Introduction
To address gun crime problems, there is a need to properly assess community needs as well as past and existing laws, provisions, and legislation that address gun crime problems.
This paper, after a thorough investigation of one gun-related case such as that of Sandy Abrams, a leading supplier of crime guns in America have law enforcement trace 483 crime guns to Abrams’ shop, Valley Gun, from 1996 to 2000 alone, ranking it 37 out of nearly 80,000 gun dealers nationwide in total crime guns traced to their stores.
This only shows that there are ineffective laws or legislations that have allowed such as that of Abrams’ cases to happen, not just once but in multiplied violations.
If this is any indication, there seem to be a lot of laws with regards to gun use, ownership, and firearm-related legislation which are implemented but easily dodged. This paper shall try to establish specific legislation, policies, or ordinances that could assist with addressing the gun crime problem.
Discussion
Worrall (2006) pointed out several problems that need to be considered in this instance:
- Displacement of crime, where crime prevented in one place either move to another or continue operations elsewhere without really stamping out the problem
- Only short-term impacts as programs seem to be active and effective only at a given period or campaign and die out a little later
- Costly and ineffective when tied up with overtime and grants so that there is a need to address a continuous budget all throughout.
Worrall (2006) suggested that there is a need to improve law-enforcement community relations with proactive policing techniques. Following are some key legislation or bills that address gun crime problems starting at where the young ones are.
The School Safety Legislation
The following bills are under the School Safety Legislation.
Bullying and Gang Prevention for School Safety and Crime Reduction Act of 2005 Pending-H.R. Bill 283
This Act extends the existing legislation which is the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act and will cover bullying, gang, drug, and violence prevention. Likewise, this amendment would permit the use of grant funding for gang and bullying prevention programs that will divert aggression and negative activities towards community building (NCJRS, 2007). This provision will control criminals-in-the-making who will undoubtedly turn to guns as they age and mature.
The Children’s Gun Violence Prevention Act of 1999 Pending-H.R. Bill 4073
The Children’s Gun Violence Prevention Act, sponsored by Representatives Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Marge Roukema (NJ-05), and John Porter (IL-10), and Senator Edward Kennedy (MA), addresses the problem of children’s access to firearms. Provisions include a requirement for child-resistant locks on handguns and imposing fines of up to $10,000 on a gun owner if a child gains access to a loaded firearm. This measure is important as there has been a noted rise in access to firearms by children. An estimated 1,500 cases for ages 14 and under are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year for unintentional gun injuries alone (NCJRS, 2007). Children are doubly protected and prevented from having access to guns as well as being injured with guns as licensed owners shall now take responsibility more than ever as the high cost of cine will deter owners from being careless with their firearms.
Missouri Safety Act
This act specifically prohibits students of possession of weapons under Section 160.261, RSMo that requires a 1-year suspension, possession of weapons or controlled substances under Section 167.117, RSMo that requires reporting to law enforcement, and the prohibition on student possession of controlled substances shall apply to the school playground or parking lot, school bus, or school activity whether on or off the school property (NCJRS, 2007). This will help control and widen disciplinary action not only within school premises but towards the home and community as bigger and more severe disciplinary actions are meted on violators.
Right to a Safe School for Higher Education
This act, taken after the right to safe schools act for elementary and secondary education, provides institutions of higher learning with the right to safe schools and the penalty for violation of that right. Students of all levels must be protected and equally provided with a safe environment.
Student and Teacher Safety Act of 2006 Pending-H.R. Bill 5295
This Act is designed to ensure that schools remain free of weapons, dangerous materials, and drugs and indicates that a search of a minor student by a school official, on public school grounds, be deemed permissible by state and school district, if there is reasonable suspicion, based on professional experience and judgment (NCJRS, 2007). Although this may be argued upon as going beyond the necessary, the old adage that prevention is better than cure must be the order of the day so that school grounds and students remain safe as well as strengthen gun control ownership and use.
Conclusion
Violence, specifically fatal ones, has always been related to the use of guns, licensed or not. What could be the more alarming part is the use of licensed firearms in violence against individuals or group lives. The above-mentioned enactments or bills are a step towards the control and minimizing of gun-related crimes. Educating responsible gun ownership or use should start among the children and these are relevant in that matter as what children learn early will guide them through their mature and later stages of life.
Reference
Brady Center. (2007) “Gun Lobbyist and Gun Dealer Sandy Abrams Heads To Trial For Illegal Assault Weapon Sales, Cited For 900 Federal Gun Law Violations Over Nearly A Decade.” Web.
National Criminal Justice Reference Service. (2007). “School Safety – Legislation.” US Department of Justice. Web.
Worrall, J.L. (2006). Crime Control in America: An Assessment of the Evidence. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.