In his New York Times Article “Our Blind Spots About Guns,” Nicholas Kristof (2014) addresses a pivotal social issue, which gun ownership, outcomes, and responsibility related to it. The author introduces his topic by drawing a similarity between fatalities induced by cars and those caused by guns. Kristof (2014) states that the effectiveness of rational car ownership regulations and not the confiscation of vehicles helped reduce the number of deaths in America, which is why it should be applied to firearms as well.
The development of laws and regulations related to cars has developed over the century, significantly improving the norms that help save thousands of lives yearly. Indeed, as Kristof (2014) states, the laws abiding citizens to wear seat belts, obtain driver’s license, as well as the advancements in manufacturers’ safety measures when making cars have shown to be helpful. However, the changes in gun regulations have “gone in the opposite direction” (Kristof, 2014, para. 12). There were much more restrictions as per gun ownership in the 19th century; however, the arguments concerning either gun banning or stricter permits without violating the Second Amendment continue to be relevant.
The author appeals to the rationality and systematic application of car regulations to demonstrate the prospects for the effectiveness of a similar approach to guns in America. A complete gun ban is not a solution, as it was not a solution for car ownership back in the 1910s. The number of deaths due to gun possession is high, but “if a combination of measures could reduce the toll by one-third, that would be 10,000 lives saved every year” (Kristof, 2014, para. 17). Therefore, a system of measures, including but not limited to obligatory and in-depth background checks, certification, and safety measures for firearms usage, should be implemented on a governmental level.
Reference
Kristof, N. (2014). Our blind spot about guns. The New York Times. Web.