Speech Example on Gun Laws, Semi-Automatic Weapons, And Strict Background Checks

Introduction

With every mass shooting, there is increased demand from the advocates of gun control for establishing tighter rules placed on firearms. The prescription of go-to policy entails background checks. However, the measure that is passed by the House regarding expanding of the National Instant criminal background check system is expected to fail in its effort to fix significant flaws that are already in the system. The lawmakers from the two parties involved acknowledge that the mistakes found in the background check systems are the ones that let many felons acquire guns. The aim of the background check strategies is improving the enforcement of the existing law as well as increasing such kind of reporting through imposing of financial penalties made on the government officials who have their agencies failing to offer the needed information. This is a good goal, but any form of the proposal must help in fixing another primary issue with the system of a background check.

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The background check method confuses the names of the law-abiding citizens typically with those of the criminals. As a result, there are many of the false positives cases presented every year. There has been an increase in need of closing the loophole created by private sales by requiring all the gun sales be subjected to background checks (WEBSTER and VERNICK 29). Dependence on the phonetically similar identity names that coincide with the date of birth does not allow having much accuracy. The gun control act enacted in 1968b is essential since there exist much violence that takes place involving mass shooting that needs to be stopped. The Gun Control Act was passed to categorically prohibit individuals from buying firearms given that they had been involuntarily committed to any mental hospital (WEBSTER and VERNICK 35). Some so many individuals are dying from the senseless shootings, and there is nothing that is being done about it. Federalism influences the gun control policy since it is an issue that is between the federal and state government.

Several measures of gun control are not likely to be effective. Most of the mass shootings that take place in the public occur in the gun-free zones whereby the civilians are prohibited from carrying firearms. A complete ban of the semi-automatic weapons will only help in saving very few lives since most of the mass public shootings take place using handguns alone.

Another reason explaining why gun control policies are alone not effective in reducing mass public shooting is the fact that most of the public mass shooters have been found having a record of mental health problems. The society requires better and more mental health care in the country and there is the need of increasing access to it. However, mental health issue is not solely helpful as there are other factors contributing to increase in mass shooting. It is right to attribute mental illness to mass shooting as most of the mass shooters are clearly disturbed. However, a focus on only the individuals having mental illness is more likely to raise stigma and prevent people suffering from mental illness acquiring treatment.

Over 60% of the mass public shooters have been diagnosed having either a mental disorder or have demonstrated having signs of significant mental illness before the attack. It is paramount to remember that many people are having mental disorders frequently do not get involved in violent behaviors, and there exist no given practical means of efficiently identifying the potential mass shooters.

The banning of the semi-automatic weapons results in the creation of significant loopholes. Prohibiting of the semi-automatic weapons result into the banning of those weapons that contain either two or more of the military-style features. The manufacturers usually make minor changes which transform the banned semi-automatic weapons into legal ones. Therefore, practical ways that can be used to minimize gun violence can be developed only after objectively evaluating the facts as well as collaboratively working to create common solutions.

Works Cited

WEBSTER, DANIEL W, and VERNICK JONS. "Reducing Gun Violence In America: Informing Policy With Evidence And Analysis." Choice Reviews Online, vol 51, no. 02, 2013, pp. 51-1167-51-1167. American Library Association. 2013.