The Necessity of Reforming Gun Control Policies in the United States

Over the past several years, gun violence has been on the rise in the United States, making headlines that send shivers all over the country. Traumatic events, including mass shootings and everyday gun-related incidents, prompt urgent questions about whether the current policies of gun control are effective or not. Communities grapple with the fallout from these events, revealing a sobering reality that measures that currently exist are not enough to combat gun violence. The Second Amendment versus the growing death toll from firearms is a problematic and immediate social issue that needs to be addressed. This essay argues that not only is comprehensive gun control reform critical to the health and safety of Americans, but it is as imperative as possible. This essay will analyze the current situations regarding gun violence, the policy situation, and reform possibilities that will prove the need for a paradigm shift in how gun control is done in the US.

The Impact of Gun Violence on Society

The effects of gun violence are felt at all levels, from people to families to communities. In an article by The Trace, Brownlee notes that 18,874 gun-related deaths happened in the United States in 2023, excluding suicides. The reality behind that staggering statistic is an overwhelming need for policy reform. In addition, the psychological cost for survivors and witnesses can result in serious long-term mental health issues, which perpetuate a cycle of violence and trauma. Communities that have high gun violence rates are already experiencing diminished economic opportunities, which shows that gun violence has consequences over what constitutes the immediate loss of life as the ramifications run far beyond its immediate effect on the stability of society and public health.

Gun violence leaves a mark on the soul. Many victims’ families do not just grieve the loss; they also have to deal with medical costs and funeral expenses. In their research, Bulger et al. stated that gun violence communities tend to have a rise in rates of anxiety, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (282). The ripple effects are broad and not just immediate victims; friends, neighbors, and their whole neighborhood are affected, and the entire situation gives off a pervasive fear and insecurity. This ongoing trauma is a barrier to social cohesion and makes poverty and crime worse.

Current Gun Control Policies

Even with the increasing worry about gun violence, existing gun control procedures are variable from state to state. The Gun Control Act of 1968 and numerous state regulations have tried to address this problem but have not come up with a framework in which it is addressed. For example, people who buy guns must pass background checks, except when buying at gun shows or on the private market. Generally, states with more stringent gun laws, on average, have lower gun death rates (Hurka and Knill 787-803). This correlation reveals the need to reconsider and strengthen current policies to adequately address the specter of gun violence now plaguing the country.

Federal standards do not exist, leaving the country with a patchwork of regulations that vary wildly from state to state. Consider California, which has strident gun laws, but neighboring states with lax rules are undercutting it. That inconsistency not only confuses law-abiding citizens but also encourages criminals who capitalize on the inconsistencies to get firearms. The lack of a unified national policy on gun control is part of the reason the US is still in the midst of a gun violence crisis, which will continue if the discrepancies are not addressed. In addition, the influence of gun lobbies, notably the National Rifle Association (NRA), has hindered meaningful reform. By contributing so much to political campaigns, the NRA has erected an incredibly high wall against stricter regulation, framing such discussion as an infringement on the rights of individual gun owners. It causes that narrative to substitute for the pressing need for public safety, leaving many others feeling powerless to fight for change.

Proposed Reforms

To solve this issue of gun violence, a multi-pronged reform of gun control laws is needed. First, it is crucial to ensure that universal background checks for all gun purchases close existing loopholes and keep firearms out of the hands of those who are a risk to society. Besides, Ashworth et al. conducted a study which found that states with universal background check laws had 15% lower gun homicide than states without such laws. Such evidence indicates the ability of such measures to improve public safety (111). In addition, there should also be a mandatory period of waiting before purchasing a firearm, during which time potential red flags can be identified and worked through. This waiting period serves a dual purpose: it discourages impulsive acts of violence and gives law enforcement time to complete background checks. Over time, states with waiting periods, such as Wisconsin, have lower gun suicide rates (Dunton et al. 1331). Thus, this research indicates how this reform can help.

The evidence from investing in community-based violence prevention programs to reduce gun violence in urban areas is promising. Such programs do not just reduce crime; they strengthen community cohesion and resilience. Often, partnerships between local police, community organizations, and residents will help address the root causes of violence, as opposed to simply dealing with symptoms of violence itself, such as these initiatives. Lastly, encouraging a ban on what used to be known as ‘high capacity’ magazines and assault weapons would help reduce gun violence. Besides, limiting the availability of these horrific weapons of mass violence can limit the risk of mass violence.

Counterarguments and Rebuttals

Gun control reform opponents frequently claim that gun reform infringes on the Second Amendment right of law-abiding citizens. Responsible gun owners, they say, should not be penalized for a few individuals. However, the rights of responsible gun owners should be differentiated from the public safety need. The Second Amendment does not mean that one can own any firearm they choose to without regard to the repercussions of doing so. Just like there are regulations for driving, reasonable limits on gun ownership to protect society need to be put in place.

Another popular argument against gun control reforms is that criminals will find ways to get firearms, whether laws are passed or not. This is true because no law can entirely take all gun violence away, but the law does make a difference, establishing that stricter gun laws can help cut the crime rate overall. Additionally, pro-gun rights activists often point out that widespread gun ownership is necessary for self-defence. However, having a gun in a home significantly raises the odds of a gun-related accident, suicide, or domestic violence incident. For instance, Kongkaewpaisan et al. report that three times more people in homes with firearms risk being killed than in homes without them (1602). Accordingly, this data shows that the self-defence argument ignores the inherent dangers of owning a firearm.

