Paper Example on Mass Shootings: US Witnesses Mounting Loss of Lives

Introduction

In the last few years, the United States has witnessed a lot of high profile mass shootings within her borders. This includes the school shooting, which occurred in 2018 in Santa Fe, where a total number of ten people were left dead (Frassetto & Mark 35). Also, in 2017, near San Antonio, twenty-six people were killed as a result of the mass shooting in a church, half of who were stated to be children (Frassetto & Mark 48). Notably, in the recent shooting, a white man killed a total of twenty-two people with a type of AR-style weapon in Texas (El Pasco) barely after posting in his social media a racist statement which was anti-immigrant manifesto protagonizing against "Hispanic Invasion" of the State (Frassetto & Mark 55). However, later over the Labor Day weekend, a suspected criminal (white male) killed a total of seven people in a mass shooting with an AR-style type of weapon in Odessa (Texas). As a result of these mass shootings, the Texas governor, Greg Abbott issued a total of eight executive orders aimed at achieving a number of objectives in order to protect the Texans communities as well as the residents from shootings as it was witnessed in Odessa and El Pasco (Spitzer & Robert 55). These executive orders are aiming at keeping guns barely out of the hands of the "dangerous criminal" while putting in to practice the 2nd Amendment Rights of Law-abiding Texans.

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These executive orders mainly focus on strengthening the Texan law enforcement ability in order to critically responds as well as prevent future mass shootings within the State. The orders also aimed at improving the reporting channels as well as closing the information gaps within the State more so when the Texans or the law enforcement agencies are concerned that an individual might be a threat to mass shootings/violence (Frassetto & Mark 64). Moreover, a number of these executive orders by Governor Greg Abbott have been put into practice within the State. For instance, the Department of Public Safety has developed proper guidance, which is typically based on a clear standard on how the Texas law enforcement agencies are required to submit the Suspicious Activity Reports (Spitzer & Robert 55). Also, as at now, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement has made training available, which is aimed at educating and empowering the law enforcement officers in relation to the standards developed in regards to Order No. 1 and Order No.2.

As a result of the executive orders by Governor Greg Abbott, the Texans legislatures have amended gun policies which are aimed at limiting the operation and handling of guns within the State at large (Spitzer & Robert 55). Significantly, this is in line with the second amendment basics of the United States Constitution, which states that "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." Thus, if state law, for instance, the Texas law violates the rights to own the arms, then such a law is unconstitutional as well as invalid. The following are the key summary of the current Texas Gun control laws dated 2nd January 2020 (Spitzer & Robert 55).

Illegal Firearms in Texas State; In relation to the second amendment, citizens are not allowed to own every type of firearm. Some of the firearms prohibited by the Texas current law include short-barreled firearms, machine guns, silencers and silenced firearms, zip guns, armor-piercing ammunition, and explosive weapons.

School Grounds; The Texas current laws prohibit firearms, particularly on or near school grounds. Categorically, the law enforcement officials may be exempted from this as well as those with the permits to have concealed firearms.

Waiting Period; there is no set period to acquire a firearm in Texas State.

Who may not own a Firearm; the following persons are prohibited from owning a gun in Texas as per the current law; persons confined in a penal institution, minors who are under the age of eighteen years without the parental approval, and the convicted felons who are less than five years of parole.

Who may not carry a Firearm; in order to carry a handgun, a Texan must acquire a license to carry. However, a Texan who is capable of legally owning a gun are exempted from the need for an additional license in order to openly carry a long gun

Stakeholders

Stakeholders are parties or organizations that support and show interest in plan or idea. They play an essential role in the implementation of the program since they give their views and contributions to the program. Gun policies being a government plan have stakeholders who strive hard to ensure the implementation of good policies (Vizzard &William 52). They help in every decision-making process pertaining the gun laws. The major stakeholders in the current gun laws are:

Gun Manufacturers

They produce all forms of guns, firearms, and other supporting equipment. For instance, they manufacture firearms such as ammunition, handguns, and rifles of all types, high capacity magazines, and machine guns (Vizzard & William 62). Notably, the gun manufactures have shown much interest in the new gun laws gun controls because the laws affect their performance and operations. They mostly work with the gun stores and lobbyists as their clients and work closely with the national rifle association. They play a crucial role in the implementation of gun laws because they ensure enough supply of guns and firearms in all areas of the State (Vizzard & William 67). Also, gun manufactures have a massive interest, particularly in the 2nd amendment and gun control, since it will affect their production directly. Due to the recent amendment of the gun control policy in Texas, gun manufacturers companies have had opposing views in relation to certain types of firearms, which are prohibited in the State.

