Explain how Gun Control in the United States.

Gun Control in the United States
Gun control is to control possession of the firearms by regulating the sales of the guns. A firearm in this case refers to any weapon or destructive device that can expel a bullet by the action of an explosive. Over the years, there have been many debates to regulate the availability of firearms to the public. Pro-gun lobbyists say, “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people” (Hagan, 2007). The anti-gun supporters want to take away the right to bear arms. These debates have raised controversial issues as far as gun control is concerned.
This subject has elicited certain questions in the process of looking for long-term answers. Is it possible to reduce crime rates and homicides by implementing strict regulations on the ownership of the firearms? .Will schoolyard and household violence be reduced if firearms were expensive and difficult to acquire? Can strict regulations stop attack on superior people and minimize acts of terrorism in the society? These questions, as well as other concerns of gun control, need to be examined further before presentation to the public. This paper will, therefore, examine some of these issues in by comparing and contrasting different findings with an aim to provide light to the present society.
According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) approximately 223 million guns have been available to United States citizens from the end of the nineteenth century to the near-close of the twentieth. Nearly 80% of those 223 million guns were made in the United States. There are estimated numbers showing 79 million long rifles, 77 million handguns, and 66 million shotguns. These values are expected to increase annually for the next years. Despite the second Amendment, which states that every citizen in the USA has the right to possess a firearm, the pro-gun lobbyist fails to focus on the aspect of gun control.

National Crime Victimization Survey(NCVS) provides data on the firearms used by the lawbreakers in relation to reports from the victims. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), Published their 4.3 million non-lethal violent crimes in the year 2009. Twenty-two percent incidences of this case involved the use of weapons and the firearms used by offenders were 8%. It is also seen that incidences of related non-lethal violent crime decreased from 428,670 in 2000 to 326,090in 2009, and from 2.4 persons to 1.4 per 100,000 of the population ages 12 and older.
Mortality and crime statistics have always been associated with the gun control debate. A recent study indicates none of the researches done to provide statistics that show the relation between violence and use of firearms. For instance, the data do not show whether the number of people killed during a ten-year period (1994-2004) was because of the use of semi-automatic assault firearm. The fact that little research has been done to ascertain the connection between gun control and violence is a setback. This is because the public cannot have any sufficient information on the subject making it hard for them to develop their opinion in an organized manner.
Acquiring a firearm in a society today serves a purpose of protecting individuals from attacks. A national survey indicates that approximately half of gun owners (48%) admit that they own guns for protection; just 32% say they own a gun for target shooting and hunting (People-Press.org 2013). Possessing a gun is good but sometimes it can be a downfall. For example, an incident occurred to a family in Toms River, NJ. A four-year boy found a gun and accidentally killed a six-year-old neighbor.
The family was held responsible for the murder. After investigation, the police found out that the family had more than one gun including firearms confiscated from them in the past. Regardless of their permit to have the guns, it was unacceptable for their son to access the weapons for shooting. According to a study done by the Pew Research Center, on Feb. 13-18 among 1,504 adults, safety also is a big concern among many Americans who do not have guns. Approximately 58% of those in households with no gun said they would not be comfortable possessing a gun. Their main concern was the possibilities of gun accidents in the households as well as and safety (People-Press.org 2013).
Despite the fact, many people are seen to won firearms for the purpose of protection, and there are other reasons why people would own the firearms. According to NIJ, in 1994 the most common need to own a firearm was for recreational purposes. The study showed that there were about15 million hunters. The report shows that approximately 35% of gun owners, in the United States participated in sports shooting in the year 1994. The same report indicated that in 2003, 14.7 million people had paid for the license of their firearm.
Many laws have been set in place to help in regulating possession of firearms. The most prominent federal laws are the Gun Control Act of 1968 and the National Firearms Act of 1934. The National Firearms Act implemented a system where all firearms were to be registered. The systems entailed firearm identification, identity of persons entitled to a particular type of firearm, including their address and the date of registration. The Gun Control Act forbids transfer of the weapon to minors, inter-State sales of the firearm, limits access to new lethal weapons and sets requirements and penalties for dealers and manufacturers of the weapons. This process was adopted after the assassination of John F. Kennedy because a mail order gun assassinated him.
Although some Americans want gun control, some are against it. Even some of the representatives of the American citizens in the congress cannot support this subject. They believe gun control has nothing to do with reducing the crime rates. To some extent, many American citizens do not see the need of changing gun control laws. A poll done by the Public Regional Research Institute (PRRI) in 2012 indicates that 25% of American citizens believe strict gun control rules and regulations can minimize shooting (Enten 2013). Most citizens believe the most important way to prevent these incidences is to promote mental health. Additionally, a questionnaire issued by the CBS news channel show that 4% of the respondents said that gun control is the main problem USA faces. Fifty percent of the American citizens were more concerned with the issues of the economy (Enten 2013).
Despite these rules of service, there is still a need to set-up strict regulations to curb misuse of guns. Over the years, several lobbyists and groups have been in the forefront to ensure that the issue of gun control is addressed. Of these groups, the most prominent group is the National Rifle Association (NRA). Their main aim is to support firearm ownership, hunting, protection, self-defense, as well as firearm safety. Though they do encourage firearm safety, their main objective is to provide citizens with guns. It is one of the most influential groups because they have funds to support their activities and beliefs.
This group has made it difficult to regulate ownership and control of guns. The group is so powerful such that it can oppose any regulation set on restricting firearm ownership. They avoid certain meeting for dialogue, including those organized by the president of the United States. According a report titled “Obama must turn up the heat and confront the NRA,” the group continues to oppose measures that could limit members of the public from accessing guns by avoiding dialogue (Editorial, 2013). The great power that the NRA has provided an opportunity for individuals who are not allowed to possess a firearm access these weapons.

