Morgan Binnie
Sokol
DE102 Community Issue Essay
12 May 2016
Gun Control in Communities
Guns, at a glance, are weapons that have a metal tube, and are loaded with bullets, shells or missiles that are fired with an explosive force. These weapons are usually characterized with a loud or sharp sound can be intimidating and frightening, yet fascinating and tend to attract many different types of people. These gun-carrying people use guns for myriad reasons including; self-defense, hunting, entertainment or conversely, for injuring or simply brutally murdering others. Throughout history, guns have made an impact on people’s lives, as well as the different laws that the Supreme Court has made against the blasters, including the Second Amendment of the Constitution. The Supreme Court has been involved heavily in the approving of stricter gun laws. Specifically, restricting gun carrying in named locations places as well as procedures as to how someone is able to buy a fire arm. Today, guns are being used for shooting practice (recreational), hunting, self-defense and sadly, for taking the lives of others. There are about 270 million handguns in the United States (Americnagunfacts). This is certainly a factor as to why so many people are for stricter gun control. A recent survey, conducted in Mesa, Arizona, displayed how the community felt about the idea of stricter gun control. Of the citizens polled, 46% were for more gun control and 26% were against more gun control. Also, 20% of the community were neither for or against, and 8% had no interest in the subject, (Binnie). This goes to show how important the topic of gun control may be in the world we are living in today. Anyone can pick up one of those guns and use it in either a good or a bad way. According to Congressional candidate, Ruben Gallego, Arizona ranks number 11 for the most gun deaths, as well as the number of homicides being equivalent to that of Mexico’s, (AZCentral). Taking in consideration these staggering numbers, there needs to be more defined ways to ensure gun safety. This can include; conducting more in-depth background checks, being a fully licensed gun owner, teaching mandatory classes on gun safety and finally, implementing an easily accessible threat hotline in case of an emergency.
Background checks are always mandatory when someone is purchasing a firearm from a dealer or retail store. This helps the dealer know that the person they are selling the gun to is mentally stable or at least does not have a criminal history. The mental stability of a person is important to consider because it is never known if someone has an illness when they are just looked at directly. The majority of the mass shootings that have occurred were committed by someone who had a mental illness. However, background checks don’t apply to private firearm sales, (Mantel). This is where background checks should become more strict and mandatory, in purchasing a gun. The private firearm sales could be recorded by, perhaps having a title system place and registration, like someone would sign when purchasing a car. This would help the government and other gun owners know that there was a secure and valid background check being recorded and that their firearm would not be used with maleficence. Another survey conducted, in Mesa, Arizona, revealed that 74% of the community strongly agree that background checks should be implemented before purchasing any and all firearms, including through private sales, (Binnie). Figure 1
As the chart shows, the community polled either agreed or were neutral on implementing more background checks. Not one person polled disagreed that background checks were a must. This difinitively shows a major concern about the manner in which citizens, including criminals are able to purchase a gun. As well as checking for mental stability, background checks also ensure the person purchasing the gun isn’t or was a criminal. In Arizona, background checks have up to three days to be completed. If they aren’t completed by this time, the sale of a firearm can be made without the check going completely through, (Arizona Republic). The article written by the Arizona Republic was written in 2001 and shows how background checks were becoming more consistently required throughout the recent years. If more strict background checks were to be enforced, it would overall decrease the number of violent people getting a gun that they could do harm with. These enforcements need to be implemented all over the United States, not only in a few states.
— in recent months have prompted some lawmakers to call for stricter state and federal firearm controls. But while some states have introduced new requirements for background checks and restrictions on private gun sales, others, such as Kansas and Texas, have expanded access to guns and loosened restrictions for carrying concealed firearms. (McLeod)
Along with background checks being administered, gun owners should always carry an updated license on them. This keeps the public, as well as police officers, informed that the person carrying the gun is responsible. Again, a survey conducted in Mesa, Arizona, shows how important gun license are to 80% of the polled, (Binnie).
