ktmeng/mec huggingface dataset:
Topic: gun-control

Sandy Hook, a private/elite elementary school in an upscale suburb of a quiet town in Connecticut; 28 dead. The Borderline Bar in Thousand Oaks, California; a suburban LA college bar; 12 dead. Fort Hood Military Hospital, a secure facility on a well-guarded military base in Texas; 13 dead. An outdoor concert, on the Strip in Las Vegas, with metal detectors, security screenings, and dozens of armed police officers; 59 dead! A guy walks up to a bunch of Congressman practicing softball for a charity benefit game (in Washington DC) with armed Capitol Police watching. The arbitrary nature of these events demonstrates the complexity of this issue. In this immediate gratification world, we live in (smart phones, amazon overnight, inflight wifi etc.) we demand answers and wanted quick decisive solutions by an expert on what I have to do to solve this and move on. There are people on all the news shows telling me that this is simple, they know the answer. And of course it starts with a catch phrase; “if we make guns illegal, only criminals will have guns!” or “they can take my gun… from my cold dead hands!” This triggers the first problem; emotion, emotion complicates everything. We can all agree that gun violence is bad. A kid walking into school and killing other innocent kids is horrible. Right, Left, Conservative, Liberal there is complete agreement that these acts are evil. It’s all over the news, parents screaming in anguish, fellow innocents crying and holding candle light vigils with flowers and stuffed animals.
Topic: gun-control

The scene is heartbreaking. These images create three emotions in rapid succession; sorrow, grief and then anger. It’s a new found by product of this immediate gratification technology; Emotion manipulation. It’s why we have become so dependent on the 24 hour news. It manipulates our emotions. It gives us highs and lows. What evokes more emotion than the tragic shooting of innocents. These shootings become a media circus. It sells. Reporters covering these events become celebrities. They move from local to national exposure. There are media experts and analysts that move in, they create excitement and insight into mindset and actions. They create biographies of the tragic victims and they sensationalize the perpetrator. According to the recent studies, there exists evidence shortage regarding the effect of most laws on gun control. However, a study conducted by RAND Corporation (2018) revealed that there exist numerous effects brought about by gun policies.
Topic: gun-control

Among the developed nations today, the United States is one of the rare countries where arms rights are inscribed in the constitution. Accompanying the possession and use of firearms, the once-great power of the world is also where gun violence occurs likely every single day, sometimes with catastrophic consequences, such as the latest shooting on February 14, 2018, happened at Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD) High School, a former student walked into school and shot 34 people and 14 of them died where others are injured.
Topic: gun-control

Because of that mass shooting hundred thousand of people gathered up in Washington D.C to protest about gun violence and bring their hope that the government will stricter about gun control, young children marched, holding hands with their parents. Grandmothers and grandfathers wept as they shouted “Enough is enough!’ Students and teachers carried signs that read ‘Never Again.’ (Tod Olson). There was an election on November, not in Florida but also every state in United States giving their hope that new congress will help for better in gun control and help to stop gun violence in United States.
Topic: gun-control

It will be less mass shooting if stricter guns purchase occurs. Americans who were support background checks before individuals purchase guns at guns shows, number who agree with it are 65% and still increasing (Pew Research Center). A survey by the Pew Research Center shows that the United States is in the most intense conflict in the last 20 years. Southerners also strongly support gun ownership. Similarly, large coastal cities on the East and West coasts are vehemently opposed to guns while the Far West, with farm owners, farmers, miners, loggers, and independent groups respect and need guns for various purposes. (Pew Researching center).
Topic: gun-control

The number of gun deaths is alarming. Over the past decade, on average, more than 33,000 Americans have died from guns. Two third of them were suicides. About 1,300 victims were killed in domestic violence involving guns- 586 cases by accident, 11,000 homicides, and hundred killed by shooting. Mass shootings have become deadlier and seem to happen frequently. From 2000 to 2015 the numbers of shootings have increase more than doubled- there are four out of five incredible deadliest shootings had happened in past five years that shaken American History. Beside that 2017 is the year where most of the mass shootings that had big casualties take place compare to any years (Wall Street Journal).FBI shows that because the mass shootings increasing from the straight line from 2000 then from 2013 the shootings have increased dramatically we can call it as a “ rising trend”, where the shooters follow the trend when there are more and more (FBI). The FBI have shown how the mass shootings growing big from 1982 until now in figure 1 and the figure has shown 2017 is the year of mass shootings.
Topic: gun-control

Up to 42% of Republicans have at least one gun while only 16% of Democrats are armed. While 56% of Republicans think that more armed Americans will reduce crime levels, the opposite is true, only 15% of Democrats have this viewpoint, while 51% think criminals will increase if more Americans have weapons.73% of the Republican think individuals should carry guns while 26% of Democrats agree with it.75 % of Democrats and only 24 % of Republicans consider gun control regulations to be tighter (Baxter Oliphant). Both Republican and Democrat think guns control is a big modern problem in United States. Nearly two-thirds of Democrats agree there would be fewer mass shootings in the U.S. if it were stricter for people to legally obtain guns; only about a one-fourth of Republicans agree with it (Baxter Oliphant).
Topic: gun-control

