Gun control
Hardy, Marjorie S. “Keeping Children Safe Around Guns: Pitfalls and Promises.” Aggression and Violent Behavior, 11.4(2006): 352-366. Print.
Increased number of deaths in relation to gunshots is prevalence in different parts of the world. This has elicited diverse opinions among various government concerning the regulation and ownership laws of guns. A section of people in different governments have proposed different steps in the gun regulations with some proposing prohibition of private ownership of guns while others agitating for permission grant to sane adults for their own safety. United States of America is one of the countries in the world that has experienced the impacts of the guns among its citizens. The fact that holding or being in possession of gun in America is entrenched in the constitution; this has seen many citizens acquire firearms for their own safety. Nevertheless, there are inherent risks that this constitutional privilege has caused on the general welfare of the American people. Even though Americans have a constitutional right to own handguns, stricter laws and licensing will not effectively save lives.
According to Hardy, guns in America has caused a high number of death which otherwise would have been prevented. The fact that parents met the threshold of acquiring guns; these guns are not stored or kept far from child reach, putting the children at risk. Therefore, these guns contribute to the risks of homicide, suicide and unintentional deaths among its people.
Ludwig, Jens & Cook, Philip. “The Social Costs of Gun Ownership.” Journal of Public Economics, 90.1-2(2006): 379-391. Print.
In demonstrating the magnitude of how the guns are misused, he points out that an estimate of 40% of children have access to the guns at their homes which poses safety risks (352). For instance, in 2002, statistics indicated that an approximate of 419 children of 15 years and below succumbed to death as a result of exposure to guns while 65% were victims of assault. 21% of children shoot themselves and approximately 14% children died from unintentional shootings (as cited in national center for injury prevention and control, 2005). Furthermore, reports from the Defense Fund indicated that gunfire killed American child in every 3 hours, statistics that delineate the threat that these guns pose to the safety of children. It is therefore, apparent that parents be vigilant on how they handle the guns to avoid these unnecessary deaths.
Misuse of guns is inherent in the USA despite, the fact that it is in the constitution. According to Ludwig and Cook widespread of guns in the community is important since it helps in protecting both the gun owners and the non-owners. Conversely, the same guns posses’ high risks if they are not handled in the correct manner. For instance, when these guns land in criminal hands, through unregulated sale and theft, they posse great danger to the safety of the people. Criminal may use the same guns to loot and rob innocent people and even end up killing some of them. Another attributes that makes the ownership of guns to be a risk venture is its high prices of securing one. For instance, a gun goes for around $100 to 1 800 (Ludwig and Cook 380). This demonstrates the devastating effects that these guns poses and therefore the government should move with urgency and put in place proper and a formidable measures to control the risks posed by the gun ownership.
Bartley, William. “Will rationing guns reduce crime?” Journal of Economic Letters 62 (1999): 241-243. Print.
Even with the stringent measures in place in the issuance of these guns, there is still proliferation of these firearms illegally to some of the citizens with malice intentions. These therefore, continue to put the live of other law-abiding citizens in danger. These guns may be infiltrated in the country through black markets hence derailing the safety and security of its citizens.
Homicides cases are on the increase as a result of the entrenchment of gun possession in the constitution. For instance, according to Ludwig and Cook, the highest rate of homicide reported was in USA representing 74%. This statistics furthermore, showed that homicide rate was at 11 per 100,000 residents and half of all these cases having committed by gunshots (383).
Increase in guns in the hands of the citizens contributes or intensifies criminal activities in areas where there is no tight security for the people. Even though these guns are licensed and intended for household protection against varmints, they pose a threat to people lives especially when there is no proper use. Some people are not trained on how to use these guns, hence presenting a danger to other people. For example, when conflict ensues among people with low self control, it may lead to shooting leading to unnecessary deaths. Therefore, it is imperative that even with stringent laws being followed in the licensing, there is need to examine the psychology of a person, train, guide and counsel them on the circumstances where they should use their guns (Bartley 241). Without this initiative, there is still a threat to live, as these guns will be used to killing as a solution to conflicts. The fact that the license is issued to sane and normal people with sober mind, there is still a wider gap that needs to be filled in order to curb
Hardy, Marjorie S. “Keeping Children Safe Around Guns: Pitfalls and Promises.” Aggression and Violent Behavior, 11.4(2006): 352-366. Print.
the death or atrocities that are perpetrated through these gun shots. The disciple amongst gun holders is a prerequisite and if this is not pursued, the effects caused by these guns will still be reported and the licensing will be of no use.
