Gun Safety Training Essay

On December 15, 1791, the second amendment was officially ratified (“What is the second amendment and how is it defined?”). Nearly 240 years have passed since then and more than 200 Americans are shot and wounded every day, including more than 110 that are killed. (“Gun Violence in America”). Though these injuries and deaths are very significant, the effects of gun violence extend far beyond them and shape the millions of lives who have witnessed it or had a loved one killed from it. Many of these deaths and injuries stem from three major weak points in gun control. The United States has had too many instances of gun violence and mass shootings throughout the years, and it is time for a change. There needs to be background checks on all gun

This training should include how and where to store your firearm. Everytown for Gun Safety states that almost 40 percent of gun owners have no experience in safety training. Moreover, 8 states and the District of Columbia require safety training or have related exam requirements (“Gun Owner Safety Training”). The fact that 4 out of 10 gun owners probably don’t know how to use a gun for protection is a little bit frightening. Everytown for Gun Safety explains that everybody should have to receive comprehensive training that includes live-fire training experience just in case they will need it in self defense one day. They also explain that it should include instruction on how to handle, use, transport, and how to store a firearm. Furthermore, Everytown for Gun Safety states “Education on self-defense laws, how to de-escalate arguments, and the risks associated with children and people with suicidal thoughts accessing firearms are essential knowledge for gun owners.” In a self-defense experiment that involves a firearm simulator, many of the participants accidently "shot" innocent bystanders or unarmed people proving their lack of knowledge of how to use a gun for self defense. Participants with higher levels of firearm training and experience performed greater than participants with lower levels of training (“Gun Owner Safety Training”). That data alone proves a lot of people's lack of knowledge of how to use a gun. Furthermore, Everytown for Gun Safety believes that gun safety training should be mandatory in addition to purchasing a firearm, especially if a gun owner wants to bring their gun into public (“Gun Owner Safety Training”). That leads into another topic, Everytown for Gun Safety says “For over a century, states have recognized the public safety benefits of requiring a permit