Gun Control Debate: 2nd Amendment Interpretation Impacts Lives - Essay Sample

Introduction

Gun control debate has been controversial for an extended period because it relies on how we interpret the second amendment. On the one hand, opponents of gun control argue that the second amendment gives people the right to bear and carry firearms while proponents emphasize that the second amendment's first sentence insists on well-regulated mechanisms. Therefore, both proponents and opponents of this issue have their way of arguing their points, but what cannot be argued is the impact guns have had and continue having on society. Gun violence is one of the top causes of death in America today. Gun violence is placed on the same index as drugs and diseases. As the opponents and proponents of this debate continue arguing who is right and who is wrong, we should focus on the real issue at hand. Allowing people, especially those without training to bear arms, puts others at risk, and it results in injuries, incidents, and accidents, both intentional and unintentional.

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Ownership of firearms and many other proposals on how to control them is one of the most controversial issues that has existed in all American governance systems. Of more concern is the impact these firearms bear on society. The gun control act of1968 has seen very minimal legislative amendments due to the contention and the politics that surround it. In the united states alone, more than 32 people die, and 140 others are treated of gunshots every day, in seven weeks the number of people who die of gun violence is higher than all the people who died in the Iraq war (WISQARS ). It is essential to look at gun violence as a pandemic, which is taking many lives and yet allowed to live amongst us. Annan, the former united nations secretary-general, once said that small arms death toll is far much more than that of all other weapons systems, the death tolls every year exceeds by far that of Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs, he described small arms as weapons of mass destruction (52).

Gun violence will continue to be a political issue, especially for politicians, but to society, it is a mass killer. Many people have committed suicide due to the availability and easy access to firearms. In the united states, more than 20, 175 committed suicide using guns in 2013 (Xu). Suicide is associated with underlying issues like mental disorders, social instability, drugs, among others. Swanson states that mental illnesses contribute very little to the risk of interpersonal violence, but it is a strong factor in suicide, which accounts for most firearm fatalities (2). Due to availability and easy access to firearms, the suicide death toll is far more than the predictable rates. Firearms provide easy methods of committing suicide. Therefore, the availability of guns increases the mortality rate of people, and it is becoming a burden far worse than diseases such as mental illnesses. Suicide is one of the examples of incidents and accidents caused by guns voluntarily. In many cases, many people will not pay attention to them because it has not affected them directly. When an individual commits suicide, people who are not related to them may be quick to judge or say he/she got wanted that.

Gun violence in the recent past has hit the headline for the worst possible reasons. Mass shootings in schools, malls, and even by the roadside have been the order of the day. All these are facts to prove that guns in the wrong hands can cause havoc. Many parents are afraid of taking their children to school fearful of when the next incident might happen. Terrorists have found a new way to cause mass panic and inflict pain on a large scale. In December of 2012, a 20-year-old gained access to Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut and shot dead 26 people. They included children between six and seven years. Leaders and politicians were quick to interject and associate the incident with a disorder called Schizophrenia. The real truth of the matter was whether sick or not; the shooter should not have been able to get his hands on a gun if our gun control measures were better than they are right now. The parents who buried their children after that incident will never understand the issue about the disease; all they know is a gunman took away their child. Gun control issue might be used to gain political mileage, but More strict measures need to be implemented to ensure fewer deaths as a result of firearms. Guns do not kill people, but people kill people.

There are many profiles that experts analyze as antecedents to gun violence; they may include social factors such as aggression and economic hardships. But no pattern can be used to reliably predict who will use a gun to harm himself or others. It is fair to say gun violence is a result of merging either individual, community, school, peer, and sociocultural risk factors that are brought together over time during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Therefore, training on the use, safety, and impact of firearms is a vital issue when it comes to reducing gun violence. All these factors that result in gun violence are shared within an individual's lifetime, and combined with easy access to guns results in the kind of gun-related violence we witness today. Hargarten describes gun violence as a biopsychosocial disease that has become a pervasive public health burden today (1024). For example, a young African American is at risk of gun-related homicide while older adults are at risk of gun-related suicide. It requires a multidisciplinary approach in tacking because it is affecting everyone in the society. As it is now, the whole issue has been left to politicians and organizations that highly benefit from the debate and trade of guns. After the Sandy Hook Elementary murders, the government of the time tried to offer some legislative changes on gun control, but it was met with extensive criticism even after the damage that was seen in the school. Guns sales during this period skyrocketed to the extent of guns stock out. The number of guns in the hands of regular untrained people went up by 60% in the first six months of 2013 due to the expected legislation changes (jones,167). These figures show that the number of guns out in the communities that can be easily accessed by those people with the risk factors that act as antecedents to gun violence.

