooting that left 20 students and six adults dead could also have been prevented if students were prevented from coming with firearms to school by ensuring that all students are screened and frisked for firearms before entering the college or school compound. For instance, a state like Oregon allows students to enter the campuses with concealed firearms (Prevention Institute, 2016). The danger of this is that it makes it possible for criminals to use these firearms to shoot their colleagues as has been experienced in many campuses. In this respect, American companies should follow the moves that have been taken by American companies, such as Starbucks, Target, and Chiptole that have banned firearms from their premises. The only challenge is that, as much as attempts have been made in trying to ban guns in public places, American courts have often ruled in favor of the pro-gun state policymakers. Additionally, the mass shootings in America can be stopped restoring a ban on assault firearms. Webster and Vernick (2013) noted that mass shootings declined significantly between 1994 and 2004 when the country banned assault weapons. Although a section of lawmakers, especially from the Republican side have objected the idea terming it outdated and ineffective, banning these weapons that are largely used in mass shootings will help combat this public health issue. Other strategies that the U.S. lawmakers should consider in stopping mass shootings include regulating magazines and ammunitions, as well as ensuring that people seeking to purchase a firearm are properly trained on how to handle the guns before issuance (Bruno, 2014). Conclusion Gun violence and mass shooting is a serious public health issue in America today. Hundreds of Americans die each year at the hand of gunmen. Although mass shootings have been a common thing in America since time memorial, mass shootings have increased at alarming rates in the recent times. Although politicians are divided on the issue, mass shootings can easily be stopped in America. All that is needed is political goodwill that appears to be lacking as there is a constant push and pull among politicians on the issue. Some of the strategies that America should consider adopting in combating mass shootings include issuing guns after conducting background checks, ensuring that gun transfers are registered, holding gun holders accountable for crimes committed with their guns, banning holding guns in public places, banning assault weapons, as well as offering training to people seeking to hold guns. References Beck, G., Balfe, K., & Beck, H. (2013). Control: Exposing the truth about guns. Cambridge, MA: Simon and Schuster. Bruno, J. J. (2014). Take the pledge: 5 Things to do to stop gun violence in America. Retrieved from http://action.groundswell-mvmt.org/petitions/take-action-5-ways-to-stop-gun-violence-in-america Buchanan, L., Keller, J., Oppel, R. A., & Victor, D. (2015, Dec. 3). How they got their guns. The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/10/03/us/how-mass-shooters-got-their-guns.html?_r=0 Burrus, T. (2015). Gun violence is a serious problem. Gun confiscation isn't a serious solution. Retrieved from http://fee.org/articles/gun-violence-is-a-serious-problem-gun-confiscation-isnt-a-serious-solution/ CNN. (2014). Sandy Hook shooting: What happened? CNN New http://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2012/12/us/sandy-hook-timeline/ Ehrenfreund, M. (2015, Dec. 2). San Bernardino shooting: 11 essential facts about guns and mass shootings in America. The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/02/san-bernadino-shooting-11-essential-facts-about-guns-and-mass-shootings-in-america/ Ehrenfreund, M., & Goldfarb, Z. A. (2015, June 18). 11 essential facts about guns and mass shootings in the United States. The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/06/18/11-essential-facts-about-guns-and-mass-shootings-in-the-united-states/ Prevention Institute. (2016). Gun violence must stop. Here's what we can do to prevent more deaths. Retrieved from http://www.preventioninstitute.org/focus-areas/preventing-violence-and-reducing-injury/preventing-violence-advocacy.html Webster, D. W., & Vernick, J. S. (2013). Reducing gun violence in America: Informing policy with evidence and analysis. New York, NY: JHU Press. Read More

However, it is important for American President and policymakers to realize that the more they fail to act, the more millions of Americans lives at placed at risk of gun violence. Presently, the issue has been marred by politics that has made addressing gun violence and mass shootings appear as a normal thing. However, based on evidence on the ground and in other parts of the world, mass shootings in America is stoppable. The first and surest solution to mass shootings in the United States is enacting stricter laws on guns.

Webster and Vernick (2013) observed that the majority of the mass shootings that have been happening in the U.S. are committed by legal gun holders. This is a clear indication on the weakness of the gun laws that makes it possible for legal gun holders to misuse their firearms to kill innocent people. Therefore, to address this growing health problem, American government should tighten laws on gun ownerships. One such policy that America should consider is enacting a laws that requires that a criminal background check is conducted on individuals seeking buy a gun.

This would ensure that no gun is sold to people with criminal records. For instance, Dylann Roof, the suspected mass shooter in Charleston, South Carolina that left a couple of people dead and several injured had a criminal record and was prohibited from purchasing or holding a gun (Ehrenfreund and Goldfarb, 2015). However, because South Carolina does not require a background check on individuals seeking to a purchase a gun, this makes it possible for gunmen like Roof to purchase gun through legal means and use it to kill Americans.

This argument has been supported by President Obama’s administration that is considering making it mandatory for a criminal background check to be conducted on all American gun holders and those considering purchasing a firearm as this strategy will ensure that only responsible people in the society with no criminal records and of sound mind are given a gun ownership license. Secondly, to address the gun violence and mass shooting being witnessed in the country, the American policymakers must move with speed and address the gun transfer loophole.

According to Burrus (2015), a vast majority of mass shootings have been committed by guns that transferred from legal gun holders to others who later use them to conduct mass shootings. For instance, the mass shooting that occurred at San Bernardino was conducted by guns that were transferred to the shooters. Investigations found that the firearms that Tashfeen Malik and Syed Rizwan Farook used in the attack were purchased by someone else other than the two, who then transferred ownership (Buchanan et al., 2015). The same gun transfer was blamed for the Charleston shooting incidence as it emerged that the shooter, Dylann Roof was given the gun by his father who was a legal gun holder.

Similarly, the Sandy Hooker Elementary school mass shooting was conducted by Adam Lanza, a teenager that used a firearm legally owned by his mother Nancy Lanza. The shooting resulted in the death of 20 students and six adults (CNN, 2014). There are many other such mass shootings that have been conducted by people who hold guns transferred to them by legal gun holders. Therefore, to combat this public health problem, the government must enact tougher laws on gun transfers as these would ensure that whenever a legal gun holder transfers his/her ownership to another person or child, the transfer is documented with the authority who would conduct a background check on the transferee to ensure that firearms do not end in the wrong hands (Webster and Vernick, 2013).

As things stand now, guns are being transferred in the U.S. without detection or accountability and this makes it easy for shooters to perpetuate their heinous act. Therefore, gun transfer should require the official transfer of title the same way automobiles are transferred to help address mass shooting. Although a section of lawmakers and Americans have strongly objected the idea of requiring official transfer of titles of gun ownership claiming that the policy will not work, it is critical for critical to understand that holding people accountable for crimes committed by their guns is one of the most effective way of combating gun violence in the country.

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