Figure 2
In this chart, only 8% of the community believe that someone should be allowed to own a gun without a license, and 12% aren’t sure of the matter. This chart also shows people overwhelmingly believe gun owners should have a license. To improve the number of citizens who don’t have a license, a law should be in place as well as a heavy fine to all that violate. Licenses need to be mandatory, especially if it depends on the safety of others.
In addition to obtaining a gun handling license, a new gun-owner should be mandated to take a class and be educated on the safety of guns. This may include different classes that will teach how to operate and safely handle a gun. Mr. Edward Martin, a formal General in the Navy, believes that people should have to take and pass a class to be able to have a license at all. It may also be important for gun owners to occasionally take refresher courses as a matter of owning a gun.
There’s no question, they would improve everybody’s chances of good gun management for that person. I think the NRA needs to do more of that, I think the states need to do more of that. They should make it a requirement, if you want a permit, if you want a gun, you have to show the certificate from graduating from basic school, like a driver’s license. (Martin)
Organizations like the National Rifle Association (NRA) have amazing programs to help educate adults and children about handling a firearms and gun safety. Each program shows how someone can operate a gun safely, as well as what to do in a case of a self-defense situation. The NRA provides three different steps in gun safety rules. These rules include; always keeping the gun pointed in a safe direction, always keeping your finger off of the trigger until you are ready to shoot, and lastly, always keep the gun unloaded until you are ready to use it, (NRA). Each step will assist in preventing any problems that may arise when handling a firearm. These classes and gun safety steps will also promote safety in each community, as well as decreasing the number of accidents that happen when a gun shoots off accidentally. Children also need to be educated and well informed about guns. There are too many children that can somehow get a hold of a gun and accidently shoot it because they didn’t know how to use it. The community needs to hold more classes to educate the children and students. They will prevent dangerous situations with guns and dissolve the nature of gun violence.
In conjunction with educating the public, people need to have access to an emergency hotline, that they can call in a dire situation. There are so many hotlines around the country, and in different communities for suicidal thoughts, bullying or domestic abuse, that adding one for gun related issues seems reasonable. These hotlines are fantastic in aiding people in situations they cannot handle themselves. This is why there needs to be a hotline for gun threats in Arizona, especially because the Arizona communities are filled with such violent crimes dealing with guns, and rank 11th in gun violence in the country. The hotline should be focused on gun threats because it is important to keep communities safe from any attacks or impending tragedies. Hotlines can provide more help to an individual in need, as well as getting faster and improved services. The hotline could also be used for kids that feel like they cannot talk to their parents about the safety of guns. The City of Mesa has a hotline for Graffiti, however, does not have a gun threat hotline, (Mesa AZ). To solve the issue, Mesa, as well as the whole state of Arizona, needs to consider building a hotline for these people in need. Again in an interview, Mr. Martin stated that he believed hotlines would be good for gun safety and threats because they could be sort of like a 911 call. A good idea for these gun threat hotlines would be that they would treat it exactly like a 911 call and track the person down who is doing the threatening. This way, the action is taken immediately and as many people are saved, during the act, as possible. This would reduce gun violence in the communities and have a big impact on how people may feel in their homes, as to how safe they are.
Along with resolutions to lessen the issues of how strict gun control laws may be positive or negative, there are a few reasons to why gun control may not be the answer to all the problems of public shootings and mass murders that have been happening. Because teachers are becoming affected by the mass shootings at public schools, there was a recent interview conducted with Mrs. Belinda Long about her feelings on gun control laws. Mrs. Long stated that the laws wouldn’t affect much of anyone in terms of how people were getting guns because they are going to get them anyway. Like the war on drugs, there may be someday a war on guns. People who are desperate to retrieve a gun, for whatever matter, will be able to get it, just how they are illegally receiving drugs. The government and possibly the NRA need to take action in resolving the issues of gun control, instead of making them more strict. If gun control laws were to become more strict, it is believe may be outraged and in disagreement with the laws.
