Problem Identification
Gun violence is one of the most disturbing problems of our time. Despite the tremendous public outcry in the United States and Australia and the introduction of specialized legislative measures, this problem has not lost its relevance. To gain the most complete understanding of this issue, it is necessary to conduct a literary review, which will be based on variables such as armed violence and crimes.
Problem Roots
First, it should be noted that there is a large amount of research on the topic of armed violence in the United States and Australia. The researchers note that this problem has been relevant for a long time and poses a danger not only for the adult population but also for children and youth (Campbell, 2019; Simpson et al., 2023; Winker et al., 2020). This contributed to the creation of a unique gun culture, which is associated with the presence of certain beliefs and values regarding bearing guns (Boine et al., 2020).
The increase in the number of crimes involving the use of weapons is of particular concern both among States and the population (Clark, 2022). Research stated that it causes “crime-specific fears of violent victimization and diffuse anxieties on involvement in ‘active’ gun behaviors” (Warner & Thrash, 2020, p. 285). For many people, the presence of weapons is a coping mechanism, and therefore, they advocate for their legalization (Buttrick, 2020; Oraka et al., 2019). The data obtained in the study of the literature shows the need for a detailed study of this topic.
Awareness and Prevention
It is critically important to focus on educational and preventive measures. Kruis et al. (2020) pointed out that “knowledge of current gun legislation is a direct negative predictor of support for general gun control” (p. 26). This shows the need to introduce and expand educational measures to increase awareness about the harm of weapons. Australia’s policy has distinctive effectiveness in combating armed violence (Luetjens et al., 2019). These measures imply a license, mandatory firearm safety courses, and the prohibition of automatic and semiautomatic assault rifles (Alpers & Ghazarian, 2019; Masters, 2022). Therefore, this literary review helps to explain the importance of paying attention to the topic of armed violence and how it can be limited.
References
Alpers, P., & Ghazarian, Z. (2019). The ‘perfect storm ’ of gun control: From policy inertia to world leader. Successful Public Policy.
Boine, C., Siegel, M., Ross, C., Fleegler, E. W., & Alcorn, T. (2020). What is gun culture? Cultural variations and trends across the United States. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 7(1), 1-12. Web.
Buttrick, N. (2020). Protective gun ownership as a coping mechanism. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 15(4), 835-855. Web.
Campbell, D. J. (2019). America’s gun wars: A cultural history of gun control in the United States. ABC-CLIO.
Clark, G. A. (2022). The numbers don’t lie: Paranoia drives opposition to gun control. Anthropology Now, 14(1-2), 127-132. Web.
Kruis, N. E., Wentling, R. L., Heirigs, M. H., & Ishoy, G. A. (2020). Assessing the impact of knowledge and location on college students’ perceptions of gun control and campus carry policies: A multisite comparison. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 45, 25-47. Web.
Luetjens, J., Mintrom, M., & t Hart, P. (2019). Successful public policy: lessons from Australia and New Zealand. ANU Press. Web.
Masters, J. (2022). US gun policy: Global comparisons. Council on Foreign Relations.
Oraka, E., Thummalapally, S., Anderson, L., Burgess, T., Seibert, F., & Strasser, S. (2019). A cross-sectional examination of US gun ownership and support for gun control measures: sociodemographic, geographic, and political associations explored. Preventive Medicine, 123, 179-184. Web.
Simpson, K. R., & Rohan, A. J. (2023). Gun violence and risk to children and youth in the United States. MCN: The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, 10–1097. Web.
Warner, T. D., & Thrash, C. R. (2020). A matter of degree? Fear, anxiety, and protective gun ownership in the United States. Social Science Quarterly, 101(1), 285-308. Web.
Winker, M., Rowhani-Rahbar, A., & Rivara, F. P. (2020). US gun violence and deaths. BMJ, 368. Web.