America faces
a lot of problems and one of them is whether it needs stricter gun control laws
or not. The nonproliferation of arms are needed in America to prevent anymore
gun related deaths. From young children accidentally murdering they’re own
family members to mass murdering’s, but also the fact that around 60 percent of
gun deaths which is not very accounted for are used to commit suicide (Dale,
2015).
A
law had been passed which allowed children of any age to hold or use a gun with
the supervision of an adult. As a result, it has caused more deaths than it
could have prevented. Just last year there were at least 43 toddler shootings
under the age of three. About 60% of those babies found a gun within reach and
shot themselves. In another case of young children being able to use guns, a shooting
range instructor allowed a nine year old girl to fire an Uzi on her own when
she accidentally shot and killed him. Statistics and stories like this clearly
indicate the immaturity of this law. Due to the killings of young children this
law allowing any age under supervision to use a gun should be removed.
People
against stricter gun control laws often refer to the second amendment. The
second amendment states, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to
the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms,
shall not be infringed." This amendment is used as an excuse by many
Americans to possess a gun wherever they
are enjoying their coffee or having a nice walk around the park in the early
morning. Another very popular reason for people wanting to own guns is to
“protect” themselves during events of violent crimes and property crimes. Since
2006 there have been around 300 verified mass murders (at least four people
murders) to this year and around 80% of them occurred with the use of guns. The
most recent mass murder was recorded for the 9th of March, 2016. From statistics
collected, out of people who own a gun, less than one percent of victims
protected themselves with the use of firearms. For property crimes (burglary,
vandalism, car theft etc.) less than 0.2% protected themselves with firearms.
People use this as an excuse to hold guns but do not follow through with it. As
good as it would be for Americans to form a Militia to create a free state using
guns, the bad consequences outweigh the good by a long measure.
According to 'USA Today', "the
worst acts of gun violence are committed by people who have not violated the
law before". Having criminal background and disability checks is good, but
is not good enough. In Chicago, a survey was taken on how criminals would
obtain their guns and the typical answer was through friends or family. “It is rare for
offenders to buy from licensed dealers, and also rare for them to steal their
guns,’ the study says. ‘Rather, the
predominant sources of guns to offenders are family, acquaintances, fellow gang
members—which is to say, members of their social network.” This gives anyone the power to
obtain a gun so perhaps adding an affiliation check as well could make a
difference. If anyone could obtain a gun using friends or family, they could
move on to commit the next biggest mass murder crime.
Whatever
the method used to own a gun, 60% of gun deaths in America which are not well
known are not homicide, but suicide. Often it is not reported because when
people see a suicide on the news they are more likely to commit suicide
themselves. David Hemenway is professor of health policy. He
has studied firearm violence and the relationship between guns and suicide in
the U.S. for 15 years. In that time, he has recorded a lot of statistical
evidence indicating that access to guns increases the chances of suicide. “Why
does Arizona have more suicides than Massachusetts?” he asks. "Is it
mental health, is it diet, or is it alcohol or smoking, or is it depression?”
It’s none of those. The one thing that explains different rates of suicide
across regions, states and even cities is simple: guns. People who suffer
from depression or anxiety should not be able to purchase guns. When attempting
suicide using a gun, they are practically guaranteed the thing escape they are
seeking but when they have to find a different way to try which they are more
likely to survive. For every single gun suicide there are 25 suicide attempts
without the use of guns so the chances of that person surviving are increased.
When
we look at the effects of gun related deaths, we can see how stricter gun
control is necessary to prevent future gun related deaths like toddler
shootings, mass killings and suicides.
References:
Author: Helena
Horton Title: Toddlers in America
have accidentally shot one person a week in 2015 Date: 15/10/2015 Retrieved
from:
Author: Steven
Gutowski Title: Study finds that
Chicago Criminals Get Guns From Friends, Family Date:
3/9/2015 Retrieved from: http://freebeacon.com/issues/study-finds-that-chicago-criminals-get-guns-from-friends-family/
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