In conclusion, the need for gun control policy reforms in the United States is imperative. Evidently, gun violence has a profound impact on society, one that cannot be ignored. Guns often result in heartbreaking loss, economic strain and psychological trauma. This growing crisis is being ignored by current policies because there are still loopholes and inconsistencies. Viable solutions to the urgent problem of preventing gun violence include universal background checks, mandatory waiting periods, community-based prevention programs, and limiting high-capacity magazines. With these steps, the US can go a long way toward reducing gun violence and keeping everyone safe. Change is not a choice but an obligation, even to future generations. It is time for action, and we cannot afford to wait for another tragedy to prompt us to make real change. This is a critical time to uphold public security against the interests of a few since preserving the right to bear arms does not come at the expense of everyone’s safety.

Works Cited

Ashworth, Todd R., and Claudia A. Kozinetz. “The Mitigating Effect of Low Firearm Background Check Requirements on Firearm Homicides in Border States.” Journal of Injury and Violence Research, vol. 13, no. 2, Jan. 2021, pp. 111-116. https://doi.org/10.5249/jivr.v13i2.1555.

Brownlee, Chip. “Gun Violence by the Numbers in 2023.” The Trace, 29 Feb. 2024, www.thetrace.org/2023/12/data-gun-violence-deaths-america.

Bulger, Eileen M., et al. “Nationwide Survey of Trauma Center Screening and Intervention Practices for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Firearm Violence, Mental Health, and Substance Use Disorders.” Journal of the American College of Surgeons, vol. 234, no. 3, Feb. 2022, pp. 274–287. https://doi.org/10.1097/xcs.0000000000000064.

Dunton, Zachary R., et al. “The Association between Repealing the 48-Hour Mandatory Waiting Period on Handgun Purchases and Suicide Rates in Wisconsin.” Archives of Suicide Research, vol. 26, no. 3, Feb. 2021, pp. 1327–1335. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2021.1886209.

Hurka, Steffen, and Christoph Knill. “Does Regulation Matter? A Cross‐national Analysis of the Impact of Gun Policies on Homicide and Suicide Rates.” Regulation & Governance, vol. 14, no. 4, Dec. 2018, pp. 787–803. https://doi.org/10.1111/rego.12235.

Kongkaewpaisan, Napaporn, et al. “No Place Like Home: A National Study on Firearm-Related Injuries in the American Household.” The American Journal of Surgery, vol. 220, no. 6, Apr. 2020, pp. 1599–1604. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2020.04.030.

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Argument Essay Eng 101
Argument Essay
Directions: Create an argument about changing a domestic or international governmental policy. Choose an issue or topic with major societal implications. Take a stance regarding this issue or topic. Find five articles about this topic to support or refute your position. Read the article(s) and write an essay arguing your position. Only one source can be from the internet. A minimum of three sources must be from scholarly journals accessed through licensed
databases. Write a 4-5 page (plus a Works Cited page) argument essay championing the importance of this issue.

Evidence of each stage of the writing process must be submitted. MLA format must be followed. Each paragraph must be a minimum of seven to ten sentences. The target length is 4-5 pages not including a works cited page.

The introduction of the essay must begin with an attention grabber. The introduction must be a minimum of seven to ten sentences and end with a thesis statement that clearly fits the size of the assignment; states a single main point/position about the topic; is specific; can be shown, explained, or proven; and is a forceful statement indicating what is being analyzed, how it is being analyzed, and why it is being analyzed.

Each body paragraph must begin with a clear topic sentence and end with a strong, aligned concluding sentence. The ideas must be arranged in a logical order as outlined by the thesis of the essay. Support ideas by quoting directly from sources and explain how quotes support the overall argument. Each body paragraph must be a minimum of seven to ten sentences.

The conclusion of the essay refers back to the attention grabber. The conclusion summarizes the main points of the essay (one sentence for each body paragraph). The conclusion ends with a mic drop. The conclusion must be a minimum of seven to ten sentences

Grammar and mechanics will also be graded for accuracy. Particular attention will be given to topics already covered in class. Papers with more than ten errors of topics covered in class will receive a score of “No
Grade.”

The Necessity of Reforming Gun Control Policies in the United States

I. Main Topic
A. Introduction
1. opener
2. opener/explanation
3. opener/explanation
4. background
5. background
6. background
7. background
8. thesis
B. topic 1
1. topic sentence
2. example
3. quoted support
4. explanation of quoted support’s relevance
5. example 2
6. quoted support
7. explanation of quoted support’s relevance
8. concluding sentence
C. topic 2
1. topic sentence
2. example
3. quoted support
4. explanation of quoted support’s relevance
5. example 2
6. quoted support
7. explanation of quoted support’s relevance
8. concluding sentence
D. topic 3
1. topic sentence
2. example
3. quoted support
4. explanation of quoted support’s relevance
5. example 2
6. quoted support
7. explanation of quoted support’s relevance
8. concluding sentence
E. Conclusion
1. tie back to opener
2. tie back/explain
3. explain
4. explain
5. sentence about body paragraph 1
6. sentence about body paragraph 2
7. sentence about body paragraph 3
8. final thought mic drop