In conclusion, the gun control debate, most likely, won’t be solved anytime soon, and certainly if actions aren’t to be taken. These actions would include; to permit more detailed and in-depth background checks before any firearm purchases, licensing of more gun owners, promoting more classes for gun safety and implementing the ideas of hotline services all over Arizona. These programs and solutions would decrease the amount of people that are getting hurt everyday in our community due to accidents, threats or murders. Although, the right of the people cannot be completely taken away. “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,” (Legal Information Institute). The rights of the American people, and in each and every community around the country, are to be able to have a handheld firearm to protect themselves against any danger that may come to them. Not, to shoot up a school or commit murder of any sort. The people can choose to have a gun on them, or not to, depending on their beliefs. The Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America is used by the American people to protect themselves. Any problem that comes from the amendment, needs to be solved instead of completely vanishing from the rights of the people. The point of the stated call to actions to more strict gun control laws, are to prevent people from killing others.
Word count: 2,033
Works Cited
A Factual Look at Guns in America." American Gun Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.
Long, Belinda. "Gun Control Issues." Personal interview. 22 Apr. 2016.
Binnie, Morgan E. "Gun Control Survey." Google Forms. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2016.
"Delays Let Felons Buy Guns DPS Behind On Background Checks." Arizona Republic. N.p., 16 May 2001. Web. 20 Apr. 2016.
Ethan McLeod. "Gun Control." CQ Researcher. N.p., 6 Aug. 2015. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
Mantel, Barbara. "Gun Control." CQ Researcher. N.p., 8 Mar. 2013. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.
Martin, Edward. "Gun Control." Personal interview. 22 Apr. 2016.
"NRA Gun Safety Rules." NRA: Programs and Services. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
"Phone Numbers & Org Chart." Mesa, AZ. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
Rough, Ginger, and Isiah Kurz. "Fact Check: Where Does Arizona Rank in Gun Violence?" AZCentral. N.p., 28 May 2014. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
"Sample Criminal Record Search." Criminal Background Records. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2016.
"Second Amendment." LII / Legal Information Institute. Cornell University Law School, n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.
"Self-Defense and the Second Amendment." Ebscohost. National Review, 13 Dec. 2015. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.
Sokol
DE102 Community Issue Essay
12 May 2016
Gun Control in Communities
Guns, at a glance, are weapons that have a metal tube, and are loaded with bullets, shells or missiles that are fired with an explosive force. These weapons are usually characterized with a loud or sharp sound can be intimidating and frightening, yet fascinating and tend to attract many different types of people. These gun-carrying people use guns for myriad reasons including; self-defense, hunting, entertainment or conversely, for injuring or simply brutally murdering others. Throughout history, guns have made an impact on people’s lives, as well as the different laws that the Supreme Court has made against the blasters, including the Second Amendment of the Constitution. The Supreme Court has been involved heavily in the approving of stricter gun laws. Specifically, restricting gun carrying in named locations places as well as procedures as to how someone is able to buy a fire arm. Today, guns are being used for shooting practice (recreational), hunting, self-defense and sadly, for taking the lives of others. There are about 270 million handguns in the United States (Americnagunfacts). This is certainly a factor as to why so many people are for stricter gun control. A recent survey, conducted in Mesa, Arizona, displayed how the community felt about the idea of stricter gun control. Of the citizens polled, 46% were for more gun control and 26% were against more gun control. Also, 20% of the community were neither for or against, and 8% had no interest in the subject, (Binnie). This goes to show how important the topic of gun control may be in the world we are living in today. Anyone can pick up one of those guns and use it in either a good or a bad way. According to Congressional candidate, Ruben Gallego, Arizona ranks number 11 for the most gun deaths, as well as the number of homicides being equivalent to that of Mexico’s, (AZCentral). Taking in consideration these staggering numbers, there needs to be more defined ways to ensure gun safety. This can include; conducting more in-depth background checks, being a fully licensed gun owner, teaching mandatory classes on gun safety and finally, implementing an easily accessible threat hotline in case of an emergency.
