Society as a whole has become less and less violent. Since 1991, reported crimes committed has dropped by almost double (Statista.com). Many people blame the AR-15 for most of the mass murders in America, and ask for the “assault” weapon to be banned. However, many details of the gun are skewed. In an article written by Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, she stated that of all the gun deaths in America, 60% were suicides; and even more contrary to belief, nearly double of the mass killings (4 or more deaths) were with handguns instead of rifles (statista.com).
This resulted in an increase by 183% of shootings and by 239% of deaths by guns. Obviously, this is a problem, that both puts people’s lives at risk and makes some live in fear. First, the number of shootings is completely intolerable. Many innocent people die due to gun shootings.
Gun control has been a controversial issue for years and numerous solutions have been proposed and enacted. The debate sparked after tragic civilian attacks, like school shootings. An example, is the tragedy in 1999 at Columbine High School. Two teens attacked the school, killing 13 people and wounding more than 20 others before killing themselves. Following this attack, numerous solutions have been argued and purposed.
‘’Guns are responsible for over thirty-three thousand deaths in the United States annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).. In 2014, the CDC reported that 11,008 of the 15,872 homicides committed in the United States that year involved a firearm. Of the 42,826 suicides reported that year, 21,386 involved a firearm. These statistics have inspired efforts at the federal and state levels to enact gun control legislation to reduce crime and violence’’(‘’Gun Control’’). According to the statistic guns are held for over 33,000 deaths in the United States.
Some days crime rates are up and then the next they are down, what we do know is that America is becoming safer. In 2005, 11,346 persons were killed by firearm violence 477,040 persons were victims of a crime committed with a firearm, (National Institute of Justice). Surprisingly, a lot of gun violence in America is related to self defense. Between 1987 and 1990 it was found that guns were used in defense during a crime incident 64,615 times annually. This equates to two times out of 1,000 incidents (0.2%) that occurred in this time frame.
Many accidental deaths happen each year by guns in the hands of people who do not know gun safety. People are concerned that the amount of guns available have allowed gun violence to run rampant throughout the United States. An estimation of the amount of people in the U.S. shot each year is staggering, “The Brady Campaign to Prevent Violence estimates that around 144,994 people are shot each year in the U.S.” (8 Facts). This data shows that thousands each year are shot in the United States, which includes the deaths of those killed each year. According to the supporters of more age restrictions, the new laws will take some of the guns off the streets and decrease the amount of gun
PERSUASIVE SPEECH Choong Hwan Park Speech 101 Attention Getter: using the video that shows gun violence for 15 seconds. Thesis: In order to solve gun violence, only government officers such as police, firemen, or soldiers should be able to possess guns and civilians should not be able to own guns for any reason. Credibility: Since I was a little kid, I watched a lot of news that was related to gun violence in the U.S. Now that I am living in the United States, I sometimes feel that I am not safe when I take the subway or walk the streets at night.
The use of and the owning of guns is a very hot and debated topic in society today. For many, this is a life and death debate due to the recent and numerous school shootings. These school shootings have caused an outcry for more gun control, specifically in relation to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Despite these calls, increased gun control is not the answer. Most gun owners’ use their guns responsibly and for good purposes.
Gun Control and Mass Shootings in America Gun violence is an unquestionable issue in America, with the United States ranking as one of the worst with both homicides and suicides using guns. That being said, we outnumber Mexico in gun related deaths and among first-world countries we rank far above others in the number of gun deaths, such as England and Australia. Consequently, we live in one of the only first world countries that does not have extensive gun laws and restrictions to gun access. Aside from the countless homicides and suicides by firearm in this country, one particular issue within this predicament is mass shootings, with the most recent mass shooting occurring on February 14th, 2018 at a high school in Parkland, Florida where 17 people were killed. Although, it may seem like an easy fix to just implement gun control laws into our society to eliminate gun violence, but it is important to note that Americans own nearly half of all firearms globally, which is roughly 325 million guns;
Gun Violence In America Gun violence in america accounted for 33,636 deaths in 2015 alone and that number is only rising. If every american was able to obtain a firearm imagine what the numbers of gun related deaths. Even gun related injuries caused many more hospital visits in america what many other common incidents. That is why america needs to implement tighter gun laws to reduce the amount of gun violence in America. Without this we will continue to see shooting, gun death, gun injuries resulting in more and more gun related violence.
On, February 14, 2018, a mass school shooting in Florida got the nation’s attention, however, gun violence has always been an issue, and it is only getting worse. Now people are saying there needs to be something done, and there are many that agree. Starting off there should be stricter gun laws, because in today’s world it is too easy to get handguns and assault rifles. With, the capabilities a firearm holds, such as taking people’s lives there must be stricter restrictions that could help cut down the gun violence and save lives. Increasing the age of purchasing a firearm would be one step.
Alexis Clarke Professor Frank English 110 29 October 2015 Gun Control Will Not Eliminate Crime The big issue of gun control in the United States, is that many people believe that it takes away the 2nd Amendment rights, which is the right to bear arms. Citizens of the United States are promised the the right to bear arms in the Constitution, and by applying gun control laws takes away that same right. Crime is high enough in cities with very few laws pertaining to gun control, but taking guns away from people who are registered with license will not solve the problem either. Placing more limitations on gun owners, particularly responsible gun owners, will not reduce gun violence.
The problem with gun violence in schools has existed for years, and something should be done to eliminate the problem that endangers students who attend schools every day. One recent incident with gun violence in schools occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School where several young children were killed and many others injured (Elliott 529). Also, a bombing incident in 1927 killed thirty-seven children and was likely the start of school gun violence (Elliott 529). Children, who attend schools, sometimes do not feel safe because of the problem with gun
They can be used to defend and protect as well as to threaten and kill. Guns and crime go together. A study conducted by the American Journal of Public Health found that the legal purchase of a gun seems to be associated with an increased risk of violent death. Every year, Americans are shocked by numerous mass shootings and senseless acts of violence involving guns and weapons. And, every year around 100,000 people are shot among which 18,000 are children and teens (Lane, 131).
Instead of banning or limiting guns, the evidence will show that removing the current restrictions and targeting individuals instead of guns will be a more effective process. The topic of gun control has two polarized opinions. One such opinion targets the individuals responsible for the crime, instead of just the weapons. John Moorhouse and Brent Wanner tackle the issue of gun control in their article “Does Gun Control Reduce Crime Or Does Crime Increase Gun Control”, which was published in 2006 in the twenty-sixth volume of the Cato Journal. These researchers looked at the effects gun control laws had on violent crime and gun violence in the individual states.
