Strengthening Firearm Legislation: A Vital Step Towards Reducing Gun Violence
Gun violence is one of the more talked-about and pressing problems in the United States of America, as the country has seen some grievous incidents related to gun violence in the past few decades. The issue has many layers on both community and individual levels. Accordingly, the solutions are not straight-forward, and involve complex factors ranging from human psychology to criminal implications. While several interventions and solutions have been implemented or proposed, the constructive approach points towards strengthening firearm legislation. This essay argues that strengthening gun-laws is the most effective solution to control gun violence by outlining its factors and potential impacts as compared to alternative solutions.
One of the fundamental factors of addressing gun-violence issues is to identify the root-causes of gun-violence. Until source of the problem is not analyzed properly, state bodies can not address such social and national issue effectively. Several researchers have studied various attributes pertaining to gun violence. Researchers identify important characteristics and trends which the policymakers can use to solve social issues. For instance, research by Jehan et al. (2018) have explored the significance of firearm regulatory laws in avoiding gun-related accidents, injuries and fatalities. The authors have used a retrospective analyses of hospital admitted-patients on account of gun-violence induced trauma. The study presents important insights into the relationship between firearm legislation and public health outcomes. These published studied points towards the clear evidence of positive correlation between strengthening gun laws and reduced fatality ratios. Policymakers can use these evidence to direct their policies and structure their planning according to the scientific research.
Moreover, several studies have focused on the analysis of factors involved in the gun-violence incidents concerning children. For example, Goyal (2019) reported that the states where gun laws were more severe and tightly imposed had recorded lower incidents of gun violence involving children. Furthermore, the author reported that firearm related-mortality rates of children were also lower in these states. The authors studied the difference between firearm-related violence in states with lenient firearm laws and with strict firearm laws for five years to conclude these findings. Specifically, they reported that the laws related to making background checks a requirement were very effective in helping curb the gun-violence problem. Thus, there is much evidence that points towards the prospective ability of legislative solution to be an effective one.
One way to identify a problem is to see its results and how the problem is reflecting on society. In this context, gun violence would first be connected to the death of on duty officers. Although a lot may disagree, police officers on duty shoot more often because of the reckless use of guns by criminals. Thinking about this logically, police officers are armed vigilantes tat face different typed of criminals each day, and while they are trained to handle a variety of weapons, the people they deal with on a day-to-day basis are not. An article by (J.G,2023) Claims that in 2021, 537 deaths were directly related to law enforcement. This number tells us that 537 people could’ve been given a chance of rehabilitation to society rather than getting shot to death, and the only thing that decided their demise was the gun they got a hold of due too little to no gun legislations.
Another heart-breaking part of society that is being affected by this are the children. Many kids around the U.S. This burden is carried by all people involved in stopping the madness of gun violence and is a huge motivator on why people started to realize that gins are creating more harm than benefit. An article was published that claimed an approximate decline in pediatrics mortality rate by 21241 on the course of five years (M. K,2019). This number when thought about in the context that none of these kids have carried a gun in their life or posed any threats is really sickening. Children who are not even responsible for their selves yet are involved in vicious shootings. The article’s data clearly shows an obvious relationship between states with strict gun laws and increase of pediatric mortality (M. K,2019) . The former information goes to show the brutality of the situation and that when it comes to gun violence, morals and mercy are not considered.
If we took a more general approach and looked at the data of all parts of society together, the death rate according to (NCGVR, 2024) is 106 people that die via gunshots. A number this great emphasizes the fact that gun violence needs to be put down by strict rules and better legislations. Internalizing the fact that 40,000 people in the USA die yearly (NCGVR,2024) is impossible to any sane mind as these are numbers that we usually see in wars and not in our daily lives. The numbers presented shows us how a huge demographic of the modern society is de-sensitized to gun crimes because they are either under informed or are the criminals responsible for these killings. That is why research on this topic is necessary and a priority, and on a hopeful note, organizations like Brady United push this agenda and fights for a better tomorrow (Brady, 2017).
Apart from the critical evidence provided in the context, there are other important factors that highlights the important of strengthening the firearm legislation. For one, these laws offer a comprehensive and broadly applicable solution. By making gun-owning laws strict for all, a positive culture based on mutual respect instead of fear is promoted. In addition to that, individualistic risks involved in the firearm related incidents are very hard to predict. Therefore, making guns unnecessary for all can be the best solution. The strengthened firearm laws provide the most effective and practical approach to this idealistic solution. In other words, promoting gun-free culture and gun-safety culture can in turn promote safe environment for at-risk individuals. The same recommendations were reported in the publication of the Prevention Institute, a firearm concerning law firm, in 2022. The report claimed that “Implementing laws to govern the possession of firearms is the best way to fight and reduce the cases of gun violence.” The institute advocated for making gun ownership more scrutinized and restrictive. The recommended that only trained and specifically licensed personnel should be allowed to carry firearms. By holding the gun industry accountable and producing severe penalties for irregularities in gun-law compliances, governments can achieve safe and peaceful social environments under their governance.
However, alternative solution approaches relying completely on the security personnel carrying firearm involves several points that can turn out to be setbacks and harmful. Even though this law reduced the common-ness of owning a gun, it fails to address the root cause of the gun violence. Also, it creates a bias and an unbalanced power structure, which does not issue the problem of at-risk individuals.
In conclusion, strengthening firearm legislation represents a key solution towards addressing the pressing gun violence in the USA. By analyzing reports and data, implementing targeted interventions, and promoting a culture of responsible gun ownership, policymakers can make meaningful progress in communities and saving lives.
References:
Goyal, M. K., Patel, S. J., Fabio, A., Iqbal, S. F., Ray, K. N., & Cunningham, R. M. (2019). The Effect of State-Level Firearm Regulations on Firearm-Related Injuries in Children. Pediatrics, 144(2), e20183283. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/144/2/e20183283/38493/State-Gun-Laws-and-Pediatric-Firearm-Related?autologincheck=redirected
Jehan, F., Pandit, V., O'Keeffe, T., Azim, A., Jain, A., A Tai, S., Tang, A., Khan, M., Kulvatunyou, N., Gries, L., & Joseph, B. (2018). The burden of firearm violence in the United States: stricter laws result in safer states. Journal of injury & violence research, 10(1), 11–16. https://doi.org/10.5249/jivr.v10i1.951
Prevention Institute. (2022). Gun Violence Must Stop. Here’s What We Can Do to Prevent More Deaths. Prevention Institute. Preventioninstitute.org. https://www.preventioninstitute.org/focus-areas/preventing-violence-andreducing-injury/preventing-violence-advocacy
John Gramlich. (April 26,2023). What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S. PewResearchCenter.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/26/what-the-data-says-about-gun-deaths-in-the-u-s/
Goyal, M. K., Patel, S. J., Fabio, A., Iqbal, S. F., Ray, K. N., & Cunningham, R. M. (2019). The Effect of State-Level Firearm Regulations on Firearm-Related Injuries in Children. Pediatrics, 144(2), e20183283.
https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/144/2/e20183283/38493/State-Gun-Laws-and-Pediatric-Firearm-Related?autologincheck=redirected
Brady. (2017). Effects of Gun Violence. Retrieved from: https://www.bradyunited.org/issue/effects-of-gun-violence
NCGVR org. (2024). Why Fund Gun Violence Research. Retrieved from: https://www.ncgvr.org/why-fund-gun-violence-research.html#:~:text=Guns%20kill%20nearly%2040%2C000%20people,numbers%20of%20deaths%20and%20injuries