According to the New York Times, the NRA was founded on November 16, 1871, a not-for-profit American gun advocacy organization based in Fairfax, Virginia. The main objective of this organization is to encourage people to use guns on a scientific basis (“World Malayalee Council”). Not just a non-profit organization, the NRA is invading the political arena to fight gun control laws in the United States ( The New York Times).In 1934, the NRA established a Legislative Branch composed of many analysts and former politicians to analyze, evaluate and evaluate upcoming bills, after the National Arms Act was adopted in 1934.In the 1970s, the NRA focused primarily on shooter shooters, hunters to undermine the Gun Control Act of 1968. In 1975, the NRA established the NRA Acting Institute for Legislators formed a powerful coalition with politicians to ‘protect the American gun culture”. The NRA still exists and supports gun ownership and is always looking for ways to counter gun control laws, many mass shootings will occur like the mass shooting Las Vegas (The New York Times).
Topic: gun-control

US President Donald Trump said on October 1 that the government would need only a few weeks to officially approve the bump stock regulation. Before that on February 22,2108 trump has tweeted on twitter-he claims, “I will be strongly pushing Comprehensive Background Checks with an emphasis on Mental Health. Raise age to 21 and end sale of Bump Stocks! Congress is in a mood to finally do something on this issue – I hope!”.
Topic: gun-control

One of the writers who wrote about the gun violence is Thomas Gaber with his best known work named “ America’s Gun Violence Problem”. He describes how American faced with many witness mass shooting in the past few years. He assert, “ Over the last few years, our country has witnessed mass shootings in schools and on college campuses, in workplaces, movie theaters, places of worship, nightclubs, and shopping malls”. He also strongly support on the way to reform the guns laws(pp.1). Thomas believes because the number of ownership still increase so it is easy to understand that there will be many serious incidents will occurs are undeniable. American take over the world in privately guns ownership and the number estimated is 31% while American population just accounting for less than 5% of the world (pp.11). The number of home succide by guns in American is dramatic, the number of murdered my firearms is at least three times in other country(pp.14). Thomas claims, “Higher gun availability in the USA is likely an important factor in the choice of guns over other means of killing. The cost of having many availably guns in America is to expensive so each of the citizens should take a action now for our better America.
Topic: gun-control

Roughly 30,000 people are killed in the U.S. each year by guns—whether by accident, suicide, or homicide—according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia). In comparison to other developed countries, firearms in the U.S. are very loosely regulated. In many European countries, for example, gun ownership requires a license from the police. In Japan possession of firearms by the general public is forbidden by law. In Canada, where registration of handguns has been required since the 1930s, a federal law requires the registration of all guns, including rifles and shotguns, with mandatory background checks and a mandatory gun safety course for gun owners(Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia).
Topic: gun-control

Praise and worship at your local church or synagogue, singing out loud at your favorite concert, dancing like no one is watching at a night club or simply attending school like most adolescents in this country. How about getting some fast food dinner at McDonalds after an exhausting day at work? All of these public places are scenes for horrendous acts of violence involving guns; mass shootings. Does the pen write the poem? Or is it the poet that uses the pen to express his or her words on paper? An enlightening list of “The deadliest mass shootings in modern US history” can be found on a link from CNN (2018).
Topic: gun-control

What would this mean for criminals and non-law abiding Americans? Time and time again, it is repeat felons and criminals that seem to thrive where others obey and succumb to laws and regulations. Roughly 97.8% of mass shootings continue to occur in gun-free zones” (Crime Prevention Research Center,2018). This is great foresight into what our future would look like if it became criminal for American citizens to possess firearms. Kurtzleben, D. writes that “Chicago, being one of the cities where you can find the strictest of gun laws, had a staggering over 4,000 victims of gun related crimes last year alone.” (Kurtzleben ,2017,para.3).She goes on to describe that state lines don’t stop guns, and that bordering states with less strict gun laws like Wisconsin and Indiana, keep criminals well stocked with guns. The staggering comparison between Chicago’s population of 2.716 million people had a gun homicide rate for 2016 of 25.1% per 100,000 residents, while New York’s population of 8.623 million had only 2.3%. We can use this information as insight as to when non law abiding citizens want what they want, they will achieve it by any means necessary. Let’s not even mention black market sales that would not cease to exist with or without government involvement of gun control.
Topic: gun-control