On a political view, the two main parties of America have been against each other for decades when it comes to gun control issues. The democrats have always wanted to put more measures to controls the possession of guns. The republicans are known as opponents of gun control measures. Other organizations such as the national riffles association have also been strong supporters of Americans owning guns. All this back and forth between politicians and organizations has been a show of who is mightier than the other. Organizations such as the national riffles association benefit the most from gun sales. Therefore, they are not necessarily supporting the cause for ethical reasons but just greed. Politicians benefit by using the debate to gain the sympathy of the voters and get elected or re-elected. All this happens while people are dying daily due to gun violence and many more nursing injuries. Time has come when people have gotten fed up with the back and forth between politicians and organizations while they suffer. People have started seeing reality as far as gun violence is concerned. The last survey done by Gallup in 2019 shows that up to 64% of Americans prefer the most strict gun control measures (Gallup). It shows the extent of damage firearms have caused the citizens until they are willing to give up some of the rights in the second amendment. To stop gun violence, some of the recommendations include sensible laws that ensure that guns do not get into the wrong hands. Establishing a culture of gun safety whereby unqualified and underage people can not get their hands on a weapon. For example, young people, mentally sick people, and any other individual who is at risk of harming themselves and others. Holding gun sellers and the whole industry to account for the gun violence experienced all over society. All gun owners to be licensed and trained.

Conclusion

In conclusion, gun violence is not a debate that will end any time soon; this means before then, there might be continued gun violence. Since the issue will require legislative intervention and on a very high level, there is a need to have an open debate on the havoc guns continue to create in the society today. Without a bipartisan approach to the issue, there might be no solution any time soon. Guns do not kill people, but people do, and this is the reason why people should be restricted when it comes to accessibility, usage, and ownership of guns. More strict measures should be put in place to ensure that everyone willing to own a gun knows the risks involved. The training should also cover the use, storage, and disposal of guns. Many of the injuries and deaths are unintentional since people who own guns do not put necessary measures to ensure safety. For example, it is very common to hear on the news that a child took his father's gun and shot himself while playing with it. Other incidents are intentional but without the knowledge of the gun owner, For example, a teenager taking his father's gun and using it to shoot others in the school. Many others are mentally sick and depressed, and within their disturbed state, handling a gun may cause injuries to the or other near them. Such risk factors as mental health also arise when suicide is associated with firearms. People with suicidal thoughts find firearms and easy way of committing suicide since there is less struggle. Therefore, it is evident that allowing people, especially those without training to bear arms puts others at risk, and it results in injuries, incidents, and accidents, both intentional and unintentional.

Works Cited

Annan, K. 'Freedom from Fear: Small Arms.' Report of the Secretary-General to the Millenium Assembly of the United Nations; (2000), p. 52. New York, NY: United Nations General Assembly

Hargarten, S W et al. "Gun Violence: A Biopsychosocial Disease." The western journal of emergency medicine vol. 19,6 (2018): 1024-1027. doi:10.5811/westjem.2018.7.38021

Gallup "guns" accessed from https://news.gallup.com/poll/1645/Guns.aspx?g_source=link_newsv9&g_campaign=item_262724&g_medium=copy

Swanson, J W et al. "Gun Violence, Mental Illness, And Laws That Prohibit Gun Possession: Evidence From Two Florida Counties." Health affairs (Project Hope) vol. 35,6 (2016): 1067-75. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0017

WISQARS (Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System) "Injury Center|CDC" (2014). Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars

Xu, J; Murphy, s. L.; Kochanek, K. D.; Bastian, B. A. "National Vital Statistics Reports" (2016)

Jones, M & Stone, G "The U.S. Gun-Control Paradox: Gun Buyer Response To Congressional Gun-Control Initiatives". Journal of Business & Economics Research (JBER). . (2015). 167 13. 167. 10.19030/jber.v13i4.9449.