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1)

Gun Violence Presentation

The John Stossel video segment argues that strict gun control does not reduce gun violence because criminals do not use legal means to obtain firearms and citizens are left vulnerable. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyoLuTjguJA

 Please discuss your view of current gun control regulations and the right of citizens to be armed. 

Do you agree with the Stossel report?  Why or why not?  Please explain your view and provide any examples from your personal experiences.  I do agree with the Stossel report. I look at it from the perspective of being a parent. When you tell a child they cannot do something, nine times out of ten they will try to do it. When you are told that you are not allowed to do something you are more likely to try and do it. I also agree that having a gun does reduce crime. If someone were to break into your house you are able to defend yourself instead of getting hurt. I understand the police are there to help you but, they will not get to you as fast as you can get to your gun. I also believe that offenders are less likely to try and break into a house or commit a crime if they are aware that they could get hurt in the process. I believe being able to protect your family is a great advantage. I feel like I am better equipped to protect my family because I own a gun. I do not agree with having to be forced to own a gun. I believe everyone should have the ability to own or not own a gun based on their own beliefs and values.

Do you believe the culture in the U.S. is more violent than cultures in other nations in Europe where guns are much more regulated?  I do not believe that guns be regulated more is why the U.S. has a more violent culture. I do think that it is easier here to get a firearm than in other places. I do believe some of the problems in the U.S. is educating individuals about gun safety. I have taught all my children how to handle guns in a safe manner. I feel like if they are educated on gun safety and know how to properly use a gun then they will be safer.

Discuss the disparity in violent crime rates in Europe, where gun control is stronger, and the U.S.  Studies suggest that the “increase in firearm availability leads to an increase in violent crimes” (PLoS One, 2021). “It is estimated that around 0.9 per 100,000 people die of gunshot wounds each year in Europe (PLoS One, 2021). In the U.S. the number of people who die from gunshot wounds is estimated at 12 per 100,000 (PLoS One, 2021). I understand the thought process that because Europe has more gun control they have fewer crimes.

References:

PLoS One (April 14, 2021) Firearms and violence in Europe- A systematic review Retrieved from URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8046231/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyoLuTjguJA

2)

Gun Violence Presentation

Current gun control regulations and the right of citizens to be armed:

In the United States, each state has their own gun control regulations. Where I live, Tennessee does not require a permit to carry a firearm, whether openly or concealed. If you want to carry a gun openly or concealed in public in Tennessee, you don't need a permit. As of July 1, 2021, Tennessee changed to a permit-less carry state. Prior to this new change, a permit was required to carry in public and it was only allowed permit-less in a home and then later on permit-less in your vehicle. 

Although a permit is not required to purchase a firearm, a person purchasing must still present the dealer with their identification and all information that is related to the firearm they are wanting to purchase in order to transfer that firearm to that individual. Once.a form is completed, a background check is then ran. The dealer has to complete a firearms transaction record. Most dealers also require a thumbprint of the purchaser. The dealer then calls the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to ask them to conduct a background check on the purchaser. This is when the TBI advises the dealer if the purchaser qualifies. TBI provides an approval code that is entered on the form to show proof that a background check was conducted. Even though each firearm is not necessarily "registered" to an individual, there is proof of who bought the firearm. 

I have had a carry permit for many years (before it was permit-less) and will continue to do so even though it is not necessarily required so that I can continue to be registered with the state in case I ever have to use my handgun in self defense. I can not attest for other states, but I feel that Tennessee has a great process in ensuring that individuals who purchase a firearm have no criminal background and are allowed the purchase. I do not go anywhere without my handgun either on me or in my vehicle if it is not allowed inside of a facility. I have even taken my teenage children to complete the handgun carry permit class (even though they are not old enough to actually receive a permit yet), because I want them to understand gun safety and control. The only thing I disagree with regarding my states gun law is the permit-less option. I do feel that their is so much knowledge needed in order to understand how to safely handle a handgun out in public. The last thing citizens need hundreds of untrained citizens walking around with a handgun just because they can. That knowledge needed is all obtained in the handgun carry permit class.

Do you agree with the Stossel report ? Why or why not?

I do agree that criminals will have and will continue to retrieve their weapons in illegal ways. Putting in place more gun control will only cause more crime, because criminal will have an understanding that citizens are not armed. This makes them easier targets. This is why criminals target areas or places where they know firearms are not allowed. There have been so many citizens save the lives of innocent people because they were able to protect until law enforcement arrived. 

Do you believe the culture in the U.S. is more violent than cultures in other nations in Europe where guns are much more regulated?

I am not sure if it is necessarily the culture in the U.S. being more violent than the culture in Europe but gun violence is the United States is greater than other countries. There could be many different reasons for this because the U.S. is made of many different cultures who all have different beliefs. Individuals who live in Europe are use to more regulations on many things in their nation so adding more regulation to gun control may not be as big of deal to them as it is to those who live in the United States. The United States is known for freedom due to our constitution so most American expect that, especially since the right to bear arms is part of that freedom. 

REFERENCE:

Stossel, John (May 20, 2007).  John Stossel Links Gun Control to Higher Crime Rates. ABC News. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyoLuTjguJA