US Gun Ownership: High Restrictions, Highest Violence - Essay Sample

Introduction

The United States is among the countries with high restrictions related to gun ownership in the nation. However, most of the reports show that it is the country with the highest number of homicides, suicidal cases and gun violence related crimes. Besides, gun violence is one of the highly ranked causes of high mortality rates in the country (Debra et al. 175). It has become such a difficult task to control gun ownership since most of the US citizens including the minors and the youths possess guns. Increase in other types of violence such as intimate relationship violence, family violence, business-related violence among others has led to an increasing in gun killings and injuries in the country (Richard 186). It is possible that those who are licensed to purchase the firearms render the weapons to prohibited members in the society to own the guns. According to the findings of this research, it is evident that gun control acts are not fully effective in reducing gun violence in the United States. Therefore, this paper aims to describe the history of gun violence, the formerly proposed solutions and the current situation in the United States.

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Overview of the Problem

Gun violence is related to the use of small arms or firearm, and it is either rated as criminal or non-criminal act. Gun violence considered as a criminal act may include attempted suicide, attack with dangerous weapons, suicide, and homicide. Actions considered to be non-criminal gun violence include unintentional deaths or injuries (Alcorn 125). Paramilitary and military activities are also regarded as non-criminal gun violent activities. According to the reports of the Gun Policy Organization, about 880 guns are controlled by the civilians. The United States is ranked among the nations with the highest rates of gun ownership where citizens own about 50 percent of the weapons controlled by the civilians in the United States (Alcorn 126). There are vast millions of deaths and injuries caused by gun violence internationally. In the early 1990s, the United States reported approximately 130,000 deaths related to criminal gun violence (Hofstadter 187).

The rate of deaths and injuries have been increasing drastically were in the year 2013; the number of deaths linked to criminal gun violence was reported to be roughly 185,000. Also, in the same year, there were about 50, 000 deaths caused by non-criminal gun violence (Hofstadter 187). The rates of gun violence deaths vary depending on the geographical location and the laws in the country related to gun use and ownership. In the United States, most cases of criminal and non-criminal gun violence occur in the marginalized and low-income regions in Central and South America countries, for instance, Columbia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Columbia, Jamaica, and Venezuela (Howard 1195). The United States is group as the 11th continent with the highest gun violence incidences among the developed countries. According to many studies, it is evident that gun-related deaths and injuries are mostly linked to high gun ownership especially in the United States.

History of Gun Violence in the United States

During the colonial era where the United States was founded as an oppressed land with vast amounts of capital, that is, the slaves, the British government legalizes the ownership of guns. The commercial firearms industry was one of the first most flourishing companies during that time. After the independence, the United States initiated the rights for individuals to own guns to give the independent settlers and the militias the freedom and the power to invade the native countries to come up with a newly formed Anglo-American country. In the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution, the invasion of the indigenous lands was classified as an individual right. Most of the independent male settlers had developed the militias intending to invade the native lands taking their resources by force. In the late 1600s after the colonial government had expanded the agricultural lands, the independent armies that were used to invade the native nations were then converted into slaves. The indigenous people could fight back by the use of guns since the ownership of firearms had been legalized by the colonial government.

The ownership of guns in the United States was rooted back in the colonization period, but after the independence, the ownership had declined. According to a research, household ownership of firearms between 1992 and 1994 was above 52 (Howard 1196). In the year 1997, the reports from Gallops polls showed that there were about 45 million owners of firearms in the United States (Howard 1196). The justification of gun ownership in the US nations was self-protection. There have been an increasing number of homicides, suicidal cases and other intentional and unintentional gun violence deaths and injuries in the United States till today.

Formally Proposed Solutions to Gun Violence in the United States

The most known solution to gun violence in the United States is the enactment of gun control policies. Gun Control refers to the legal restrictions which are intended to limit the use and the possession of guns especially firearms in the country. The United States government believes that gun control can help reduce the number of deaths and injuries related to ownership of firearms in the nation (Howard 1196). There are several laws related to gun control in the United States which have been formed after some significant shootings in the nation. The regulations restrict the distribution, production and the use of guns. One of the legislation includes The National Firearms Act of the year 1934. The act was enacted and signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This was immediately after the high crimes such as the massacre of St. Valentine's Day in the year 1929 which resulted in the death of many people in Chicago (Sharmila 224). The act aimed at imposing high taxes exceeding 200 dollars on shotguns, short-barrel rifles, and machine guns. Also, the law also required the gun owners to register their firearms. Even today, the law is still applicable in accordance with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The tax rate is still 200 dollars. However, after inflation adjustments form 1930's the current tax value is approximately 3,800 dollars (Sharmila 225). The main aim of the tax is to discourage the production, sale, and purchase of the weapons.

