When an individual or a nation thinks about the United States, what is the first thing that comes to mind? “Life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” We can all agree with that right? Well, what if I told you that life and liberty were at stake? That’s what gun control is all about. This social issue brings to light the lives lost to gun violence. In today’s day and age, mass shootings are not uncommon. Gun control has become a national issue. The freedom to bear arms or “the right to bear arms” has sparked national controversy. Modifying the pre-qualifications of owning a gun would help this issue immensely. Gun control is one of the most controversial social issues that we, as a people face in the United States of America. According to the New York Times, although the U.S.A has the busiest and third-largest military in the world, including; The National Guard, The FBI, Homeland Security, and The Police, recent acts of violence have made gun control a huge part of American history and not in a good way. Recent mass shootings in public places such as schools, malls, and concerts have become more common every year. The nation being divided by labels such as Liberals and Conservatives also weighs in on gun issues. As well as the revenue made directly and indirectly from firearms and ammunition sales in the U.S. Last, but not least, gun trafficking. These are all examples of how pre-qualifications would ultimately help present-day society.
Recent mass shootings at schools and public places have caused a loss of hope and fear in our society. Citizens of these Unites States have demanded tighter control of firearm ownership. No other developed nation comes close to the rate of U.S. gun violence. Data from the Gun Violence Archive reveals there is a mass shooting 9/10 every 10 days on average. To my understanding, a mass shooting is defined as four or more people shot in one incident, not including the shooter. The only commonality to mass shooters to date is that all of them have been men. Most commonly, white from varying backgrounds, have mental health, and criminal histories (New York Times. Victor,2018). But mass shootings can be anyone with a firearm and can happen anywhere. Dr. Michael Stone, a New York forensic psychiatrist, found that about half of the 200 mass murderers he had studied had no clear evidence of mental illness before the attacks (New York Times. Victor,2018). About a quarter displayed signs of depression and psychopathy. Many mass shooters receive some form of mental health treatment for years prior to their killing spree. According to Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, 61% of mass shootings occurred in the home, 10% occurred partially in the home and partially in a public location, and 29% occurred in public spaces like schools, malls, or bars between 2009-2018. The rate of deaths in America by guns each year is over 30,000. Two-thirds of those deaths are suicides. According to Becket and Glenza McCarthy, Americans are 25 times more likely to be murdered with a gun than in any other developed country (McCarthy, Beckett & Glenza 2017). Tom Kertscher, a writer for The Politifact Journal, writes that the most recent estimate cited by gun statistics experts puts the figure at 265 million guns in the USA as of January 2015, when the population was 320 million. 31% of the US population carries a gun with about 3% owning half of them, including the estimated 7.7 million Americans who own between 8 and 140 guns.
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This brings the number of mass shootings to light. There have been 45 deaths caused by mass shootings last year alone. According to data acquired from the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive, there have been 385 mass shootings this year in the U.S. and a whopping twenty-nine of those shootings were mass murders. That’s more than the number of days in a single year. Although school and house worship shootings seem to be all the news reports, offices, restaurants, and stores hold the majority affected.
There are mass shootings that spark talk on gun reform, proving gun control is a huge issue in the United States. For example, the mass shooting on October 1st, 2017 at Harvest Country Music Festival. This mass shooting resulted in 58 deaths and hundreds injured in the Vegas shooting. This mass shooting was named the worst mass shooting in American history. On February 14th, 2018; a gunman open fired at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida; leaving 17 students dead and many injured. On June 12th, 2016 a gunman opened fire, killing 49 people and wounding 53, at Orlando Pulse nightclub. Because of these horrific events, it is clear just how much of a social issue, gun control really is.
In American society, it is unlikely for people to step out of their homes in fear of a stray bullet or a car losing control and causing bodily harm. While on the other hand, it isn’t unlikely for someone to have a firearm ready to defend themselves. There are differences between these two types of people. Anyone who expresses any desire for change toward gun control is considered a Liberal. According to Webster’s dictionary, a liberal is a person of a broad mind not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or traditional forms. It is also defined as an advocate or adherent of liberalism especially in individual rights. As mentioned above, the lack of gun control is affecting communities in a downward spiral. Which is why liberals advocate for equal rights. On the other spectrum, a Conservative portrays himself as a defender of individual rights granted by the Constitution. Ironically enough, this is the same Government, which enacted the Patriot Act, and stripped Americans from many individual rights. According to Webster’s dictionary, a conservative is a person who is averse to change and holds to traditional values and attitudes. The lack of individual security regarding gun control divides this nation into these two groups. This is exactly why it is imperative to recognize it as a social issue.
The revenue made directly and indirectly from firearms and ammunition sales in the U.S. is very difficult to regulate but by implementing more gun control, there would be more preventive measures and possibly fewer deaths by gun violence and mass shootings. Revenues made directly and indirectly from firearms and ammunition sales in the U.S. fall short of the total cost for gun-related injuries and death. Thousands of firearms are stolen yearly and end up in the hands of people with the intent to use them for other reasons than self-defense. Weapons made in the U.S. or purchased from foreign countries abroad with the intent of selling in the U.S., end up in the hands of criminal organizations in Central and South America. In the firearms and ammunition impact report for 2018, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) details the significant economic impact gun and ammo sales have on the country and state's economy.
According to the NSFF, during the past decade, the industry has grown by the unprecedented numbers of Americans choosing to buy firearms and ammunition, exercising their fundamental right to bear arms. The NSFF represents the interest of firearms and ammunition manufacturers. Many countries in the world have adopted new rules and gun-related crime or death is minimal compared with the U.S. Some of the adjustments have included: determining whether a buyer of a firearm is mentally and physically capable to use a gun responsibly. Other countries, like the U.K., also have a limit on the amount of firearms and ammunition a citizen may purchase. According to BBC News UK, certain guns in the U.K. are unavailable to citizens unless given permission from the government. Unlike the United States, the people of the U.K. do not have “the right to bear arms.” These citizens need a very good reason to purchase a firearm and the police must agree to it.
The last reason gun control is and always will be a social issue is gun trafficking. Mexico is a country plagued by criminal activity and the violence generated by crime organizations demands an increasing number of weapons. This being so, criminals can only find weapons through illegal channels in Mexico. The United States has 8,827 licensed gun dealers in the southern states. The drug cartel violence in Mexico has been fueled by thousands of guns illegally trafficked from the United States. Reports based on a statistical analysis of the firearms demand at the U.S. southwest border, between 106,700 and 426,729 firearms were purchased annually in the United States and trafficked to Mexico. Criminal violence associated with drug trafficking has escalated in Central American countries during the last decade, and the number of arms trafficked toward those countries has also increased.
In retrospect, gun control is a serious social issue and should be recognized as such. Recent mass shootings in public places such as schools, malls, and concerts have affected our society. The nation is divided by labels such as Liberals and Conservatives. The revenue made directly and indirectly from firearms and ammunition sales in the U.S., as well as, gun trafficking. There are so many ideas for safer gun control to prevent death by guns. Numerous countries have adopted a safer environment since changing their gun-owning policies and regulations. How many mass shootings does this country need to face in order to modify the pre-qualifications of owning a gun?
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