Introduction
Gun control is a vital present-day intervention that will provide a safe and peaceful environment for the population. At present, gun possession has become a real issue for much of the world’s population and, as such, gun control demands careful consideration. The solution to gun control problems in the United States has more significance than in other countries as there are more victims of handguns in the United States than anywhere else in the world.
American laws are quite liberal about possessing arms and the consequences of this freedom are frightening. Mass shootings, suicides, and murders have become common news topics. Citizens cannot feel safe as long as nearly every person can obtain a gun and recent events speak loudly in favor of providing stricter gun control laws. The mass shooting in Las Vegas resulted in more than 500 victims, 59 of whom died.
Despite this, there still seems to be no answer as to how many deaths are needed before people realize the necessity of introducing legal actions aimed at gun control. However, it is essential to introduce efficient legislation concerning gun control because it will reduce the number of crimes involving guns.
Guns Control for a Safe and Peaceful Community
Restrictions for possessing and carrying weapons are vital for the United States. It is prompted by the safety concerns raised by the majority of citizens who do not possess any weapons. People believe they have the right to live in a safe and peaceful society. The fact that almost anyone can obtain such weapons is frustrating. People have been using diverse weapons for centuries, and for a long time, there was a debate regarding the problem of allowing or not allowing gun possession by the mass public.
On the one hand, weapons were in practical demand. There existed a need to hunt to survive or protect one’s property, or life, in the absence of law enforcement services. However, times have changed. Modern weapons have far greater destructive power than those of centuries ago and, as a result, are far more dangerous. Moreover, people frequently do not see the thin line between self-defense and destruction, often due to the lack of appropriate education concerning the safety of using a gun and cautionary measures. Thus, restrictions concerning weapon possession can become a solution to reduce violence in society and make it more safe and peaceful. These should include not only laws but also mass-media propaganda of gun control and the reduction of violence portrayed in programs and movies.
Another reason to initiate more proactive and overt monitoring of citizens in possession of guns is the possibility of their misuse. Primary historical reasons for a person to possess a weapon include protection of personal and material safety or survival activities, such as hunting. However, nowadays not many people hunt to live. Despite the existence of some legal regulations, guns still often fall into the hands of criminals or mentally ill people.
In these cases, weapons can be used for offenses against the law, and many people are put in danger. The availability of guns, and the lack of control, can also tempt individuals with criminal inclinations. As for the mentally ill, their easy access to weapons can result in suicide or homicide. Consequently, the issue of monitoring both the weapon and the owner is an urgent problem that needs a solution. The situation can be improved by the development of interventions aimed at the detection of any past criminal activity by those wishing to purchase a gun. Also, people buying guns should have their mental health assessed as routine. In cases where their history includes criminal incidents or records of inadequate behavior, people should not be allowed to carry or use guns.
Finally, weapons are not only a threat to the health and safety of individual citizens. Gun crime statistics provide information showing lack of gun ownership control is likely to cause an increase in the number of weapons, resulting in more gun crime and, ultimately, lead to anarchy which is not acceptable for contemporary society. Thus, the major goal of the introduction of gun control is not the absolute restriction of gun ownership, but the prevention of anarchy, and its consequences.
Also, child safety should be a primary concern. Guns are frequently not stored appropriately. Such negligence from parents or other gun owners has led to shootings in schools or other accidents involving guns after children have accessed them. Consequently, attention should be paid, not only to the procedure of gun licensing or purchase but also to the storage conditions after purchase. Thus, there should be a reliable lockbox to store weapons and children should not have access to it.
For Safety or Against the Constitution?
Despite these strong arguments, there is another point of view. It is often argued that the idea of gun control contradicts one of the major principles of democracy which guarantees the right of people to protect their own lives. As a result, citizens state they need guns for defense of themselves and their property in case they are attacked. Also, the Second Amendment to the Constitution is often treated as sanctioning gun ownership, and thus being a granted right.
However, it should be noted that the Second Amendment does not directly state the necessity of the right to a gun for everyone. Moreover, at the time when the Constitution and the amendments were created the situation in the country was very different. The possession of guns could be justified by the necessity of self-defense at that time. Since the situation has changed, the law should reflect this and be altered to make it more suitable for the contemporary context.
Another reason for people to oppose gun control is the lack of trust in the state authorities and their ability to protect all citizens. Thus, people consider it their private concern and treat weapon possession as a necessity. Indeed, many cannot accept gun control because many of them own their weapons illegally. It does not mean that all those people are intent on committing further criminal acts using these guns. However, their living conditions have influenced their decisions on weapon possession. This issue can be resolved through the introduction of efficient mechanisms of weapon legalization.
One more problem raised by those opposed to gun control is the injustice of such an intervention. Gun owners state that there are many other dangerous objects and activities which can also be banned. For example, fast food or sugar-sweetened beverages often cause more harm than weapons because their influence is not so evident and is often not announced. Thus, if the government wants to contribute to the protection of the population, it should provide more wide-ranging, complex safety interventions and not be concentrated solely on the issue of gun control.
Conclusions
The issue of gun control is, probably, among the most divisive in modern-day America. There are large groups of supporters and opponents, both with strong arguments for or against gun control. However, it seems clear that gun control is a necessary intervention. It is aimed at providing safety to citizens and peace in society. Weapon ownership, without proper control, is a source of constant danger.
It increases the chances of accidental or intentional shootings, influences the growth of suicide rates, and, finally, can lead to anarchy. Gun control does not mean the prohibition of all weapons. It would just restrict gun purchases and provide a stricter control over weapon storage. The opponents of gun control often claim that these are the people who do the shooting and kill others, not the weapon. However, gun control would introduce regulations for both weapons and their owners.
The acceptance of gun control is likely to reduce the number of accidents involving weapons that usually result in many victims. It should be kept in mind that violence brings violence. Thus, too much freedom for gun owners could stimulate further aggression which can be prevented with stricter regulations.
On the whole, it should be kept in mind that prevention is the best intervention in cases involving possible victims. The more preferable strategy is always to prevent crime and avoid victims rather than having to locate a criminal and provide a punishment after the event. Thus, the introduction of gun control is a necessity for society in general, and the United States in particular. Timely prevention is likely to save not only lives but also costs and efforts that are usually wasted on managing the consequences of big accidents involving guns. Society is expected to support this initiative because it is a guarantee of their future security and a peaceful life.