Rethinking

The call to ban handguns is not inspired by a generalization of hatred but a response to the blood price being the U.S has paid for the explosive growth of the handgun population over the past few years. Apparently, there are over 65M handguns in America, and the harmful effect of this large handgun population on the United States murder rate becomes evident when compared to countries with strongly modulate private firearms ownership with emphasis on mitigating access to handguns (Smith et al. 235). For example, in 2019, United States had 3.96 deaths per 100,000 people, which was eight times higher than the rate in Canada, which comprised 0.47 deaths per 100,000 people (Fleming et al. 348). Additionally, United States comprised a death rate nearly one hundred times higher than the United Kingdom, which has 0.04 deaths per 100,000 (Fleming et al. 348). These statistics indicate how gun control policies have been able to reduce the rate of crimes and gun-related deaths in countries who have implemented gun control policies, and the United States needs to adopt these policies to reduce gun-related crimes and deaths.

One advantage of implementing gun control policies is to have gun control laws translate into having stricter rules and more security with gun transactions to prevent potentially dangerous people from purchasing weapons. Also, its means limiting the type of firearms ordinary citizens are allowed to purchase (Fleming et al. 348). For instance, the opposers of gun control policies who claim they require guns for personal safety will be verified and assessed to determine if it necessary for them to possess a firearm. Also, no civilian needs an automatic assault rifle to defend themselves (Smith et al. 235). If they qualify to possess a gun, specified laws must be determined as to which gun(s) can purchased and registered under said details for clarity. This motivation prevents dangerous people who have a bad record from accessing guns as they pose a threat to society. Also, it helps mitigate crime rates and promote safety since it creates a challenge for people to acquire guns and make it easier to trace those involved in crimes as firearms will have been registered. It is impossible to eliminate gun deaths entirely, but in order to ensure fewer causalities stricter gun laws needs to be established.

Another reason why stricter gun control laws need to be implemented is because guns are rarely used for self-defense. Only a few people use guns to protect themselves from harm. For example, in 2010, only 230 people utilized guns to protect themselves from homicides, compared to over 8,000 criminal gun homicides (Smith et al. 235). Thus, people rarely use guns for self-defense, as they seem to claim. In addition, it has been several occasions that some gun owners have confessed to misusing them at one point, and to make matters worse is that for them to possess those firearms, they gave fictitious reasons to own guns. The aforementioned provides more evidence leading to the fact if gun control laws are implemented, the process of verifying if one is capable of owning a firearm will eliminate such individuals. Also, youths have been known to have access to guns from adults since almost every adult owns one, which they use to commit crimes such as robberies and carjackings (Whitehead et al. 23). Therefore, more gun control laws definitely need to be drafted since even the presence of guns does not protect people enough.

Gaining the control of guns must be highly considered and enforced to minimize the cases of domestic violence and protect women from gender-based violence (Whitehead et al. 23). It has become a prevalent phenomenon of women dying by guns each day in the United States. Due to the lack of stricter gun control laws, women’s chances of becoming victims of domestic violence increase in the presence of a gun during a family dispute (Whitehead et al. 23). Additionally, most mass shootings are due to domestic violence, with other women being survivors of attempted murder by stalking partners. Besides, according to a poll conducted by Quinnipiac, 67% of Americans support the ban on assault weapons, with 83% agreeing with the mandatory waiting periods law when buying a firearm, and 97% of gun owners supporting universal background checks before buying a gun (Fleming et al. 348). Therefore, most American voters want to enact gun control laws to enhance safety; then, those laws should be implemented.

Many opposers of gun control policies disagree as to how current gun control laws threaten their constitutional rights to bear and own firearms (Spitzer 111). Additionally, they argue federal government does not have authority at all to disarm the citizenry. Although to many, imposing stricter gun control laws appear as it is depriving citizens of their rights, it is not the case. This is because the second amendment only guarantees individuals in militias the right to bear arms and not ordinary citizens (Butkus et al. 704). Back then, this assertion was applicable when America gained its independence, and citizens needed to be ready to defend themselves in case of an attack. Nowadays, citizens do not need to possess guns since America is not on the brink of war, making it unnecessary for citizens to carry firearms (Butkus et al. 704). Besides, no one wants someone with a mental illness or violent history wielding a potentially life-ending weapon.

In conclusion, logically thinking about the previously discussed information and statistics, stricter gun control laws and policies needs to strongly be considered and implemented to help save lives and mitigate criminal activities. Taking various gun control measures reduces cases of gun-related deaths, mitigate domestic violence, and protect everyday citizens overall. Studies provide clear evidence of how the enforcement of stricter gun control laws is strongly encouraged and how adjustments to the current laws and policies intentions are strictly to make The United States a safer country for everyday citizens by decreasing death rates and crimes, not to defy anyone of their rights as a citizen.

Works Cited

Butkus, Renee, Robert Doherty, and Sue S. Bornstein. "Reducing firearm injuries and deaths in the United States: a position paper from the American College of Physicians." Annals of internal medicine 169.10 (2018): 704-707.

Fleming, Anthony, Dylan S. McLean, and Raymond Tatalovich. "Debating gun control in Canada and the United States: divergent policy frames and political cultures." World affairs 181.4 (2018): 348-371.

Lewis, J. Scott. "The relationship between gun control strictness and mass murder in the United States: A National Study 2009-2015." International Social Science Review 94.2 (2018): 4.

Smith, Jacob, and Jonathan Spiegler. "Explaining gun deaths: gun control, mental illness, and policymaking in the American states." Policy studies journal 48.1 (2020): 235-256.

Spitzer, Robert J. "Gun control: Constitutional mandate or myth?." Social Regulatory Policy. Routledge, 2019. 111-141.

Whitehead, Andrew L., Landon Schnabel, and Samuel L. Perry. "Gun control in the crosshairs: Christian nationalism and opposition to stricter gun laws." Socius 4 (2018): 23.