Introduction
Have you ever been scared of getting shot while going for a walk outside? While it does seem like an improbable situation, unfortunately, it is more likely to occur in America than in any other developed country. Gun violence is a critical social issue in the United States, leading to thousands of deaths annually and presenting significant risks to public safety. Moreover, this topic has become a political issue with a notable disagreement between the Democratic and Republican parties.
So, how do we fix the problem? One of the most effective solutions is to introduce stricter gun ownership laws, and there is extensive academic evidence that supports this policy. By the time we get to the end of this speech, you will know the gravity of the gun violence problem in the US, learn about potential ways to resolve the issue, and understand the positive impact of tighter gun ownership laws on public safety.
Problem Background
Worrying about your life because of the prevalent gun violence in the country is a unique concern for American citizens. Compared to European countries, Canada, and Australia, the gun death rate in the United States can be thirty times higher, depending on the state (Gramlich para. 11). For instance, 33.9 people per 100,000 individuals were victims of gun violence and suicides in Mississippi in 2021, while the average rate in other developed countries varies from 0 to 1 (Gramlich para. 11-13). What is interesting is that some states in America demonstrate acceptable metrics, such as Massachusetts (3.4), Hawaii (4.8), and New Jersey (5.4) (Gramlich para. 11).
Because of this problem, people worry about potential gun violence affecting their lives and the well-being of their friends and family. If we do not regulate gun ownership, the gravity of the problem will only keep expanding, and the evidence shows the gun death rate via active and mass shootings has been gradually increasing in the 21st century (Gramlich para. 21). In other words, we must implement practical solutions to mitigate this critical social issue.
Solution
When you look for the differences between these regions, the defining variable is strict gun ownership laws. The states with higher degrees of gun violence have the least tight regulations. In contrast, Massachusetts, Hawaii, New Jersey, and some other states rigidly regulate the issue (“States with Strictest Gun Laws”). Moreover, extensive scientific evidence confirms the effectiveness of tighter gun ownership laws (Jehan et al. 11).
Experts have found that states with strict firearm laws (SFL) not only demonstrate lower rates of gun deaths but also have fewer gun-related non-lethal injuries and higher quality of public safety (Jehan et al. 16). It is the most critical and relevant point of the current speech – if we want to reduce gun violence, we must introduce tighter gun laws. At present, there are many loopholes in both Federal and State regulations regarding firearm possession, and even people accused of gun violence can acquire certain types of guns (“Most Frequently Asked Questions”). All these issues are relevant real-life examples that obstruct public safety, and introducing SFL can help us create a safer future.
Visualization
I am certain that everyone agrees that it is much more comfortable to live in a place with little or no gun violence. Imagine living in a world with no school shootings or firearms-related deaths, and how it might affect your perception of surroundings. In the United States, with ramping gun violence, there is an actual tangible risk of getting shot, which is one of the leading risks of premature death in some parts of the country (Treisman para. 1). As the gravity of the problem expands, it might also result in psychological complications among people as they become scared of potential mass shootings. While adopting tighter gun laws might not immediately resolve all issues, it is a necessary first step to creating a brighter future and mitigating the differences between the most dangerous and safest states.
Recently, Biden talked about the significance of affirmative action in reducing gun violence, and it is a sign of positive change in the country (“Fact Sheet: President Biden Announces New Actions”). If we can successfully change the gun ownership laws, it will have a notable positive impact on the physical and mental well-being of American citizens. Moreover, it might be possible to eliminate the stigma of the United States being the most dangerous country among developed nations.
Action and Conclusion
I am sure that many understand the significance of tighter gun control. Even if you are a gun owner yourself and have never thought about using it to hurt other people, the statistics do not lie. When people have easy access to guns, they are more likely to use them for violent purposes. If we continue ignoring gun ownership regulations, gun violence and the differences between states in public safety will continue increasing. We must admit this problem and work together to create a brighter future.
At the very least, we should adopt the laws from the safest states and see if this approach can resolve the issue in the most dangerous states in the short term. This way, we can reduce the number of gun-related injuries and improve public safety. In summary, by being indifferent to gun ownership laws, we are enabling further violence, mass shootings, and deaths, and we must take a definitive stance to create a brighter and safer future for everyone.
Works Cited
“Fact Sheet: President Biden Announces New Actions to Reduce Gun Violence and Make Our Communities Safer.” The White House. 2023. Web.
Gramlich, John. “What the Data Says About Gun Deaths in the U.S.” Pew Research Center. 2023. Web.
Jehan, Faisal, et al. “The Burden of Firearm Violence in the United States: Stricter Laws Result in Safer States.” Journal of Injury and Violence Research, vol. 10, no. 1, 2018, pp. 11-16. Web.
“Most Frequently Asked Questions and Answers.” Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, n.d. Web.
“States with Strictest Gun Laws.” Wisevoter, 2023. Web.
Treisman, Rachel. “Premature Deaths from Guns Expose Another Toll of the Firearms Crisis.” NPR. 2022. Web.