Background checks are always mandatory when someone is purchasing a firearm from a dealer or retail store. This helps the dealer know that the person they are selling the gun to is mentally stable or at least does not have a criminal history. The mental stability of a person is important to consider because it is never known if someone has an illness when they are just looked at directly. The majority of the mass shootings that have occurred were committed by someone who had a mental illness. However, background checks don’t apply to private firearm sales, (Mantel). This is where background checks should become more strict and mandatory, in purchasing a gun. The private firearm sales could be recorded by, perhaps having a title system place and registration, like someone would sign when purchasing a car. This would help the government and other gun owners know that there was a secure and valid background check being recorded and that their firearm would not be used with maleficence. Another survey conducted, in Mesa, Arizona, revealed that 74% of the community strongly agree that background checks should be implemented before purchasing any and all firearms, including through private sales, (Binnie). Figure 1
As the chart shows, the community polled either agreed or were neutral on implementing more background checks. Not one person polled disagreed that background checks were a must. This difinitively shows a major concern about the manner in which citizens, including criminals are able to purchase a gun. As well as checking for mental stability, background checks also ensure the person purchasing the gun isn’t or was a criminal. In Arizona, background checks have up to three days to be completed. If they aren’t completed by this time, the sale of a firearm can be made without the check going completely through, (Arizona Republic). The article written by the Arizona Republic was written in 2001 and shows how background checks were becoming more consistently required throughout the recent years. If more strict background checks were to be enforced, it would overall decrease the number of violent people getting a gun that they could do harm with. These enforcements need to be implemented all over the United States, not only in a few states.
— in recent months have prompted some lawmakers to call for stricter state and federal firearm controls. But while some states have introduced new requirements for background checks and restrictions on private gun sales, others, such as Kansas and Texas, have expanded access to guns and loosened restrictions for carrying concealed firearms. (McLeod)
Along with background checks being administered, gun owners should always carry an updated license on them. This keeps the public, as well as police officers, informed that the person carrying the gun is responsible. Again, a survey conducted in Mesa, Arizona, shows how important gun license are to 80% of the polled, (Binnie).
Figure 2
In this chart, only 8% of the community believe that someone should be allowed to own a gun without a license, and 12% aren’t sure of the matter. This chart also shows people overwhelmingly believe gun owners should have a license. To improve the number of citizens who don’t have a license, a law should be in place as well as a heavy fine to all that violate. Licenses need to be mandatory, especially if it depends on the safety of others.
In addition to obtaining a gun handling license, a new gun-owner should be mandated to take a class and be educated on the safety of guns. This may include different classes that will teach how to operate and safely handle a gun. Mr. Edward Martin, a formal General in the Navy, believes that people should have to take and pass a class to be able to have a license at all. It may also be important for gun owners to occasionally take refresher courses as a matter of owning a gun.
There’s no question, they would improve everybody’s chances of good gun management for that person. I think the NRA needs to do more of that, I think the states need to do more of that. They should make it a requirement, if you want a permit, if you want a gun, you have to show the certificate from graduating from basic school, like a driver’s license. (Martin)
Organizations like the National Rifle Association (NRA) have amazing programs to help educate adults and children about handling a firearms and gun safety. Each program shows how someone can operate a gun safely, as well as what to do in a case of a self-defense situation. The NRA provides three different steps in gun safety rules. These rules include; always keeping the gun pointed in a safe direction, always keeping your finger off of the trigger until you are ready to shoot, and lastly, always keep the gun unloaded until you are ready to use it, (NRA). Each step will assist in preventing any problems that may arise when handling a firearm. These classes and gun safety steps will also promote safety in each community, as well as decreasing the number of accidents that happen when a gun shoots off accidentally. Children also need to be educated and well informed about guns. There are too many children that can somehow get a hold of a gun and accidently shoot it because they didn’t know how to use it. The community needs to hold more classes to educate the children and students. They will prevent dangerous situations with guns and dissolve the nature of gun violence.
