Guns, They're Everywhere

Under the 1968 Gun Control Act, unless a person is convicted of a felony, awaiting trial for a crime, charged for domestic violence, deemed mentally incompetent by a professional, a drug addict, or an illegal alien, buying a firearm isn't much of a problem. An 18 year old person can legally purchase a rifle or shotgun, and a 21 year old can purchase a handgun. Personally I couldn't wait to turn 18 years old. At 18, I quickly got my driver’s license and traveled anywhere I wanted. At 21, I was finally old enough to drink and from what I can recall, had the most amazing birthday. It is troubling to think, however, that as a 21-year-old, I can also skip to the nearest store and buy a gun. To state the obvious, guns are dangerous, kill people, and destroy lives. 

Guns are dangerous weapons to handle, however many people wish to own firearms in order to protect themselves from their government. They feel that having their weapons taken away is equivalent to having their constitutional rights revoked. People argue that without guns, the government has too much power in their hands and can thus freely break into personal homes, destroy individual property, and in some cases, injure or kill innocent people. It is these individuals who believe that guns offer better protection that are turning to an ineffective solution. The role of our government is to maintain order within our society and protect us from harm. If we don’t trust our own government and live in fear that it could totally screw us over, then there are larger issues at hand. We live in a democratic society where it’s our constitutional right to overthrow a corrupt government. A gun does not protect our constitutional rights, nor does it guarantee our safety. Furthermore, the individual possession of firearms cannot compare to the immense firepower and strong army force behind the United States government. If a person wanted to defend themselves from the government, using a handgun might not always give them protection, but it does give them a false sense of security. Personally, that particular fact doesn't make me feel any more secure or motivated to go and buy myself a handgun. Guns are violent, and violence only leads to more violence. Therefore, tackling any corruption within our government would be best if addressed in a manner that doesn't involve explosive firearms. 

Another reason why many people buy guns in general is because they believe that guns offer them protection from crime. The United States consists of the most heavily armed citizens when compared to other places around the world. According Mark Follman to national surveys and manufacturing sales data, it has been reported that the increase in firearms has surpassed the rate of population growth.  Follman says, “In the past four years, across 37 states, the NRA and its political allies have pushed through 99 laws making guns easier to own, carry, and conceal from the government. “ Eighty percent of the people who were involved in armed robberies and gang related violence obtained their guns legally in the United States. This just shows how simple it is for people to buy an instrument that causes the ultimate damage to another’s life. Also, Dr. Stephen Hargarten, a leading expert on emergency medicine and gun violence at the Medical College at Wisconsin, says that there appears to be a relationship between the increased availability in firearms and mass shootings.  There have been two mass shootings per year on average since 1982, and a total of seven in 2012. Armed civilians that attempted to stop the crime from happening usually end up getting shot themselves or cause some sort of bloodshed. Mainly, these civilians due to their inexperience are less likely to hit their targets when compared to trained policemen—who also at times miss shooting their targets. This simple access to guns makes it easier for people to commit a crime rather than prevent it.

It is a scary world out there, and I fully agree that people need to be prepared to protect themselves in a potentially dangerous situation. When a person finds themselves in a hostile environment, there are many non-lethal self-defense weapons they can use to ward off an intruder. These weapons are powerful enough to temporarily harm but not kill an attacker.

Below is a list of self-defensive tools one can buy on eBay as recommended by Joe, a Police Defense Tactics Instructor and Rape Risk Reduction Trainer:

·        

      TASERs are the best option to control another person. They use a safe amount of electricity in the safe shape that acts as a nerve impulse to effect sensory and motor control nerves.They essentially cause the body to "lock up." The TASER C2 is designed to be used on an attacker to leave behind. The "ride" is 30 seconds - giving you plenty of time to escape.

·         Pepper Spray is the best option for overall control from a distance. Most of the Sprays I carry have a range of between 8-15 feet. Don't listen to the hype about buying nothing less than 10%. That’s a marketing gimmick. As a cop and instructor I am here to tell you that the 2% stuff Fox Labs (Google search them) makes is the best stuff on the market. It dropped me like bag of rocks! 

·         Stun Guns--They look and sound great. I would suggest getting one of these for the house. The only problem with them is you have to touch the person. If you are going to get one I don't suggest anything under 300,000 volts. In fact 600,000 is what I would get. 

·         Batons
 

·         Knives and Wild Kat Key Chains--Obviously if you are defending yourself with a knife or other sharp object deadly force is authorized. 

Chris Rock also offers some alternative solutions on how to decrease gun violence:

Actually, I think he’s onto something!

In all seriousness, we have to face the reality of our government being so lenient with civilians owning firearms. There are too many innocent people that are killed every day due to gun related crimes. When it comes down to it I feel that people want to buy a gun to protect themselves from a gun. If the United States government can either reduce the circulation of guns, or ban guns to civilians in general, then maybe a lot of lives can be saved. No one person has the right to take away or kill another human being, and a gun makes it too easy to do just that.



