Gun Control

Abstract 

Government main responsibility is assurance of security for its citizens through protection from any external harm. However, in an effort to boost personal security, the American government offers its citizens an opportunity to own guns. The effort aims at enhancing security in homes and protection against burglary. Despite the move, gun ownership has resulted to rise in suicide, homicide and mass killings. There is significant number of people who have died from shooting carried from legal guns in hands of the public. There is need for government to regulate gun ownership to protects its citizens and ensure that individuals owning guns are responsible people. However, there is opposition of the move with some people arguing that it is infringes on personal protection. However, it is the role of government to ensure that strict measures are in place to secure the public and enhance personal protection. 

Gun Control

Introduction

The objective of securing the public is the responsibility of any government and it achieves this through funding of security agencies. However, there are instances when individuals get license to own guns for their personal protection. The government puts regulation on how individuals can access small firearms for their personal safety. Despite the regulation, there are possibilities of some people misusing the firearms and using them to commit crime. The incidence challenges the government to regulate the extent the public can access or possess firearms and guidelines they need to fulfill. Through the congress, the United States government passed gun control act in 1968 with the intention of protecting the citizen from unnecessary harm (Ghez, 2018). The law stipulates that guns in civilians’ possession are for personal protection and individuals engaging in crime using them face prosecution (Ghez, 2018). However, in recent years, cases of discriminatory shooting by individuals owning guns makes it necessary for government to put stringent measures to control their use. The gun control should remain in place to enhance safety of the public and prevent indiscriminative criminal activities by some gun owners. 

Brief on American Gun Control

America has significantly high number of individuals who own guns in the world. Reports indicate that the ownership of guns in America is more than 300 million guns (BBC, 2018). Indeed, majority of Americans have more than one gun with majority being in hands of men. The gun culture relates to some extent to revolutionary colonial history and frontier expansion. Further, Second Amendment of constitution adds to the rising number of gun owners in the country (BBC, 2018). The amendment empowers individuals to own guns for personal safety without infringement from the state. However, the proponents who support gun control argue that Second amendments targeted militia with the intention that gun violence would minimize (BBC, 2018). However, the opponents argue that the amendment gives protection to individuals owning guns for self-defense (BBC, 2018). The group identifies that individuals face security threat from criminals and foreign invaders. 

Reasons why Gun Control is Important

There is need to control gun ownership to help ease the incidences of insecurity gun owners pose to the public. Though Second Amendment seems to support gun ownership, there is need to put limits on use of such firearms. The government need to ensure that individuals recognized as mentally ill or felons do not carry guns (Gray, 2018). Allowing such individuals to own guns pose insecurity to the public because they are likely to use the weapon indiscriminately. In addition, some places that are sensitive such as government institution and schools require protection from private guns owners. Restriction is necessary to ensure that gun owners do not carry their weapons to such palaces because of the danger they pose to the public. In 2016, Court Of Appeal ruled that carrying firearms in public places is illegal as stipulated by the Second Amendment(BBC, 2018). Therefore, in upholding the law, individuals require to conceal their guns and avoid carrying them in any public places.

Controlling guns is also necessary in reducing the number of deaths that results from misuse of arms by some citizens who possess guns. Actually, more than 400,000 people have died through shooting between 1999 and 2013 (BBC, 2018). The figure is relatively high and shows the danger gun ownership poses to the public safety. Further, incidences of suicides registered during the same period are over 200,000(BBC, 2018). Indeed, people owning guns have higher probability of committing suicide using their weapons than through criminal attacks. The situation is showing a growing trend of individuals who commit suicide when they engage in some argument or misunderstanding. Further, such individuals in possession of guns cause homicides, where during 199 and 2013 there were reports of killing of more than 150,000 people in United States (BBC, 2018). Apart from the planned murder cases and suicides, there are also reports of individuals who cause death through unintentional means. Gun owners between 1999 and 2013 killed more than 9,000 people unintentionally (BBC, 2018). Some of these cases happen when owners leave their guns in their homes and children play with them. During the games, the children unintentionally fires at their friends. Further, some incidences takes place when owners do not lock their guns and accidentally press the trigger causing unintentional firing. Indeed, there is a high number of Americans visiting hospitals daily with gunshots caused by shooting from private guns. There is need for government to ensure that background checks on individuals who apply for private guns are in place. Such a move can help reduce the number of deaths that relates it firearm by about 50% (Burke, 2017).  

The government further needs to control guns and especially possession of high capacity magazines because they contribute to mass murders. The magazines cause more than 50% of deaths that result from mass attacks (Burke, 2017). The weapons results to high number of individuals who succumb to death after attack and increase injury fatalities. Indeed, possession of magazines with gun owners turns them to potential killing machines. During incidence of mass killing, the gangs use more than 30 rounds in an effort to compensate for inadequate accuracy and increase probability of causing harm (Burke, 2017).  Additionally, controlling guns helps protect women who are vulnerable in the society against possible domestic abuse. In homes where there is a gun, domestic dispute increases the chance of murdering of women (Burke, 2017). In America, about 6,000 women died through shooting by their spouses between 2001 and 2012(Burke, 2017). The number is significantly high because it exceeds the number of soldier killed in the Afghanistan Iraq war during the same period.  Study on developed countries shows that America lead in the number of homicides associated with domestic disputes(Burke, 2017). An incidence that took place in 2011 in Seal Beach where mass shooting happened was from a shooter and his ex-wife. Therefore, controlling guns help protect women from possible murder from their husbands. 

