The Pros And Cons Of Gun Control Laws

Safety is a fundamental human right that every government must provide its people. The framers of the constitution remained alive to this fact and thus created the Second Amendment which provides that American citizens have a right to own arms. However, this has turned out to be one of the most controversial discourses in America's history given the right has been misused and limited in equal measures. It has sharply divided the American population into two factions, with proponents citing that gun laws should be held because they are constitutionally provided and ensure that citizens are safe from any threat. On the other hand, the opponents intimate that the recent gun attacks experienced in the country such as in Marjory Stoneman Douglas

High school are a sign that the law should be reviewed in a bid to ensure safety among the Americans. Therefore, it is apparent that whether the law is upheld or repealed, safety issues will still be a major concern in the country. Gun laws can only be enjoyed by the citizens if the relevant authorities conduct proper background checks amidst other critical changes to ensure that the weapons do not land in the hands of the wrong people.
Before dwelling on the debate of ensuring safety in the face of the gun laws, a major debate has always centered on the intent and language of the framers of the American Constitution. The Second Amendment begins with the phrase "a well-regulated militia" which many have associated to the various groups that existed at that time, whose function was to ensure that the government did not turn tyrannical (Blau et al. 4732). The clause continues by asserting that "being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Many people have interpreted this section differently. The National Rifle Association (NRA), a major defender of the Second Amendment has always made it clear that the law guarantees every individual the right to "keep and bear arms." According to the association, it is an inherent right that should not be limited by anyone whatsoever. However, critics have remained critical with the language of the framers asserting that they must have envisioned the rise of many civic groups that would have intended to protect the sovereignty of a country. As such, such groups, so long as they remained well-regulated would be allowed to own firearms.
Many gun attack incidences have occurred in the country for many years.

Some of the areas that have been targeted mostly include the learning institutions and hotels where the attackers can easily access vulnerable individuals. Some of the recent examples that stand out include the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting where an armed individual killed 20 first grade students and a further six employees. The gunman, named Adam Lanza, had initially killed his mother that day before committing the massacre at the school. On February 14, 2018, another shooting incident at the Marjory Douglas High School led to 17 deaths with the shooter using a high capacity magazine. If these and many more cases are solely assessed, then it would be apparent to any sane person that the freedom that comes with gun laws should immediately be repealed. However, there is another side of the story. America is a country that has experienced terror threats before. With the high crime rates in the nation peaking in the recent past, there is an increased need for safety. Repealing the Second Amendment would put the country in a vulnerable situation which would also exert more pressure on the law enforcement agencies which in the real sense cannot offer every single American adequate security (Blau et al.

