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Introduction
The debate over gun policy in the United States is one of the most polarized issues in
American politics. On one side, there are those advocating for stricter gun control measures,
often referred to as the "anti-gun" coalition, who emphasize the need to address gun violence and
promote public safety. On the other side, there are the "pro-Second Amendment" supporters,
who fiercely defend the individual's right to bear arms as enshrined in the Second Amendment of
the U.S. Constitution. In the mist their deep-seated differences, it is evident that major and
transformative changes in gun policy are necessary to confront challenges posed by gun violence
in the country. This paper will answer the question: “How will the “anti-gun” coalition and the
“pro-Second Amendment” supporters ever come together to make major and transformative
changes in gun policy in the United States?”
Summary
The conflict between the “anti-gun” coalition and the “pro-Second Amendment”
supporters is a rather straight forward conflict. This disagreement is purely reflective on their
differences in on what and how policy should be enacted and what the reach of the government
should be. The “anti-gun” coalition, aka the Democrats, typically argue that stricter regulations
on legal gun access are necessary to reduce the overall availability of firearms which as a result
will decrease the potential for gun violence (Burton et al., 2021). They argue that loopholes in
the existing system make it too easy for individuals who should not have access to firearms, such
as those with a history of domestic violence or mental illness, to obtain them legally. The “pro-
Second Amendment” supporters, aka the Republicans argue the importance of upholding the
Second Amendment and preserving the rights of law-abiding citizens to bear arms. They argue
that criminals who are intent on committing violent acts will find ways to access firearms in spite
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of stricter legal regulations; therefore, they support addressing the issue of illegal gun access and
enforcing existing laws rather than imposing additional restrictions on legal gun ownership
(Burton et al., 2021).
Critique
Gun reform in the United States is no where near perfect. There are multiple challenges
and issues in the process which has led to many critiques to the topic. One critique is the
enforcement challenge. It can be argued that even when gun reform policies are created and
enacted, their effectiveness is limited due to challenges in enforcement. Inconsistency in
enforcement is a challenge in enforcement because different states andjurisdications may
interpret and apply laws differently which can lead to confusion for both law enforcement
agencies and gun owners. This inconsistency can lead to gaps in enforcement and undermine the
intended impact of the reforms (Jacobs & Fuhr, 2019). Another critique for gun reform in the
U.S. is the lack of consensus on the topic. The highly polarized topic has only deepened the
divide between the political ideologies. It has made it practical impossible for this topic to even
be discussed as it immediately turns away from healthy dialogue and becomes an avenue for
combat (Guo et al., 2020). The third main critique is the influence of interest groups.The
influence of interest groups, like the National Rifle Association, extends beyond just political
lobbying and campaign contributions which is what most people would expect. These groups
also shape public opinion through their extensive media campaigns and messaging efforts which
has created a polarized environment around gun policy debates. Also their financial backing of
pro-gun candidates in elections can make it challenging for lawmakers to not support gun reform
measures without fearing potential backlash in future elections (Wolton, 2019). These groups
have become too influential and have taken power away from the people.
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Personal Response
Gun legislation and reform is a difficult topic to tackle, and it is not something where
resolution will be address, created and implemented overnight; however, it is an issue that has
gone beyond the scope of normal legislation. This is something that people have taken and make
it their soap box. This is an issue that people have taken and created an idol of, so they can
benefit their personal causes and agendas. This issues is something that is difficult to approach
and resolve, but it is not because of the topic itself; it is because the people who are supposed to
be our leaders have stepped outside their biblical mandate and strayed awayed from the biblical
principles they are supposed to uphold. Two such scriptures that are related to this situation are
Philippians 2:4 and Proverbs 29:2. Philippians 2:4 states “Look not every man on his own things,
but every man also on the things of others” (King James Bible, 2022). This verse emphaizes the
need to put the welfare and interests of others at the forefront. To show true Godly love, we must
show selflessness and humility in our actions and interactions with others. This is what is
missing in the issue of gun reform. People are not looking beyond their interests and desires, and
we have become individualistic which is the opposite of our callings as Christians. Stephen
Merino calls out this hypocrisy by stating “I find it interesting the people, my fellow Chrisitans,
who call and speak life, are acting the contrary to preserving it by advocating for individualism”
(2018).
