Analysis of the Need for Gun Control in the United States
Over the years, a couple of issues have constantly aroused heated controversies. They have also led to the development of several arguments in society. Having considered the several options available for discussion in this study, attention would be given to the analysis of the need for gun control in the United States. The US laws allow for the right to self-defense. Therefore the citizens of the country are allowed to legally bear firearms as a mean of protecting themselves and members of the immediate environment in the instances of dangers and threats to life. Based on the validity of this provision, the United States currently has the highest number of armed citizens in the world, a situation which has led to several violent actions within its society. These acts include arm robbery, gang violence and murders. Based on the current trend of widespread gun violence in the country, this essay is therefore developed in support of the need for the creation of increased gun control legislation. Valid evidence will be created in support of its theses, and a conclusion will be drawn to sum up of the ideas of the study.
Statistics on Gun Violence in the United States
Statistics currently points out the fact that the United States records the highest incidences gun violence in the world. Accounts indicate that the country recorded a total of 464,033 gun related deaths with 1999 and 2013. An in-depth analysis of the above statistics shows that 58.2% of the above figure was death accruing due to suicides, 37.7% were based on recorded homicides in the country, and 2.2% accounts for the intentional deaths recorded within the nation during the above mentioned period. These figures are the highest compared to details available in other advanced nations of the world. The broad access to firearms and guns in the country is a leading factor responsible for the rising case of homicides, armed robbery, and death in the nation. Records also indicate the emergency room within the country records about 200 daily admissions of patients due to gunshot wounds. Americans under the ages of fifteen are nine times more likely to be killed by gun violence compared to their counterparts in other nations of the world. Therefore the adoption of increased legislation on the gun control will put laws in place to limit individual’s access to guns in the society thereby also reducing the cases of recorded gun violence in the county ("Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted").
Background Checks and Gun Control
The need for the enactment of more stringent gun controls laws is based on the fact the country currently have limited control for the nature of people who have access to the purchase and possession of firearms. Records also indicate that the legal sale of the gun within the nation is also a leading cause of gun violence in the nation. (Hemenway, David, Deborah Azrael, and Matthew Miller 217) Hence the need for the enactment of laws to for effective background checks before the sales of the guns to residents of the nation. The adoption of background checks will ensure that gang members and other sociopath have limited access to firearms thereby reducing the cases of gun-related deaths in the country. The above notion is also based on the fact that studies have noted that the adoption of background checks before the sale of firearms has the potential of reducing gun-related death in the United States by 56.9%, ("Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted").
Protection of Women from Domestic Violence
The enactment of increased legislation on gun control is also required as a means of protecting women from all forms of domestic abusers and stalkers. Records currently indicate at least five women are murdered daily with guns in the United States. Record also indicates the presence of firearms at home increases the chance of the murder of women during domestic deputed by 500%. Records note the more women end up dead due gun violence in the country than the soldier who dies in action within the same period. The United States currently has a highest number of women who dying yearly as a result of gun violence compared to other advanced nations of the world. Specifically, records indicate that American women are 11.8 times more likely be to killed by gun violence compared to their counters in other parts of the world. The above statistical records are adverse. They have been spurred by the excessive circulation of guns within the country ("Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted"). Hence the adoption of increased law limiting the passion of firearms in the country will, in turn, translate a reduction in the number of women murdered due to gun-related violence in the country.
Societal Costs of Gun Violence
The adoption of gun control will also lead the reduction of the societal cost associated with the recorded cases of gun violence in the country. According to the world health organization, the cost of gun violence is massive, and it puts a strain on the economy of a nation. These costs include foster care, medical costs, perpetrator control, lost earnings and time, life insurance, incarceration and legal service (Kleck 153). The cost associated with the gun violence in the United States in a very high hence it serves a massive strain on the finances of the nation. The Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation records that the cost of managing the cases of gun violence in the country cost each citizen the sum of $564. These incidences result in the loss of about $5.5 billion by the government in terms of tax revenue. The government also loses $4.7 billion in the form of the cost associated with legal cases and $1.4 billion is also lost to medical expenses. The government also loses about $180, $224, and $133 on mental healthcare, insurance claim, and law enforcement expense ("Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted"). Therefore the adoption of a well-coordinated effort to ensure the enactment of increased gun control laws within the country will lead to the reduction of the financial loss incurred by the government.
Conclusion
The increased rate of injuries and deaths as results of gun-related violence in the United States is currently at an all-time high. The existence of this issue has led to a massive source of concern for the government of the country and other international human right advocating agencies across the globe. The issue has not only led to the generation of a bad reputation of the nation, but has also led to the loss of many promising members of the society. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that more gun control laws are put in place as a mean of eradication gun violence from the United States.
Works Cited
Hemenway, David, Deborah Azrael, and Matthew Miller. "Selling a gun to a stranger without a
background check: acceptable behaviour?." Injury prevention 24.3 (2018): 213-217.
Kleck, Gary. "Gun Control." The Handbook of Social Control(2018): 153.
Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted". Gun-Control.Procon.Org, 2018, https://gun-
control.procon.org/. Accessed 19 Nov 2018.
