Banning Guns

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Effects of banning Guns

Estimation from PEW research center indicated that the residents of United States possess 120 guns per 100 people; nearly 393,347,000 guns in total which is the highest per capita number worldwide. Approximately 22% people possess one or more guns that makes 12% and 35% female and male gun holders in total (McDonald, 2017). This pervasive gun culture stems from America’s frontier expansion, revolutionary roots, colonial history and the second amendment stating that; “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed” (Siegel, 2017). However in my view, there must be a constitutional amendment regarding gun ban because a ban on firearms would result in a positive change for America by decreasing accidental child deaths, reducing suicides rate and lowering gun homicides.

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The gun control theme is currently the hot topic of America due to its sensitive and controversial nature. It has long remained the subject of attention for law makers, health professionals, sociologists, politicians, religious persons and common people because various homicide, suicide and accidental deaths are associated with the possession of guns at home. Although people keep guns for their protection yet recent tragic mass shootings and domestic tragedies has polarized the thinking of masses with reference to legalized possession of firearms. On one side, there are people who favor restrictions on gun possessions whereas other end of the poll encapsulates individuals that favor current gun laws (Suzy, 2015). Those who are in favor of purchasing and keeping guns believe that controlling guns would not do any help in controlling suicide, homicide or accidental deaths however I believe that controlling guns is an effective deterrent because not having guns will surely reduce the chance of suicide or homicide rates induced by the ideation of firearm usage under intense implicit aggression. Following are some strong sub claims that support my thesis statement in the light of preexisting literature and survey statistics.

A survey report from CDC indicates that approximately 73 juveniles were killed accidently during 2017 with age less than 13 years resulting from household possession of firearms (CDC, 2017). A research study found that states who have easy firearm laws and where there are more household guns, children of such states aged 5 to 14 are 11 times more likely to be killed. This ratio is quite alarming in the United States as compared to the other countries having stricter firearm laws where household gun possession is not very common (Suzy, 2015). This study also indicated that approximately 90% of accidental deaths happen to the individuals that are under 25 years age. Needless to say, children are activated and motivated learners; innately incorporated with the urge of exploration which makes them explore such things that they are specifically asked to stay away from. This sense of curiosity is the underlying cause behind accidental injuries among children. Another influential factor behind firearm accidents is media; children watch crime and adventure movies where their favorite superhero performs tactics, kills antigens and keeps stylish firearms in his pocket. Children—regardless of the severity of matter—reach the guns present at home and try to perform similar tactics. Unfortunately, this ideation coupled with the firearm possession causes serious accidental injuries and even deaths. Interestingly, official count of children’s deaths is understated in order to protect the current laws regarding firearm possession, which is something immensely condemnable. Hence, access to the firearms at home becomes more significant hazard when preventability of injury, severity and frequency of the firearms accidents is concerned (Cooper, 2017). I believe that the most effective and reliable measure to prevent firearm injuries is the absence of guns in children’s household. For that matter, government should impose ban on firearm purchase for common people.

There has been inspected a serious and dramatic rise in suicide rate across the country particularly over the last two decades. While less than 10 percent suicide attempts are driven by firearms, more than half of the deaths are caused by them (Siegel, 2017). Suicide can be prevented through restricting access to lethal firearms during the times of crisis. As depression is the most prevalent form of mental disorders among Americans, the need to restrict firearm possession in household becomes twofold. This is because suicidal ideation is the most common feature of severe depression due to which person fails to control his feelings of worthlessness, emptiness and sense of evaporating future. The only solution that he finds in hand is to snatch his life using firearms placed in the cupboard. The primary motive behind discussing depression and suicide is a personal experience that I experienced that still haunts my mind. I lost a precious relation under this depression and gun possession wave; my maternal cousin committed suicide using his father’s gun just because he was feeling down for some time and it was an easy solution for him to go, grab father’s gun and kill himself. I still wonder he could have survived if he had no gun in hand and he somehow render successful in developing self control up till now. Similarly, a survey study orchestrated by the Harvard School of Public Health (2002) explored powerful association between the rates of suicide and firearm ownership. Wyoming—a place in America where approximately 63% people possess household firearms—has the highest suicide rate whereas places there gun ownership was less common, fewer incidents of suicide were reported (Shahs et. al., 2002).

Approximately two third of all gun deaths in America is made up by firearm homicide acts. Homicide incidents include killing one or more people out of aggression (Cooper, 2017). As mentioned earlier, severed depression makes individual highly undesirable for the society because individual develops negative triad of thoughts (as mentioned in The Model of Depression presented by renowned psychologist Aron T. Beck), this triad includes negative attitude towards oneself, others and future. Those who have increased negative attitudes towards others might indulge in homicide cases more frequently. Apart from depression, aggression is another strong reason behind homicidal behavior; the frustration- aggression hypothesis suggests that when individual’s expectations are not met continually, he develops frustration when frustration becomes uncontrollable, he bursts with aggression. Aggression makes him hostile and violent and he might commit homicidal behaviors even when he is out of his senses (McClellan, 2017). At these times, when he has firearms at his place, the risk of killing becomes more evident. These psychological explanations make it clearer that risk of increased homicide is directly linked with the possession of firearms that are readily available when person encounters aggression or poor impulse control (Cooper, 2017).

Conclusion

Based on my knowledge about psychological concepts, real life experiences and survey statistics, it can safely be assumed that availability of firearms at first place is quite threatening for both gun owner and his surroundings. Unpredictability is the crux of human personality and one never knows when tools of protection cause someone to lose his life within the matter of seconds. Keeping in view these factors, I suggest that a ban on firearms would result in a positive change for America by decreasing accidental child deaths, reducing suicides rate and lowering gun homicides.

Works Cited

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Injury Prevention & Control: Data & Statistics (WISQARS). Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2017.

Cooper, Terry L. "Are Unlimited Gun Rights Constitutionally Protected?." Public Integrity, vol. 19, no. 2, 2017, pp. 101-103. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/10999922.2016.1254489.

McClellan, Chandler and Erdal Tekin, et. al. "Stand Your Ground Laws, Homicides, and Injuries." Journal of Human Resources, vol. 52, no. 3, 2017, pp. 621-653. EBSCOhost, doi:10.3368/jhr.52.3.0613-5723R2.

McDonald, Stephen, and William Salomone. The Writer's Response. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2017. Print.

Shahs, HoffmanRE, WakeL, MarineWM. et. al. Adolescent suicide and household access to firearms in Colorado: results of a case-control study.J Adolesc Health, 2002, 26, pp.157-63

Siegel, Michael, et al. "Firearm-Related Laws in All 50 US States, 1991-2016." American Journal of Public Health, vol. 107, no. 7, July 2017, pp. 1122-1129. EBSCOhost, doi:10.2105/AJPH.2017.303701.

Suzy, Khimm. "In Tragedy’s Wake." New Republic, vol. 246, no. 12, Nov. 2015, pp. 13-15. EBSCOhost