In conjunction with educating the public, people need to have access to an emergency hotline, that they can call in a dire situation. There are so many hotlines around the country, and in different communities for suicidal thoughts, bullying or domestic abuse, that adding one for gun related issues seems reasonable. These hotlines are fantastic in aiding people in situations they cannot handle themselves. This is why there needs to be a hotline for gun threats in Arizona, especially because the Arizona communities are filled with such violent crimes dealing with guns, and rank 11th in gun violence in the country. The hotline should be focused on gun threats because it is important to keep communities safe from any attacks or impending tragedies. Hotlines can provide more help to an individual in need, as well as getting faster and improved services. The hotline could also be used for kids that feel like they cannot talk to their parents about the safety of guns. The City of Mesa has a hotline for Graffiti, however, does not have a gun threat hotline, (Mesa AZ). To solve the issue, Mesa, as well as the whole state of Arizona, needs to consider building a hotline for these people in need. Again in an interview, Mr. Martin stated that he believed hotlines would be good for gun safety and threats because they could be sort of like a 911 call. A good idea for these gun threat hotlines would be that they would treat it exactly like a 911 call and track the person down who is doing the threatening. This way, the action is taken immediately and as many people are saved, during the act, as possible. This would reduce gun violence in the communities and have a big impact on how people may feel in their homes, as to how safe they are.
Along with resolutions to lessen the issues of how strict gun control laws may be positive or negative, there are a few reasons to why gun control may not be the answer to all the problems of public shootings and mass murders that have been happening. Because teachers are becoming affected by the mass shootings at public schools, there was a recent interview conducted with Mrs. Belinda Long about her feelings on gun control laws. Mrs. Long stated that the laws wouldn’t affect much of anyone in terms of how people were getting guns because they are going to get them anyway. Like the war on drugs, there may be someday a war on guns. People who are desperate to retrieve a gun, for whatever matter, will be able to get it, just how they are illegally receiving drugs. The government and possibly the NRA need to take action in resolving the issues of gun control, instead of making them more strict. If gun control laws were to become more strict, it is believe may be outraged and in disagreement with the laws.
In conclusion, the gun control debate, most likely, won’t be solved anytime soon, and certainly if actions aren’t to be taken. These actions would include; to permit more detailed and in-depth background checks before any firearm purchases, licensing of more gun owners, promoting more classes for gun safety and implementing the ideas of hotline services all over Arizona. These programs and solutions would decrease the amount of people that are getting hurt everyday in our community due to accidents, threats or murders. Although, the right of the people cannot be completely taken away. “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,” (Legal Information Institute). The rights of the American people, and in each and every community around the country, are to be able to have a handheld firearm to protect themselves against any danger that may come to them. Not, to shoot up a school or commit murder of any sort. The people can choose to have a gun on them, or not to, depending on their beliefs. The Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America is used by the American people to protect themselves. Any problem that comes from the amendment, needs to be solved instead of completely vanishing from the rights of the people. The point of the stated call to actions to more strict gun control laws, are to prevent people from killing others.
Word count: 2,033
Works Cited
A Factual Look at Guns in America." American Gun Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.
Long, Belinda. "Gun Control Issues." Personal interview. 22 Apr. 2016.
Binnie, Morgan E. "Gun Control Survey." Google Forms. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2016.
"Delays Let Felons Buy Guns DPS Behind On Background Checks." Arizona Republic. N.p., 16 May 2001. Web. 20 Apr. 2016.
Ethan McLeod. "Gun Control." CQ Researcher. N.p., 6 Aug. 2015. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
Mantel, Barbara. "Gun Control." CQ Researcher. N.p., 8 Mar. 2013. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.
Martin, Edward. "Gun Control." Personal interview. 22 Apr. 2016.
"NRA Gun Safety Rules." NRA: Programs and Services. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
"Phone Numbers & Org Chart." Mesa, AZ. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
Rough, Ginger, and Isiah Kurz. "Fact Check: Where Does Arizona Rank in Gun Violence?" AZCentral. N.p., 28 May 2014. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
"Sample Criminal Record Search." Criminal Background Records. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2016.
"Second Amendment." LII / Legal Information Institute. Cornell University Law School, n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.
"Self-Defense and the Second Amendment." Ebscohost. National Review, 13 Dec. 2015. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.