Lives will continue to be lost in America if parents and guardians do not take responsibility of handling the guns safe even if stringent measures are in place for license. Yes, these parents may qualify for a license for their own safety but when they flout their responsibilities of ensuring safekeeping of the guns, the laws then serve no purpose. They should be able to keep the guns away from their children and any likely suspicious people who may steal and use the guns for committing of crimes and other atrocities. Therefore, the government or any other authority with the obligation of licensing these guns should put in place tight laws for the parents who do not keep their guns safely to ensure that any likely harms or injuries are not recorded. The laws should not be at the point of issuance and licensing but they should be able to trickle down to the ways in which these guns are used. By doing so, the number of deaths and injuries recorded will be reduced (Hardy 354).
Unless these, guns are modified, even with the stringent laws, still deaths and injuries will be recorded. The government and the authorities should consider modifying these guns by making them inaccessible and inoperable to strangers and children (Hardy 354). Technology will therefore come in handy in ensuring safeguards of these guns by adapting to “smart guns” which are composed of computer chips that only allow and recognize authorized users. This kind of personalized guns may result to a drastic reduction of unnecessary injuries and deaths through
Southwick, Lawrence. “Self-defense with Guns: The Consequences.” Journal of Criminal Justice, 28.5 (2000):351-370. Print.
gunshots. This technology is one of the safest in ensuring that unauthorized persons and children does not use, steal, or/and use them in a destructive manner. For instance, if these guns are able to detect a specific individual, then, there will be no way in which another person may use the gun hence reducing the prevalence of crimes and deaths emanating from these guns.
Media campaigns and community based education programs are important in ensuring that the lives of people are not endangered through the high number of guns amongst the USA citizens. Media campaigns through their programs tailored specific to the gun owners and children should be introduced to teach them on safe use of guns. Media campaigns can tailor their messages to children for example by using cartoons and other programs that children like to use. This will assist in containing the misuse of these guns. Furthermore, parents should also be educated on their responsibilities on gun handling to avoid the effects of careless handling of the guns. These initiatives may assist to greater heights in containing the increased number of deaths, homicides and assault that are related to the ownership of guns. The community should also step up their efforts in educating and calling upon the society to be responsible citizens and take care of their lives. They should understand that guns are there not for destroying but for securing a safer and conducive environment to enjoy life and undertake any other activities that are of benefit to the society and the country.
Southwick affirms that the choice of arming among individuals is triggered by the potential of incurring losses or succumbing to injuries (367). Hence, the option amongst many people to arm themselves is in pursuit of self-defense, comfort, and to avoid loss of their
Katherine, Hempstead & Antonio, Rodriguez. “Gun Control and Suicide: The Impact of State Firearm Regulations in the United States, 1995–2004.” Health Policy, 101.1 (2011): 95- 103. Print.
property to the criminals. Therefore, this implies that an American citizen will refute to killing in case his property and life are deemed to be in threat. This is a wide generalization, and the fact that the law allows the ownership of guns, many cases of deaths are reported, and some that may not be genuine and authentic. This provision and requirement of a person to shoot, put the life’s of many people in danger, especially those that may be viewed with suspicion of committing a certain crime. Therefore, this demonstrates and shows that even with the stringent measures in place the rate of deaths and loss of lives are far from being witnessed.
According to Katherine and Antonio, more than 32,000 cases of suicides were reported in USA in 2006 with an estimated 18,000 cases of homicide reported (95). This saw cases of suicide being ranked at position 18th as one of the leading causes of death among male deaths while 19th among the female deaths. It is reported that in every case of suicide, an average of ten people were hospitalized for non-fatal attempts. This shows that approximately 46 Americans commits suicide on daily basis with a gun accounting to close to 50% of all cases of suicide that were reported (Katherine and Antonio 95). This statistics is alarming and shows clearly that indeed the laws on gun control are not enough to ensure that these deaths and suicides are not committed.
According to Katherine and Antonio, these statistics were alarming and lead to enactment of laws that would ensure that deaths through guns are minimized. Some of these laws included, close monitoring, extension of licensing permission to ensure verification, acquisition of one firearm, historical background evaluation among many other laws. However, despite these measures, the prevalence of deaths and loss of lives is still high explaining the fact that these laws serve no significant purpose.