Sources: 
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_anyone_buy_a_gun
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-01-14/opinions/36343989_1_gun-control-debate-gun-control-wayne-lapierre
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/09/mass-shootings-investigation


-Manasa

Living to fight another day

In the United States, it is estimated that between 270 million and 310 million guns are held by civilians. 2011 saw the largest number of total gun injury deaths in the USA in the last 15 years, at 32,163 deaths. In December of last year, Sandy Hook elementary school experienced the tragedy of losing 20 students to an armed gunman. It seems that every time the news is on, there is another shooting, another person dying at the end of a loaded gun. Gun ownership cannot be removed from this country; the second amendment grants citizens the right to bear arms. Thus, policy makers and citizens alike are caught in a bind. On one hand, the legitimacy of the constitution must be upheld, but on the other hand, gun violence is spreading like wildfire through the country. What must be done is still up for debate. Many people are calling for stricter gun laws, such as background checks and bullet and gun restrictions. Others are simply saying it is a matter of being educated in the use of guns. Others are simply saying it is a matter of being educated in the use of guns. Gun control is simply a matter of common sense, which is defined as the basic level of practical knowledge and judgmentthat we all need to help us live in a reasonable and safe way. Thus, gun control can be regulated from the fact that humans should work together to achieve a common goal (and not kill each other along the way).

       In 2008, the percentage of gang-related homicides caused by guns was 92%.However, in 1980, the percentage of homicides caused by firearms during argumentswas about the same as from gang involvement, about 70%. So what happened in the last 20 years? First came the rise of hip hop and “gangster rap.” According to the National Institute of Justice, “homicides committed with firearms peaked in 1993 at 17,075,” which coincided with releases such as “Doggystyle” by Snoop Dogg and “Enta da Stage” by Black Moon. While these are albums that I certainly enjoy, there are many negative messages that can be taken from the lyrics. In “Enta da Stage,” some describe the lyrics as loaded with violentnarratives and braggadocio and little else. Snoop Dogg’s “Doggy Style” incorporates similar tones, with one reviewer stating that the album espouses an irreverent dope, bitches, and gun mentality. This attitude carried onto the streets; many people took what the artists said to heart and began to live the music. While this kind of thing has happened before, the level of violence perpetuated by music had never reached levels like in 1993.The prevalence of gangster rap in America’s society has contributed significantly to gun related violence.

            However, given these statistics, the amount of gun violence in the USA has dropped significantly since 1993. Firearm homicide rates are 49% lower in 2010 than 1993. Other violent crimes involving guns dropped a whopping 75%. Even so, 56% of Americansbelieve that the number of crimes involving a gun is higher than it was 20years ago. I believe this is simply because of media hysteria surrounding mass shootings. While shootings involving many people are widely publicized, they only accounted for 0.8% of homicides in 2008. Thus, coupling the belief of Americans that gun violence is on the rise and the amount of attention media outlets pay to homicides, it is no wonder that gun control is a hot debate.

            So what do we do? Be smart. Be active. The topic of gun control may never go away. As long as the media continues to follow the stories, as long as the United States continues to uphold the constitution (and why wouldn’t it?), as long as organizations such as the NRA exist, guns are here to stay. Many see guns as a form of protection, but it appears that we are not protecting ourselves from just anyone; we are protecting us from ourselves. The only common sense thing to do, in my opinion, is to resist the use of guns. Even when a situation arises where one seems necessary, it is important to remember how powerful they are and how quickly a mistake can be made. Mistakes with guns cannot be taken back – ask Plaxico Burress, who shot himself in the leg at a club and went to jail for 18 months for carrying a concealed firearm. Ask any one of the parents today who have to live with the fact that their child found a gun, that was there for protection, and ended up killing themselves or one of their friends.

            It is only once the public decides to stand up to guns will things change; it might be a civil right, but that civil right was put in place because of the threat of the English Empire. That threat had been alleviated 250 years ago, and now the only threat to our property, privacy, and protection comes from the ones around us, the ones we interact with on a day to day basis. While I understand the importance of protecting one’s worth, it can prove more worthy to stand up and not fight in protest. Through the use of common sense, the worth of a human life makes itself known. Through the use of common sense, one realizes that we are all on the same planet and must work together to create the most meaningful life we can. This is not done through the use of guns, but through the use of rhetoric, debates, and if it comes to it, old fashioned fist fights. Craig’s father in Friday so eloquently put it, “You kids today are nothing but punks. Sissy fighters So quick to pick up a gun. You scared to take an ass whooping. *puts up fists* this is what makes you a man. When I was growing up, this is all the protection we needed. You win some, you lose some. But you live, you live, to fight another day.”

Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting sparks Gun Control debate

**Possible trigger effect**

BANG! Everyone starts to panic. “GET ON THE FLOOR!” People screaming, running, hiding, as the man dressed in all black with a mask walks down the hall. With a gun in each hand, he shoots at anyone still standing or running. With each fallen victim, his maniac laughter grows louder and louder, resonating with the echoes of the gunshots and shells hitting the floor. As the sirens of the police grew closer, he makes his final round of shots, and all is silent just before the police reach the scene of chaos. The shooter has ended his rampage with himself, as the last victim.