4740).
The only solution to the conundrum is to strike a balance between safety and responsibility. Guns do not kill people. People kill people. Furthermore, removing the guns from the citizens cannot cure the aggressive behavior exhibited in the country because people would still own other potentially deadly weapons such as swords and knives. The solution lies within the background checks. A proper background check is a fundamental process in ensuring comprehensive gun violence prevention. Approximately 19 states and Washington D.C have laws mandating criminal background checks for all gun sales. The background checks laws will ensure that guns are sold to only individuals that qualify to receive firearms based on their mental health, age, and criminal record. However, there is a massive loophole in the background checks that has led to illegal trade leading to guns landing on the wrong hands. Currently, the federal law only permits licensed gun dealers to carry out the background checks. Therefore, the more significant implication here is that millions of guns are exchanged every year especially at gun shows by private sellers who are not licensed. As such, the loophole is utilized by potentially dangerous individuals including those with felony convictions, the mentally ill, domestic abusers, and other people with severely dangerous histories.
One area that the background checks must focus on is on mental health. Philpott‐Jones noted that the Sandy Hook gun incidence perpetrator was a mental health victim whose prior behavior pointed out to the problem. In the Marjory Douglas shooting incidence, the suspect who had been suspended for indiscipline was also said to be suffering from mental health issues (7-8). Before committing the massacre, it was alleged that he had threatened to do something bad. Through his social media, he posted pictures of the military-style weapons he had in possession. Following the incident, the students protested countrywide calling for the government to tighten the gun laws. Mental health is a major issue in America. Research has shown that almost 1 in every 5 Americans potentially suffers from mental health. The sad part of the story is that nearly a whopping 46% of the people with mental illnesses do not seek medical attention (Philpott‐Jones 9). Therefore, the federal government must ensure that their background checks are comprehensive in a bid to prevent the gun sale to people who lack the capacity to own guns such as those who committed massacres in Sandy Hook and Marjory Douglas Stoneman High School.
Other than efficiency in the background checks, other critical changes must be done to ensure safety for all Americans, including those owning guns and those without guns. Recent shooting incidences have revealed one trend that must adequately be addressed. Shooters are using military style and high magazine weapons that has a capacity to cause mass fatalities. In ensuring that safety of the vulnerable, these types of weapons should be banned with immediate effect (Siegel 1124). Mass shooters have an advantage while using the high capacity magazines because they can aim at a far distance and can also fire at a crowd without necessarily loading. All states must unanimously ban the military-style weapons which would ultimately reduce the mass killings experienced in the country. The government must then ensure that they reclaim the guns from the citizens who are already in possession. Investigations into the shooting incident at the Marjory Douglas High school shooting revealed that the suspect had posted military-style weapons on his social media posts. He also posted a video of himself taking practicing lessons with the weapons days before the event. Therefore, this indicates that despite the ban on high capacity magazines in many states, few loopholes continue to exist where such guns can be accessed.
Also, in an effort to ensure that only responsible people access the guns, the minimum age to purchase a firearm must be raised to 21 years. After the Stoneman Douglas shooting incident, the Florida state proposed a law to ensure citizens will not be able to buy guns until they celebrate their 21st birthday. Many people have supported the proposed law including President Donald Trump. However, the proposed law has received its fair share of criticism with many citing that this cannot end the gun violence experienced in the country. For instance, Adam Lanza, the Sandy Hook killer was only 20 when he committed the massacre (Siegel 1123). However, the guns he used in the ordeal had been acquired through the help of his mother who was eligible for them. Therefore, such people believe that restrictions on age would not offer a tangible solution. However, two primary benefits will come with the law. It will ensure that the number of people owning guns in the country is reduced. Secondly, it will ensure that only mature people with the right mentality can access the guns. Nikolas Cruz, the Stoneman Douglas shooter was only 18 when he acquired the weapon he used in causing the massacre. As such, people feel that it could have been preventable had the age limit been 21 years of age.
Reducing gun violence in the country and the perseveration of the rights provided by the constitution will also require the federal and state government to ensure simple compliances from the citizens. Requiring individuals to have a gun license is a basic strategy that could prove vital in ensuring that the rights of the Americans are preserved. A gun license can only be acquired when an individual purchases the gun using the legitimate way. It will also ensure that unlawful gun owners are tracked and brought to book. Furthermore, if a licensed gun engages in any illegal activity, then it becomes easy to find the identity of the person. During purchases, dealers should also observe the three day wait period which is presumably enough amount of time to ensure that enough background check is performed. More emphasis should be put on security especially on learning institution. In a bid to reduce gun violence in learning institutions, the Trump contemplated giving teachers lessons and subsequently arming them to put them in a better position to protect the students. Another fundamental change that must be reinforced is the concealed weapon law where an individual is required to hide their weapons to avoid potentially intimidating others.
In conclusion, many researchers have intimated that no single gun law can holistically address the contentious issue of gun violence in America. The NRA among other defenders of the gun laws has remained firm in ensuring that people enjoy their Second Amendment rights. In the wake of this, many innocent children and adults have suffered the consequences of mediocre laws characterized by huge loopholes. The government must ensure the safety of all Americans by first guaranteeing that the background checks are conducted tightly conducted. Guns must not land in the hands of the wrong people including felons, drug abusers, children, and the mentally ill. Secondly, laws must be revised to ensure that the Second Amendment is enjoyed responsibly. High capacity magazines should be banned, and citizens must produce licenses for their guns. Furthermore, the age limit of purchase must be raised to 21 to reduce firearms in the ground and enhance responsibility.