Congress

Congress has two parts, where one part plays a role in re-election after two years. The two parts have a vested interest in the gun control policy as well as the second amendment (Cook & Philip 19). Notably, one of the parts of the congress is typically up for an election every two years; thus, they require funds for their campaigns from other stakeholders such as National Rifle Association lobbyist specifically through the gun manufacture lobbyist (Cook & Philip 21). Congress, as a key stakeholder to gun control policy, plays a number of roles in regards to the second amendment. For instance, they are responsible for deliberating for or against any firearm ban as well as background checks (Cook & Philip 25). Also, they legislate state law and federal law enforcement bills. Moreover, they have a key control of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive. Due to the recent amendment of the gun control policy in Texas by the legislatures, congress has had opposing views in relation to certain types of firearms that are prohibited in the State. This is merely because they are responsible for deliberating for or against any firearm ban as well as background checks.

National Rifle Association

It is a non-profit organization that aims at promoting marksmanship, firearm safety, hunting as well as self-defense training, and law enforcement training. Notably, the National Rifle Association activities are primarily in line with the premise that owning a firearm is a civil right, which is guided by the Second Amendment of the Bills of Rights in the American constitution (Cook & Philip 27).

The National Rifle Association is typically one of the organizations that are approved for firearm safety and plays the following roles

It provides firearm safety training for children and ensures proper practice in the police department.

It publishes several magazines concerning firearms and shooting.

It sponsors marksmanship events organized for the purpose of sport and shooting skills.

As a result of the recent amendment of the gun control policy in Texas by the legislatures, the National Rifle Association has had opposing views in relation to a certain amendment which controls the firearm ownership within the State (Vizzard & William 42). For instance, who may carry a gun, who may own a gun and various types of guns that are prohibited within the State.

Victims

These are groups of people who also have a vested interest in the gun control policies in Texas. The disadvantaged people, especially those who are victims of mass shootings directly or indirectly, do have an interest in how the gun control policy should be regulated in Texas in regards to the second amendment of the American bill of rights (Kleck & Gary 40). A proper amendment of the gun control policy will curb the recent mass shootings as well as limits the unnecessary possession of illegal firearms by the Texans (Kleck & Gary 43). This will significantly result in a decrease in the rate of criminal activities in the Texas state.

Economic Benefits of the Current Gun Policy

An economic benefit is any form of advantage or gains quantified in terms of money. The broader financial impact of gun policies flows throughout the State. The gun laws impact the economy by generating business for firms dealing with firearms, creating job opportunities, and generating state revenue (Kleck & Gary 44).

Creation of Employment

Industries that manufacture and supply firearms and hunting equipment in Texas provide many employment opportunities to the Texans. They create jobs in the State and other posts in suppliers and supportive industries outside the country, and the jobs are well paying(Kleck & Gary 46). These posts involve supplying products to other manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, and sales within the firearm and ammunition industry. The industry increases people's levels of income and improves their living standards.

Growth of Industries

The current gun laws in Texas highly support the use of handguns and firearms by the Texans, favoring the industries and companies dealing with manufacturing, supply, and selling of weapons. These industries have experienced a remarkable growth recently as the Texans exercise their right to possess a gun (Kleck & Gary 47). New sectors are rising due to the high demand for weapons, while the industries that existed before are expanding at higher rates.

Source of the Revenue to the State

Not only do gun policies contribute to the creation of employment, but they also generate sizeable state revenue. Industries that expand and rise from the sale of firearms make substantial profits, and hence generate huge tax revenues to state revenue (Kleck & Gary 48). The employees also pay taxes, and also the levies from properties contribute to the revenue.

Economic Cost of the Current Gun Policy

According to Short and Aric (33), an economic cost is any form of loss of any asset or good that has value. Although gun policies contribute to the growth of the economy, they have negative effects, for instance,

Damages and destruction caused by mass shootings spread through economic and environmental infrastructures.

The revenue from firearm industries is not comparable with the billions of money that the gun violence costs (Short & Aric 40). These include medical costs, law enforcement investigations, legal fees, and prison costs.

Firearms cause a lot of devastation that cannot be replaced by the contributions they make.

Firearms cause traumas on people that prevent neighborhood development in areas that have been affected.

Social Benefits to Current System

Social benefit is an advantage that society gets from the production of certain commodities. The benefits can be private (personal) or external (society as a whole) (Short & Aric 44). Ownership of guns has a significant ad...