Understanding the Issue
The issue of gun control in the U.S. remains a long-standing problem that has sparked countless controversies. Legally, federal statutes control citizens’ access to guns, which limits the opportunities for purchasing and carrying them in some cases (Siegel et al., 2020). However, gun violence is exceedingly prominent in the U.S., with firearms having become one of the most common assault tools (Siegel et al., 2020). By introducing more rigid regulations nationwide, the American government will be able to resolve the specified concern.
Governmental Tensions: Who’s in Conflict?
Historically, firearms ownership is protected by the American Constitution in the U.S., though each state has introduced a specific set of requirements regarding gun possession (Siegel et al., 2020). Namely, according to the Second Amendment, “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” (“Second Amendment,” n.d.). However, a substantial number of state representatives have been raising reasonable concerns regarding the adverse outcomes of the opportunity to carry guns openly for citizens (Siegel et al., 2020). With a rise in the number of shooting incidents, especially school shootings, the need to introduce regulations that would allow controlling firearm usage more rigidly has become obvious.
Specifically, a closer look at the current situation regarding gun possession and the opportunity to carry guns openly, as well as in a concealed manner, proves that the situation needs to be remedied. For instance, statistical data indicates that there has been a spike in mass shootings in the U.S. since 2002 (“Number of mass shootings in the United States between 1982 and February 2023.” 2023). While the observed trend can also be interpreted as a likely sociocultural and sociopolitical issue, with the levels of political and cultural tensions having risen significantly in the past decade globally, the problem of mass shootings should also be linked to the opportunity to carry a firearm (Reeping et al., 2022). Nonetheless, disputes have occurred since the right to possess firearms has been enshrined in U.S. law.
Final Authority: Who Should Be in Control and Why?
Though the issue might initially seem simple, a closer scrutiny of the core concerns will reveal additional complications. Preferably, the problem of gun control should be resolved by banning guns for citizens on a statewide level, which is expected to minimize the risks of mass shootings due to significantly restricted access to guns. However, the specified approach to managing the issue conflicts with the principles set in the U.S. Constitution, so further discussion is required. Therefore, the government will have to take a firm stance on the subject matter, ensuring that local regulations do not make access to gun ownership and usage easier.
The specified proposition is justified by the evident problem with controlling gun violence and the extent to which guns are used to perpetrate crimes against civilians. The current situation can be amended with a focus on responsibility and more rigid regulations regarding the adverse consequences of misusing guns. Once the suggested changes are incorporated into the legal framework of the U.S., a drop in the number of violent crimes committed with the help of guns is expected to drop substantially. Therefore, the offered solution is justified by the opportunity to save lives and increase security on the national level.
References
Number of mass shootings in the United States between 1982 and February 2023. (2023). Statista. Web.
Reeping, P. M., Klarevas, L., Rajan, S., Rowhani-Rahbar, A., Heinze, J., Zeoli, A. M., Goyal, M. K., Zimmerman, M., & Branas, C. C. (2022). State firearm laws, gun ownership, and K-12 school shootings: Implications for school safety. Journal of school violence, 21(2), 132-146. Web.
Second Amendment. (n.d.). Cornell Law School. Web.
Siegel, M., Goder-Reiser, M., Duwe, G., Rocque, M., Fox, J. A., & Fridel, E. E. (2020). The relation between state gun laws and the incidence and severity of mass public shootings in the United States, 1976–2018. Law and human behavior, 44(5), 347-360. Web.