Many people believe that the NRA has too much political pull in Washington. For instance, the case of a Representative Peter Smith, who chose to sponsor a bill that would ban firearms. This happened after he told the NRA; he was against gun control. In the next elections, he lost his seat. This group can instill fears to the citizens of the United States. The same group had an influence to prevent renewal of a ban for assault weapon in1994. After five years, two teenagers opened five in their school in Denver. With this incident still in the minds of the law implementers, the NRA helped to overcome a measure that would have barred these teenagers from acquiring these firearms. This is because the teenagers were able to purchase the firearms at store where the dealer had a need to run a background check on the students.. Regardless of the positive effects, the law will have in preventing violent crimes involving guns. The NRA purposefully refutes those acts and uses its ability to enact the fear into its members and citizens. This fear is used to prevent these laws from getting past legislation.
Some associations have been formed such as Mr. Reed’s association that fights to prevent gun control in the constitution of America. The second amendment of the Bill of Rights is one element allows the public to possess firearms. The bill 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.” (2nd amendment 1791). This amendment permits the public the right to possess these firearms and it is a section of the bill of rights. This right is taken as a symbol of liberty in America. The right to bear arms in America symbolizes liberty. The right means one can choose their way of life without restrictions provided the rights of other citizens is not violated. People feel that their freedom is taken away when they their rights are violated. American people are more concerned of their freedom than the Europeans are.