Through controlling gun ownership, the government help reduce the accessibility of guns by criminals in the society. There are issues of legally acquired guns taken by criminals to commit crimes. Reports shows that most of the guns used in committing crimes despite taken through legal application. Most of the guns get lost from owners during incidences of home burglary (Gray, 2018). Guns are attractive thieves because they are easy to carry and have high demand in the market. Therefore, failing to control the number of guns with civilians is a motivation to burglars to break into homes with aim of stealing them.  Indeed, presence of guns makes owners to be prone to thefts in their homes, which results to destruction of property. The cost of violence that relates to private guns is relatively higher and thus need for their control. The government also uses significant money in treating injured individuals from gun violence Gray, 2018). Further, a significant fund goes to supporting individuals suffering from mental health that relates to gun violence. The situation denies the government a significant amount of money that is necessary in supporting development projects. The insurance companies also pay significant money for victims of shooting through claims processing Gray, 2018). 

Addition lay, control of guns is necessary because a significant number of Americans are in support of such a move (Reinhart, 2018). The Americans identify that ate increasing number of guns in private arms pose a threat to their security, indeed, people argue that it is important that the government puts stringent measures on ensuring that only responsible people have guns(Reinhart, 2018). The public wants the government to carry through investigation of individuals applying for guns. Further, such individuals need to understand the regulations that limit the use of their weapon and the circumstances they should use to for personal protection. The applicants further need to regulations on punishments that face them if they misuse the weapon. It is also necessary that the government carry regular check on the gun owners to identify how they are handling their weapons. Individuals concealing their weapon in public or threatening others should have the license cancelled. Further, if misuse of the gun is noted individuals need to face prosecution to deter them from such behavior in future. 

Counter Argument on Gun Control

However, despite the argument need to control guns in America, there are few opposing ideas to the move. The police cannot provide adequate security to all the citizens and therefore gun ownership helps individuals protect themselves from personal attacks (Fallows, 2018). Indeed, when confronted by burglars, individuals with guns are able to secure their property relatively adequately. The law guarantee the public right to self-defense and nay denial to own guns goes against this spirit. A person has a right to use reasonable force in securing his property and preventing others from imposing body harm (Fallows, 2018). Further, criminals avoid committing felonies on individuals they understand have guns. The impact is reduction of crimes in communities where a significant number of individuals have guns. Actually, individuals living in a home where there is at least one gun feel safer and this helps them pursue different life goals relatively easily. 

Conclusion

Gun ownership requires government intervention to control the number of individuals owning guns in the country. The effort is in an attempt to reduce the number of suicides that individuals with guns commit when they disagree with others. Further, the move is necessary in reducing homicide and especially in families where women are significant victims of such violence. Through control, the government will help protect the public from mass shooting that occurs in incidences when people are in possession of magazines. Additionally, through reduction of possession of guns in the society, the government will help reduce burglary where criminals target to steal the guns. It is necessary that regulations are put  in place to offer stringent measures and a background  checks on individuals who are given licenses to own guns. However, despite the support for gun control, there is opposition to the measures with argument that such control infringes on right to personal protection. It is the role of the government to ensure it establishes a balance by offering regulation on access of guns and its use by the public to reduce criminal activities. 

References

BBC. (2018). America’s Gun Culture In 10 Charts. BBC News. Retrieved December 10, 2018, from: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41488081

Burke, D. E. (2017). Why The Arguments Against Gun Control Are Wrong. Huffington Post. Retrieved December 10, 2018, from: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/why-the-arguments-against-gun-control-are-wrong_us_59d6405ce4b0666ad0c3cb34

Fallows, J. (2018). A Case Against Gun Control. The Atlantic. Retrieved December 10, 2018, from: https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2018/02/a-case-against-gun-control/553715/

Ghez, J. (2018). Gun Control In America: Why This Time It Could Be Different. Forbes. Retrieved December 10, 2018, from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hecparis/2018/02/27/gun-control-in-america-why-this-time-it-could-be-different/#5a65b36354af

Gray, S. (2018). Gun Control Support Has Surged to Its Highest Level in 25 Years. Retrieved December 10, 2018, from: http://time.com/5180006/gun-control-support-has-surged-to-its-highest-level-in-25-years/

Reinhart, R. J. (2018). Six in 10 Americans Support Stricter Gun Laws. Retrieved December 10, 2018, from: https://news.gallup.com/poll/243797/six-americans-support-stricter-gun-laws.aspx