The Gun Control Act of 1968 is also another law that was formerly formed to solve the issues of gun violence in the United States. It was enacted after the killing of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President John F. Kennedy. The law completely banned the orders of guns between nations without a sporting objective (Howard 1195). It also restricted the sale of firearms to felons, minors, drug addicts, fugitives, and the caregivers at mental organizations. Besides, it prohibited the manufacture of firearms without the issuance of licenses.

Current Situation of Gun Violence

The United States is among the countries with high restrictions related to gun ownership in the nation. However, most of the reports show that it is the country with the highest number of homicides, suicidal cases and gun violence related crimes. Besides, gun violence is one of the highly ranked causes of high mortality rates in the country (Debra et al. 175). It has become such a difficult task to control gun ownership since most of the US citizens including the minors and the youths possess guns. Increase in other types of violence such as intimate relationship violence, family violence, business-related violence among others has led to an increasing in gun killings and injuries in the country (Debra et al. 176). It is possible that those who are licensed to purchase the firearms render the weapons to prohibited members in the society to own the guns. According to the findings of this research, it is evident that gun control acts are not fully effective in reducing gun violence in the United States.

A high school girl such as Emma Gonzalez emerged as a student activist looking to mobilize the nation against gun violence on Feb. 14, 2018. About 17 students were slaughtered, and 15 students were injured at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. The shooting was conducted by a former student, Nicola Cruz, who stormed the school and opened fire, becoming one of the deadliest school shooting ever witnessed in US history. This was the emotional moment filled by touching displays aimed to stop gun violence. Her voice looked to stop at nothing until they are heard. Videos from the event suggest that their push for more reasonable gun safety laws may be a caching issue as never before after previous mass shootings. Her emotional words called out gun advocates, lawmakers, and the president to limit access to guns. The government has refused to act, and they as children are trying to push elected leaders to ratify gun reforms and end gun violence. Most activists always commend that before someone can buy a gun, they need to be screened if they are in danger of themselves or society.

Alternative Solutions to Gun Violence and Counterargument in the United States

According to the America Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been rapid increases in injuries and disorders caused by gun violence in the United States. One of the possible solutions to this violence is to allow doctors to talk and educate families about gun violence in the United States (Richard 186). Parents should be advised to keep guns out of reach of children. According to some recent studies, the three and half year's old child is capable of firing a weapon. However, some countries restrict physicians from discussing with patients about family firearms, and they can be sued if they are caught doing so. If the issue of gun violence must be reduced, there should be cooperation from all the sources of solutions (Richard 189). The doctors are given a chance to consult their patients about smoking, talk about car safety belts, the use of illicit drugs and other substance abuse. Therefore, the issue of gun violence should be considered as one of the duties of the doctors discuss with the patients.

Another solution to gun violence in the United States can be the adoption of smart gun technology. Just as the use of biometrics in modern technology for the identification of the correct owners of products, the same should be applied in ownership and use of weapons (Richard215). The technology will help reduce gun violence acts such as suicidal cases and homicides especially among children and other unauthorized owners of the guns. It will also reduce the number of unintentional gun violence.

Some people do not approve of the issue of gun control as a way of reducing violence. Since the colonial period, guns have always been used as a protection weapon, and this forms part of the American gun culture. Increase in other types of violence among the citizens and increase in crime rate creates significant concerns to the people about their security (Daniel 3). For instance, the Gun Control Act of 1968 restricts those who are responsible for mental institutions from owning guns. If there is an emergency attack, before they even call for help from the police, they will have been injured or killed already without having their defense weapons (Daniel 4). Although the law considers gun control legislation as the best way to reduce gun killings and injuries, some people go against the law because they have different opinions about gun ownership. This is why it has been challenging to deal with the issue of gun violence in the United States despite the strict rules against gun ownership.

Conclusion

Gun violence is one of the major causes of high death rates in the United States. The United Sta...