For every anti-gun control, the argument there is a contradictory argument from the pro-gun control group. Research indicates that the subject gun culture is fading away as the new generation takes and the older generation passes (Utter & True, 2000). The Brady Campaign is the largest lobby groups that fight for gun control to minimize Gun Violence. Mark Borinsky founded the group in 1974 after experiencing robbery at gunpoint and nearly being killed. Though the group focused on handgun control, their main objective was to help save lives (“Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence : History of the Brady Campaign,” n.d.). This group supports gun control measure and laws such as a national background check on sales of all guns, minimizing the sale of semi-automatic weapons together with other changes. The group attempts to create a policy to prevent guns going to the wrong people. Some of their recommendations are to create harsh conditions for illegal sales of firearms and inappropriate use of guns.
The present laws in place prevent correct measurement of the impacts of gun control. Laws must be put in place by the federal government to support the laws, both at the local and the state level. For instance, 32 states perform background checks beyond the federal requirements while in some states there is no proper mechanism to ensure are made. I think it will important if the current regulations are revised. In most states, anyone who has reached eighteen years can possess a gun. However, it is a rule that the firearm should be purchased from a licensed federal dealer.
The buyer must be citizens of USA, and they have to go through the registration process to purchase a gun. The form must be completed to register a firearm. Form 4473 must be filled, and it contains details such as serial number of the firearm, model, and the details of the purchase. There are groups of people not permitted to access such license. They are convicted felonies and illegal aliens. According to Krouse (2001), a minimum of one and month and a maximum of twenty years is the penalty if someone is convicted for using a gun in drug traffic or violent crime. Despite the current rules and regulations of possessing a firearm, it is still easy to obtain a firearm from the retail stores.
In many occasions, the American citizens are always in agreement with the president of the United States. The issue of gun control is one area where the citizens differ with the opinions of the president. A recent article states that “Obama administration wants officials to inform veterans that an anonymous ‘report’ indicates they may be declared incompetent and subsequently denied their Second Amendment rights” (Unruh 2013). This message could adversely affect Veterans, who have taken part in wars. Some veterans who possess guns can use these guns in the wrong way. In a veteran’s perspective, they see this as an abuse because they have the responsibility ensuring security within the country, but they don’t have the right to own the guns. It is positive and safe to reevaluate the veterans to own this firearm. This move ensures that the same soldiers are.
Before purchasing a firearm, one must have certain requirements. For instance, In New Jersey, the buyer must be eighteen to purchase a rifle and twenty-one for a handgun. On April 16, 2007, thirty bystanders were killed in a shooting incident in Virginia Tech University and more than thirty sustained injuries. In response to the incident, reports released shows that local stores, like Wal-Mart and K-mart, have a license to sell the firearms and ammunition to citizens. Approximately 400 guns are available for sale in Wal-Mart’s catalog. Half (of) the Wal-Mart’s in America, one can buy a semiautomatic Colt M4 Ops .22 rifle from half of the stores for Wal-Mart in the USA. This firearm can carry thirty-round magazine, which are also bought from the store”(Zornick 2013).

Allowing these retail stores to sell these dangerous firearms, create problems to the public. In reference to the Virginia Tech incident, it shows the ease the shooter had in acquiring the weapon without questioning. The main concern is the ease with which people can acquire these firearms without questioning. Once the regulations are spelt out to all members of, the public should follow them. No law should be designed to a specific individual, and this will ensure that no one uses the fire in a wrong way especially in the killings.
Besides that, increasing the age limit for people to own firearm can help to resolve issues cases of misuse of the guns. As stated earlier, many states have their laws, regulations age requirement, and firearm use. In most states, cases eighteen-year-olds are not allowed to acquire some types of guns such as the pistols without shoulder strap. These people must reach the age of twenty-one to acquire pistols without shoulder strap. However, the best remedy to curb this menace is to increase the age limit for possessing and maintaining a firearm to age twenty-one. The difference in age might appear small, but it would make a huge difference in terms of judgment and responsibility. Consequently, the mortality rates can be increased by increasing the age. As stated in the Policy Almanac, the number of homicides committed annually with a firearm by persons in the 14- to 24-year-old age group increased by 173% from 1985 to 1993. It then decreased by 47% from 1993 to 1999.” By increasing the age for acquiring a firearm, mortality rates will decrease gradually.
Apart from that, changing the mode of acquiring the fire can go help to restrict ownership and gun control. The whole process should be changed which limits individuals from acquiring the firearm in an easy way. The Form 4473 that is completed should maintain an attachment for the background check that should be done before presenting a gun to someone. President Barrack Obama also calls for a fix with the background check system that is used in the registration process. As stated in the report “Talking about Guns,” “President Barack Obama calls for firearm control and campaigns to support the goal of resolving issues in the National Instant Criminal Background (NICB) Check System to make to disallow perceived criminal elements from accessing guns. (Talking about Guns, 2013).”
For a civilian to maintain a weapon, they will be required to update their background check on an annual basis. The background check should provide the person possessing a weapon with high-security clearance. The individuals are also responsible for conducting a background check and financing their needs. By making the civilians have a high-security clearance, it will prevent unofficial issuance of the license for guns. This will greatly help in reducing massacres like the one that occurs in Arizona.. Arizona is an example of one the states where the public can buy firearms without carrying out a background check on the client. The main reason is that the state borders Mexico and there is a need for people at the borders to acquire a firearm for protection against illegal immigrants that move across the border. These activities go on despite the fact that Mexico only shop located in a military camp.
Brian Doherty states in his article “Gun Control Couldn’t Have Stopped It” states that it is not necessary to restrict guns which a point many have opposed in various articles. Brian Doherty believes that there are certain crimes that there is no sense to craft laws to prevent them.The question here is the type of mindset other people have because the purpose of the law and regulation is given directions on how members of the public should operate.
Altering the registration process will ultimately affect firearms issued by the states. It will be appropriate if all states have a general standard in issuing firearms and regulated on a federal level. The fact that states have different procedure for issuing the firearms may make certain individuals to look for a softer spot for obtaining the guns. It is vital for the individuals to go through training once they have been given the firearm on a yearly basis. The training should update the trainees of new trends and rules in using a firearm. All individuals that will have violated the rules should be prohibited from owning a firearm.
There are nine categories of people not permitted to possess, transport, and receiving firearms under the current law. These are: fugitives from justice, convicts of any crime by imprisonment for more than a year, addicts of any controlled substance, persons with mental disorders, unauthorized immigrants as per the law, persons discharged from US forces, persons who resigns US citizenship, person in court for harassing cases, and persons convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

