Why we need gun control in America
There is a need for the control of guns in America since there are too many guns in the country those ends up being used for criminal activities. Moreover, all firearms registered in the U.S. are primarily meant for self-protection causing Americans to own guns increasing the number of guns available to criminals. By 1995, 60 to 65 million Americans owned 200 million rifles and guns, implying that too many guns are in the hands of ordinary people rather than trained professionals (Kleiner & Lew, 2002). This increases the risk of accidental and intended deaths or injury since the guns are available to anyone. The need for controlling guns from the fact that though the Bureau of alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) enforces a five-day waiting period for background investigation, criminals, the emotionally, and mentally unstable still have access to guns (Kleiner & Lew, 2002). Moreover, though there are individual state laws and federal laws to reduce the possession of guns and the type of guns in the society, guns are still prevalent in the society.
This paper finds that these laws may be tough like California’s 15-day wait period, but violence and crimes with guns is on the increase. News reports each evening highlight cases of crimes like rape, gangs, homicides, drug use, robbery, and other criminal activities with the use of guns (Petrou & Savage, 2011). Communities report of burglary, car-jacking, and home invasions with the use of guns (Kleiner & Lew, 2002). In many communities gang related shootings are a common occurrence, as high school and junior high learners have weapons. Despite restriction on age and mental or physical capacity in gun registration, street crimes like car-jacking, muggings, store theft, and gang related activities it linked with teenagers with guns (Petrou & Savage, 2011). Moreover, though the number of reported cases of minors in possession of guns is increasing few measures have been taken to control access and use of guns (Kleiner & Lew, 2002). The situation is made worse by the fact that it is difficult for witnesses to report gun related crimes, from fear of threats and death to family and friends. The young are accessing guns and using them against their fellow students and teachers for various psychological reasons like low self-esteem or extreme case of bullying in school. These students or adolescents have access to their parent’s guns registered for the purposes of self-protection. However, these guns end up in the hands of the young and those without emotional stability that uses the guns to commit a crime, retaliate against the object of their frustration (Hartfield, 2012). The result of the proliferation of guns in America is the rise in crime rates and the increase in mass suicides.
The challenge is the disparity of interpretation of the law and the constitution. This is because under the constitution an American has the right to carry a concealed weapon, right to self-protection. The result of this lack of control of who is in the possession of a gun causes cases like the massacre of 20 children in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut by a disgruntled 20 year old (Apuzzo, 2012). The fact that any American has access to a gun arises from the loopholes in gun-related laws and legislations. The problem is that every American feels they need to protect themselves from the rising criminal behavior. Moreover, the popularizing of guns and violence by movies and television aggravates the situation. This is because television shows and movies become more violent and as the public embrace guns as a necessity.
References
Apuzzo, M. (2012, Dec 16). Analysis: Could Shooting be a Gun Control Tipping Point? MSN News. Retrieved 16 Dec, 2012 from http://news.msn.com/us/analysis-could-shooting-be-a-gun-control-tipping-point.
Hartfield, E. (2012, Dec 14). Gun Control Laws in America. abc News. Retrieved 16 Dec 2012 from http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/gun-control-laws-america/story?id=17976732#.UM2-rayNBKM.
Lew, P., & Brian, H. K. (2002). Implications of concealed – gun laws for business. Managerial Law, 44(1), 31-36.
Petrou, M., & Savage, L. C. (2011, Jan 24). UNITED STATES: Tragedy in Tucson: A gun-crazed culture. Rampant mental illness. Hate-fuelled politics. Behind the assassination, attempt that shocked America. By Michael petrou and luiza ch. savage. Maclean’s, 124, 28-28.