That was just a fictional scenario of a mass shooting. Many other crimes involving gun violence happen everyday and everywhere. Many gun laws about the obtaining of and owning a gun or any firearms have been implemented, but have the people’s ability in owning a gun do any good in preventing deaths? In fact, I think guns in general usually lead to increased violence and death. That is why gun control laws should be applied to limit the number of guns allowed or even ban the owning of firearms. Yes, many do believe that having a gun is self-defense and is a must in human rights, but think about it: the reason why people own guns is to protect themselves from those with guns, so if the threat has no gun to start with, you wouldn’t feel the need to own a gun to protect yourself with.

However, because guns have not been banned and not much control is put on them, criminals continue to easily obtain guns and commit crimes with them. A recent event involving the death and severe injuries of more than 20 people occurred on December 14, 2012 when a man by the name of Adam Lanza shot and killed 20 students and 6 staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. (Wikipedia.com) Lanza was a 20-year old man who had access to his mother’s guns and rifles who was described as a “gun enthusiast who owned at least a dozen firearms”. Before his shooting at the school, authorities have claimed that Lanza had shot and killed his mother, Nancy Lanza. Now if gun control laws were enforced, Lanza’s mother may not have had possession to so many deadly guns and thus would have prevented her son from killing her and prevented the mass murder.

Examples of the kinds of firearms Lanza used in the shooting. (See a timeline of events by CNN)

Strict gun control laws were not in place at the time of the shooting, however some form of law was implemented that may have helped delay the onset of Lanza’s violent actions. During that time under Connecticut gun laws, Lanza was of age to carry a long gun such as a shotgun or rifle, but he was still underage for owning or carrying handguns. Perhaps due to the law preventing him from carrying a long gun until he was of age, his actions were delayed till then, but because his mother had the full right to own such large quantities of firearms, of age or not, he could have taken the guns and shot anyone up at anytime.

In reaction to the tragic event, President Obama announced a plan for better control of firearms in the United States on January 16, 2013. With the announcement of his plan, the debate on gun control reignited. The President’s plan for improving gun control included proposals for new laws that Congress should pass, along with some that does not need approval from Congress.

Some congressional actions that were proposed included:

• Requiring background checks for all gun sales, including those by private sellers that are currently exempt.
• Passing a new and stronger ban on assault weapons.
• Limiting ammunition magazines to 10 rounds.
• Banning the possession of armor-piercing bullets by anyone except for members of the military and law enforcement.
• A $4 billion administration proposal to help maintain 15,000 police officers on duty.

Some executive actions included:

• Requiring federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system.
• Addressing legal barriers such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, that may prevent states from giving out information to the background check system.
• A rule allowing law enforcement authorities the ability to perform a full background check on an individual prior to returning a seized gun.
• Developing model emergency response plans for schools, houses of worship and institutions of higher education.

(List provided by The New York Times)

A video of President Obama’s announcement of his plan posted by Whitehouse.gov includes the major points in reducing gun violence and protecting our children and communities is shown below.

See video on YouTube: Now Is The Time to Take Action Against Gun Violence

On April 17, 2013, the Manchin-Toomey Background Checks Bill, a bill that exercised some of the restrictions of gun control, failed to pass the U.S. Senate. In response to the failing of the bill, President Obama expressed angrily in a speech that it was a shameful day for Washington (NYDailyNews.com).

A transcription of Obama’s speech can be found on Salon.com.

The call for action on this issue with gun violence and control has been long overdue. The Sandy Hook Elementary shooting was another tragedy that could have been avoided. The event was also what opened the eyes of the President to announce a plan for better gun control. That is what restarted the national debate on gun control and possibly a safer future for everyone. Though from the failing of the Manchin-Toomey Background Checks Bill, it is clear that America is far from seeing the requirements it needs to protect its citizens. Gun control laws should be enforced because it will help prevent criminals from gaining access or buying guns, limit the amount of deaths, increase police protection, and decrease gun violence in general. Michael McLaughlin of HuffingtonPost.com, provides a side story of the gun violence in the United States on a given year. He wrote that

“If Americans misbehaved on Jan. 15, 2013, as they typically do, then there were 30 gun-related murders and 162 people wounded by firearms in the country, based on the most recent figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On top of that, another 53 people kill themselves with a firearm each day, according to the CDC.
Breaking it down further, three people are killed by a gun per hour and almost seven people are shot every 60 minutes.“ (McLaughlin, HuffingtonPost.com)

McLaughlin’s point provide us with some statistics on the number of deaths resulting from gun violence. Perhaps these numbers will be enough to influence those against gun control laws to change their minds. Not everyone may agree with what I have presented, but take the issue to heart, sleep on it. What would you do to protect those around you? To end the horror that runs wild on the streets; that one day, that horror may end up killing your loved ones, or worse, you. Just think about it.