It should be the responsibility of the gun dealer to assess whether the person he is giving the guns needs extra assessment and evaluation to register for the gun. If he or she establishes that the person requires further analysis then the process should be delayed in order make sure that he meets the requirements for possessing a gun. By imposing the rules where the applicant finances his registration process, this will make it easier to eliminate unfit civilians to acquire the firearm. By implementing more strict measures, it will be easier to regulate and reduce gun trafficking and fatalities they are associated with.
In conclusion, the paper sought to explore the controversial issues in gun control. Some of the studies have shown opinions from both sides of the divide in support for the opinion on what they think should be implemented. We have one group support applying restriction to control possession of guns and the other group who are anti-gun control. A consensus has not been arrived at given that no proper study has revealed if there is a relationship between gun ownership and violence. This issue still presents a big challenge, which needs to be sought in the earliest time possible for harmony in the society. One of the solutions for gun control is to modify the whole system of acquiring guns. For harmony, it is vital for states to have a common rationale in issuing firearm with regulation from the federal government. The need to increase the age for acquiring the firearm is also vital so that these weapons are handled by responsible and mature personalities.as previously stated, there is need to offer more strict restrictions for gun ownership because this will minimize gun trafficking and reduce the illegal use of the firearm. If all these measures are implemented appropriately, it will also help the government in saving as illegal use of a firearm is concerned.

References
“Why Own a Gun? Protection Is Now Top Reason.(2013)” Pew Research Center for the People and the Press RSS. People-Press.org, 12 Mar. 2013. Web. 16 Apr. 2013.
2nd amendment (1791) The Second Amendment of The Bill of Rights. National Archives. Localized 01/12/2013 retrieved from <http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html>
Editorial: Gun Dialogue: Obama must turn up the heat and confront the NRA. Pittsburg Post-
Enten, Harry J. (2013) “Americans want gun control, but not badly enough”. Localized 12/11/2013 on the Internet. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/feb/28/americans-want-gun-control Gazette. AN: 2W6906812328. Talking About Guns. New York Times, p34. AN: 59340462
Hagan, F. (2007). Introduction to Criminology: Theories, Methods, and Criminal Behavior (6th ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.
Unruh, Bob. “Veterans Forced to Prove They’re Worthy of Gun Rights.” WND. WND, 10 Mar. 2013. Web. 16 Apr. 2013.
Zornick, G. (2013). Wal-Mart: America’s No. 1 Gun Source. Nation, 296(1/2), 15-20.