Stricter Gun Control Laws Enforcement

The topic of gun control is a controversial issue which has been a topic of conversation since the amendment was implemented? In the wake of many mass shootings, an increase of suicides, and an increased rating of gun violence in America, the issue has captivated people with debate? On one side of the discussion, there are people who argue that the gun control laws need to gain more restrictions and limitations? Then again, there are people who believe that the laws that are put in place are efficient already and that adding on to the laws would violate the second amendment. Right now in America the laws put in place against getting a gun are too unrestricted and allowing guns to get into the hands of the wrong people. By implementing stricter gun laws in America it will reduce crime ratings and mass shooting nationwide. Gun control laws have changed over the years since the second amendment was ratified. The second amendment states. Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes such as self-defense within the home. Research has shown that in 2019 about 37,1% percent of American households have at least one firearm in possession. The rating of 2 Americans that own guns in America has kept around the same percentage since 1972 to 2019. Gun violence has become one of the biggest issues in America, and the laws implemented right now allow civilians to get guns way to easy. This allows guns to get into the hands of the wrong people.

The Gun Control Act of 1968 regulated some new laws of who can and can not buy a gun but none of them stop those who a mentally ill from purchasing a gun.This requires that anyone who wants to buy a gun be over the age 18 and you can not have prior felonies. In 1994, the Brady Law was implemented along with a 10 year ban on assault weapons. The Brady Law was 3 created for background checks to be done before gun purchases were made. In 2004, the ban on assault weapons expired because congress did not have enough votes to extend it. One weapon that was banned that is well known today was an Ar-15. When guns get into the hands of the wrong people who don’t have the right intentions?, tragedies occur. People with mental illnesses are gaining possession of guns, and using them to harm themselves and other people. Mass shootings have been a huge issue in America, causing debates that these guns are getting into the hands of the mentally ill. December of 2012, a man named Adam Lanza walked into. Sandy Hook Elementary School when he opened fire on the students and teachers in the building. Lanza killed his mother at their home before he drove down to the school where he killed 20 children and 6 teachers.

The weapon that Lanza used was 3 Smith, Patricia, and Brooke Ross. 'The gun debate: a school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, is prompting a new look at the nation's gun laws. Doctors and therapists of Lanza have stated that he had many undiagnosed disorders that could be a cause of his bad mental state. One report states that Lanza was ?“completely untreated in the years before the shooting” The report also states that he has prior medical and school issues that were left unnoticed. With years passing mass shootings have been a huge leading cause of death tragedies in America Mass shootings are when four or more people are being killed in the same event. In 2019 alone, there were 417 mass shootings?. February 14, 2018, Nikolas Cruz walked into 4 Stoneman Douglas Highschool in Parkland, Florida where he opened fire killing 17 people. Cruz was allegedly recommended for a mental health check by two counselors and a resource officer. Reports state that Cruz has been “in and out of mental-health treatment” and was recommended for additional help after the word “kill” was reported written in his notebook. During Cruz’s interrogation after the shooting he is reported saying that he heard voices in his head telling him to “burn, kill and destroy.” After more hours of interrogation occured that also found that Cruz had thoughts of commiting other acts of violence involving guns weeks prior. 5 Guns are not only being used in the killings of others by one but they are being used in suicides across America. In February of 2014 , a man walked into an indoor shooting range where he rented out a gun to use. After a few minutes of being there, the man then turned the gun on himself. This act of suicide made the owners of the gun range want to spread awareness and hopes of prevention of gun violence. The owners took this act of violence and are now trying to help stop this from occurring again.

In America, accidental gun death ratings are increasing. If homeowners have a gun in their household and they are not properly secured children and other people who do not know the proper handling of guns may get ahold of it. In New Jersey accidental gun deaths are occurring at a growing rat Recently a group of boys, from Jersey City, NJ, we’re hanging out in a parking lot with guns when one gun was accidentally fired killing Anthony Rios. Evidence shows that the boys were drinking and under the influence or marijuana at the time of the shooting. In another shooting, in Elizabeth, NJ, Jose Oliver was shot accidentally by his friend. 7 The two were in his friends basement when they were seen holding and posing with the gun for a video when the gun went off and killed Oliver. At the time of the event, Oliver’s friend was a minor and his name was not released. If America had stricter gun laws and safety protocols these events would have been prevented. Studies have shown the amount of unintentional shootings and the death tolls that have been created by them.In between the years of 2006 to 2016 almost 6,885 people in the United States have died from these accidental shootings. In 2014, 2,549 American people between the ages of 0-19 died of gunshot wounds. Some Americans argue that they own a gun for their own safety and plan to use that gun for self defense purposes. Many Americans are not trained how to properly use and handle a gun.

By civilians stepping into the situation trying to detain the situation may make the situation worse. Studies that were done at Harvard show that the risks? ?of owning a gun outway the positives.The researchers also stated that 'The average person. has basically no chance in their lifetime ever to use a gun in self-defense, he tells Here & Now s Robin Young. But  every day, they have a chance to use the gun inappropriately.” Not all Americans are trained in the ways that police officers are to control a situation safely while a gun is involved. With untrained people using guns, more accidental gun deaths will occur. Gun control regulations in America compared to laws on guns globally are different in many ways than one. In other countries, they are implementing stricter gun laws in hopes of reducing gun violence. These countries are making efforts so that any potential gun buyer has to go through universal background checks. In Germany, they are making any gun buyer over the age of 25 and must pass a psychiatric evaluatio.  Research says that Dylann Roof, an American who committed a mass shooting at a church killing 9 people, would have failed this evaluation when buying a gun. In Italy, applicants for a gun permit must submit a reasoning for the purchase for the weapon as well as mental and criminal background checks. In 1996, Australia had a mass shooting where 35 people were kille.

Since that day Australia has only had 13 mass shootings in that 18 year time span. Australia took actions after that shooting adopting new gun control laws and banning other weapons. One of the weapons that was banned was the Glock Semi-Automatic handgun, the gun that was used by Dylan Roof to commit his mass shooting. 10 Those for the second amendment believe that more regulation is not needed.  It has been said by many that guns don't kill people, people kill people. People who practice their right for the second amendment argue that people are killed in many ways other than just gun. With the nonsensical claims of “guns don't kill people, people kill people” proves that those for the laws implemented right now dont know the dangers of the wrong people getting their hands on these guns. When those of the mentally ill and uneducated about guns get their hands on a gun their actions and intentions are unknown. A gun is the weapon that is being used in the action of killing by these people.

Americans who do not want stricter gun laws also claim that implementing background checks on future and present gun owners is an invasion of their privacy. The people worried that the government would have access to private records and information. Senators like Ted Cruz, vowed that he and other senators would oppose any legislation that would harm the. American people’s right to bear arms without the over watch of the government on them. With few people who oppose the idea of adding a stricter set of rules to the adjust of gun laws put it place, many other gun owners stand behind the idea of background checks and bans on certain kinds of weapons. A poll done back in February of 2018 shows that 97 percent of the American people who own guns support the ideas of universal background checks. During the same poll 89 11 percent of gun owners supported the idea of laws that would prevent the mentally ill from being able to purchase a gu.

Gun control is a highly controversial topic of our time. American citizens should be aware of the dangers that guns bring to society.  By leaving the second amendment as it is and not regulating stricter laws it can hold a negative impact on American lives in the future. With implementing stricter gun laws in America, guns can be kept out of hands of those who should not have possession of them. America would be protecting their people and from innocent lives being taken during mass shootings, keeping guns out of the hands of the mentally ill and last making sure that accidental gun deaths decrease.

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