Gun control legislation has been a widely discussed issue in the United States for many years. Despite the growing number of episodes of a mass shooting, reforms in this area are not expected any time soon. This circumstance is due to a number of political and social factors. However, to ensure the safety of citizens, it is necessary to impose stricter laws related to gun control in the United States.
The proliferation of firearms among the population often has dramatic consequences. For example, it is reported that in the United States, about 100 people a day are shot (Zurcher, 2019). In 2019, more than 60% of people supported the initiative to restrict gun control laws, while about 30% of citizens are gun owners (Gramlich & Schaeffer, 2019). While there are many factors in the causes of gun accidents (mental illness, social conditions), focusing on gun control issues is the most cost-effective (Walsh, 2019). Due to weak legislation in this area, the United States has a much higher rate of gun-related incidents than other high-income countries.
Thus, gun control legislation should be tightened, but this problem requires complex measures. Effective options include assault weapons and high-capacity magazine bans, universal checks for all gun buyers, required training, bans for mentally ill buyers, and a centralized record of gun sales (Sanger-Katz & Bui, 2017). Thus, the necessary measures are to limit the proliferation of weapons among citizens. While opponents of gun control legislation may argue that guns make people feel safe, these assumptions seem to be false. A person who wields a gun is much less hesitant to confront and possibly harm someone. A person without special training is not able to accurately assess the consequences of acquiring such a means of protection. A firearm in inept hands is extremely dangerous and can lead not only to an increased risk of homicide but also suicide. Therefore, the government needs to take care of the safety of citizens by improving the police, healthcare, education, and gun control.
References
Gramlich, J., & Schaeffer, K. (2019). 7 facts about guns in the U.S. Pew Research Center. Web.
Sanger-Katz, M., & Bui, Q. (2017). How to reduce mass shooting deaths? Experts rank gun laws. The New York Times. Web.
Walsh, C. (2019). Want to stop mass shootings? The Harvard Gazette. Web.
Zurcher, A. (2019). US gun laws: Why it won’t follow New Zealand’s lead. BBC News. Web.