The issue of gun control has remained one of the most controversial subjects in the United States today. Gun violence continues to claim the lives of over 40,000 American citizens annually (Everytown Research & Policy, 2022). This malpractice injures over 80,000 people while compelling the country to incur costs of over 557 billion US dollars (Everytown Research & Policy, 2022). These expenses compel federal and state governments to channel funds that could have been used to improve other sectors of the economy, such as education, social protection, welfare, and infrastructure.
Recorded injuries compel hospitals to provide emergency care to more victims. Disrupted learning processes, institutions, and families affect the country’s everyday economy negatively. Specifically, productive citizens are wiped from the economy, schools incur additional counseling expenses, and security forces have to abandon their normal duties (Brodeur & Yousaf, 2019). The economic implications of these mass shootings explain why sustainable policies are recommendable.
While state governments have devised evidence-based approaches to deal with this challenge, shootings continue to be reported in different schools, urban areas, and regions across the country. Several directions have emerged as more professionals focus on evidence-based solutions to gun control questions. Key ones include the provision of additional security personnel, prolonged working hours for police officers, new laws, and recruitig more hospital workers. Booty et al. (2019) believe that a multifaceted approach combining these suggestions can deliver recognizable results in dealing with mass shootings. Increased security officers working for longer hours can help reduce the number of people engaging in criminal activities (Tuhus-Dubrow, 2022). Renewed policies and additional hospital staff can support the measures implemented to mitigate such offenses while ensuring that more victims access timely medical services.
New laws on gun control have the potential to affect the industry in various ways. First, the initiative will increase the current level of policy initiatives intended to prohibit the manufacturing and illegal selling of firearms. Second, manufacturers will have to adhere to additional regulations. Three, the profitability of the market might decline, thereby making it less lucrative. Fourth, the efforts could make it more practical and ethical in nature (Brodeur & Yousaf, 2019). Leading firearm manufactures and suppliers in the country, such as Ruger, Remington, and Sturm, should be involved as primary stakeholders in the fight against mass shootings in the country.
References
Brodeur, A., & Yousaf, H. (2019). The economics of mass shootings. IZA Institute of Labor Economics.
Booty, M., O’Dwyer, J., Webster, D., McCourt, A., & Crifasi, C. (2019). Describing a “mass shooting”: The role of databases in understanding burden. Injury Epidemiology, 6(1), 47-54. Web.
Everytown Research & Policy. (2022). The economic cost of gun violence. Web.
Tuhus-Dubrow, R. (2022). Will gun owners fight for stronger gun laws? The Washington Post. Web.