Proverbs 29:2 states "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when
the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn" (King James Bible, 2022). This verse highlights the
importance of righteousness and just leadership. It suggests that good leaders are those who are
righteous and just in their actions, and as a result, they bring joy and prosperity to the people. On
the other hand, leaders who rule with wickedness or injustice lead to the suffering and discontent
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of the people. This is the same for the people of the country and gun reform. Our leaders must
work for the betterment of the people, and the lack of action has cause suffering on both sides of
the issue, and it has created a bubbling sense of discontentment from the people as well.
There is an answer to the question: how will the “anti-gun” coalition and the “pro-Second
Amendment” supporters ever come together to make major and transformative changes in gun
policy in the United States? The answer is that it is a process of multiple steps. The first step is to
have open dialogue. There must be constructive conversations from everyone involved in the
process. People need to be able to articulate why they have their beliefs, but they also need to be
willing to listen to understand why others will a different way. The next step is find common
ground. Areas of consensus need to be found, and steps should then be taken to address their
shared goals first. They will create the avenue for consensus and collaboration in the future. The
third step is objective research and data collection and examination. We need to understand the
various policies that are possible, but we need to be aware of their potential implications
(Spieller, 2020). This is why it is important to examine how other countries have tackled the
issue of gun reform, so we can learn from their mistakes and successes. The fourth step is
compromise. Neither side is going to get exactly what they want and how they want it, and
holding out progress until you have all of your terms and conditions met is going to pigeon hold
progress and leave their country is a state and stagnation which they can no longer afford, so they
must be willing to bring in experts to help lead the conversations and work through the process.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the differences between the “anti-gun” coalition and the “pro-second
amendment” supporters has created complexities to the issues of gun reform. However, it is not
impossible to overcome these challenges, but in order to create expansive and transformative
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changes in gun policy, a intensive multi-faceted approach is required. It is possible for find
common ground, and finding common ground on areas of agreement, such as background checks
and preventing access for individuals with mental illnesses, is a positive step toward progress.
However, compromise, dialogue, and a commitment to the common good will be essential in
bridging the divide between the "anti-gun" coalition and "pro-Second Amendment" supporters
especially since areas of agreement seem few and far between. Additionally, the influence of
interest groups on policy decisions must be carefully examined to ensure that the welfare and
safety of all citizens are prioritized in gun policy reform. Ultimately, achieving transformative
change will demand a willingness to engage in open and constructive conversations while
keeping the biblical principles stewardship and welfare at the forefront.
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Bibliography
Burton, A. L., Logan, M. W., Pickett, J. T., Cullen, F. T., Jonson, C. L., & Burton Jr, V. S.
(2021). Gun owners and gun control: shared status, divergent opinions. Sociological
inquiry, 91(2), 347-366.
Guo, M., Hwa, R., Lin, Y. R., & Chung, W. T. (2020). Inflating topic relevance with ideology: A
case study of political ideology bias in social topic detection models. arXiv preprint
arXiv:2011.14293.
Jacobs, J. B., & Fuhr, Z. (2019). The Toughest Gun Control Law in the Nation. In The Toughest
Gun Control Law in the Nation. New York University Press.
King James Version Bible. (2022). King James Bible Online. Retrieved April 5, 2023 from
kingjamesbibleonline.org
Merino, S. M. (2018). God and guns: Examining religious influences on gun control attitudes in
the United States. Religions, 9(6), 189.
Spieller, L. (2020). Gun Control in America: A Global Comparison. Themis: Research
Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science, 8(1), 7.
Wolton, S. (2019). Lobbying, inside and out: How special interest groups influence
policy choices. Available at SSRN 2190685.
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