From this discussion, it is clear that, the American constitution permission of citizens to acquire and possess firearms was not well thought out. The statistics on the rate of injuries and deaths resulting from these guns are astonishing. Even with the stringent laws and regulations policies in place to ensure that these guns are controlled, it is surprising that these laws are not helping to reduce the level of deaths. Children in most instances have fallen victims of these guns due to ignorance and poor use. These deaths are a result of parent neglect and poor safety procedures. Therefore, the lives of people in America will still be in danger unless parents, children and any other stakeholders become responsible on how they use the guns. This problem will require second thought from all facets of the society. Guns can be controlled but, the initiatives of the owners and those in possession is the only solution to end these deaths and in safeguarding the safety of people not stringent laws. Responsibility solely rests in the gun owners and possessors.
Annotated bibliography
Bartley, William. “Will rationing guns reduce crime?” Journal of Economic Letters 62 (1999): 241-243. Print.
Bartley refutes that the supply of guns does not in any way reduce the rates of crime and injuries, a claim that is supported by economists. The author look closely on some of the hazards of controlling guns and offers alternative solutions on how crime and deaths can be reduced. One of the solutions he offers is the laws relating to carrying of concealed handguns among individuals.
Katherine, Hempstead & Antonio, Rodriguez. “Gun Control and Suicide: The Impact of State Firearm Regulations in the United States, 1995–2004.” Health Policy, 101.1 (2011): 95- 103. Print.
The author’s main objective was to assess the impacts of gun regulations on the level of suicide cases among male. The authors adapted to a negative binomial regression model in conjunction with panel of state level data of the years between 1995-2004. The authors in their study found out that those regulation approaches that are geared at reducing the availability of guns were effective in preventing the suicide cases among male. Even though, the authors suggest various methods of ensuring safe use of guns, they propose insightful measures in order to end the ever-increasing rates of suicide.
Ludwig, Jens & Cook, Philip J. “The Social Costs of Gun Ownership.” Journal of Public Economics, 90.1-2(2006): 379-391. Print.
He presents effects of the prevalence of guns on household especially on the homicide cases. He further infers marginal cost of owning a gun and approximates the costs to be in the range of between $100 to $1800.The high costs of owning a gun has led to increase in criminal acts as people use the gadget in safeguarding their property and self-defense . The high costs and stringent measures does not reduce the rates of deaths and injuries.
Hardy, Marjorie S. “Keeping Children Safe Around Guns: Pitfalls and Promises.” Aggression and Violent Behavior, 11.4(2006): 352-366. Print.
Hardy attributes the prevalence of arms to be the core reason of many deaths and injuries among children that are witnessed in America. He points out that the risk of a homicide, assault or unintentional death is high in cases where a gun is available and vice versa. For instance, in America an approximate 40% of children have access to guns presenting a very huge danger. Most children are fascinated with having guns and they appear to be resistant to interventions. They lack cognitive maturity to understand what they learn from classroom and therefore parents, media and all other stakeholders should join hands in reducing the rate of deaths among children and other people.
Southwick, Lawrence. “Self-defense with Guns: The Consequences.” Journal of Criminal Justice, 28.5 (2000):351-370. Print.
Southwick inferred on the national crime victimization study data, which demonstrated that people who use guns incurred no or minimum injuries during a violent crime. Furthermore, he observes that the choice of an individual to use guns is not on the premise of selective crimes but rather is readiness for any eventualities. He also observed that many victims are armed illustrating the prevalence of the arms. This scenario, therefore, hinders the commitment of violent crimes and reduces the chance of arming.
Works Cited
Bartley, William. “Will rationing guns reduce crime?” Journal of Economic Letters 62 (1999): 241-243. Print.
Hardy, Marjorie S. “Keeping Children Safe Around Guns: Pitfalls and Promises.” Aggression and Violent Behavior, 11.4(2006): 352-366. Print.
Katherine, Hempstead & Antonio, Rodriguez. “Gun Control and Suicide: The Impact of State Firearm Regulations in the United States, 1995–2004.” Health Policy, 101.1 (2011): 95- 103. Print.
Ludwig, Jens & Cook, Philip. “The Social Costs of Gun Ownership.” Journal of Public Economics, 90.1-2(2006): 379-391. Print.
Southwick, Lawrence. “Self-defense with Guns: The Consequences.” Journal of Criminal Justice, 28.5 (2000):351-370. Print.
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