The Supreme Court unanimously held the prohibition of sawed off shot guns in 1939.(Stevens,2018,para. 4)The government extremists jump from regulating to trying to repeal the amendment itself entirely. In 2008, the Supreme Court ruled against repealing the 2nd amendment in Heller v District of Columbia. Well known contractualist John Locke made a point to note how the state of nature was not bad, but citizens needed to secure their property. (Roskin, M. G., Cord, R. L., Medeiros, J. A., & Jones, W. S.,2017). A long standing way to secure ones property is with their right to bare arms, if we lose that right, who or what is to stop the unlawful people from taking what they want, when and how they want, whether it results in the loss of a life or not. Contactualist believe in the “social contract”, our primary contract being the Constitution. In an article written in the New York Times by former Supreme Justice, John Paul Stevens, he insists that demonstrators “seek more effective and lasting reform”, by demanding a repeal of the 2nd amendment. Ironic how a former Supreme Court Judicial, whose responsibility was to interpret whether legislations proposed fall within the lines of the Constitution, would welcome such ideas that entertain criminal behavior in itself. The highest law of the land, the Constitution, is to be upheld by the Supreme Court, not undermined by it.
Topic: gun-control

Libertarians seek a “world of liberty, a world in which all individuals are sovereign over their own lives”. Contrasting to Chicago’s strict gun laws prohibiting firearms, in a small town just outside Atlanta Georgia’s city limits, a place named Kennesaw, mandated in 1982 that ‘every head of household residing in the city limits is required to maintain a firearm.” (Jimenez,2018,para.7) While this is in fact a law in this town, not all home owners do own a gun, and it is not enforced by the police. The law was enacted in 1982 to act as a crime deterrent, and with the violent crime rate below 2%, and a total of one murder in the last six years, id say the crime deterrent was a success. Criminals usually prey on the weak and venerable, but in a town where it is the law to possess a gun, statistics show that the possibility alone of a person with a gun steers criminal acts away. “Government force must be limited to the rights of individuals to life, liberty and property.” Libertarian stance on crime and justice, how would one defend these rights against wrong doers if they lost their inherent right to bare arms? They would be at the liberty of the non-law abiding citizen with the illegal gun, if there was success in repealing the 2nd amendment. Not to mention, it being our last line of defense if our government turns against its people with a well-armed militia of their own.
Topic: gun-control

Bottom line, individuals with malicious intent will try and succeed by any means necessary. Taking guns away from the American people will just force criminals to either purchase firearms illegally, or turn to other means of devastation; knives, bombs, vehicular attacks, there are some pretty innovative people in the world, I would hate to see what new ways of mass destruction they could come up with if the government involvement with gun control reaches its peak. Doleac, J. writes an article titled “Gun regulation is costly, and not the only option.” She goes on to purpose summer jobs for teens reduce mortality by 18 to 20 percent, and Cognitive behavioral therapy for at-risk young men would lower violent crime arrests by up to 50 percent. Maybe going after the source itself, the hand behind the trigger, would help to lower crime rates entirely if more time and energy were spent on investing in our citizens mental health at a young age, identifying and putting out the fire behind the eyes of these sick individuals who use guns on innocent Americans to get their voices herd or to even quiet the voices in their heads. When guns are owned legally, Kate Masters writes that the primary motivation for gun ownership among Americans is for self -defense; fear of other people. A survey of U.S. gun ownership done by Harvard and Northeastern reveals that with the rise in the national violent crime rate, the weapon of choice that is purchased is a handgun, not an AR-15, the semi-automatic weapon the government is using to showcase the necessity of gun control, ultimately leading to the second attempt of repealing the 2nd amendment. I can say as a law-abiding citizen who chooses to embrace my right to bare arms, if I were in one of the horrifying scenarios of a mass shooting, I would try and save as many lives as I possibly could. I will leave you with the question of how many lives could I save if I jumped in front of bullets ripping through the air towards school children? And how many lives could I potentially save if I were to use my legally purchased firearm to disarm and neutralize any threat to my fellow American people?
Topic: gun-control

“Gun Control Doesn’t Work.” Which brings us to another key argument of the gun-rights movement–that no matter how many gun-control laws are passed, criminals will still get guns and use them against the public. Only law-abiding citizens will obey gun laws, and if those laws discourage gun ownership, then criminals will gain an edge over the rest of us. In the words of journalist J. Neil Schulman: “The decent people need to be better armed than the criminals, or the criminals will win.”
Topic: gun-control

But gun-rights supporters express outrage at the idea that guns are a problem in the first place. In the words of a popular slogan: “GUNS DON’T KILL PEOPLE-PEOPLE DO.” Which is why the gun-rights movement is so insistent on tougher law enforcement. Put the bad guys in jail, the argument goes, and the rest of us can go about our business and yes, we’ll keep our guns, thank you, since some of the bad guys are still on the loose.
Topic: gun-control

To begin, author James Q. Wilson compares the public’s stance on gun control and the government’s stance. During the time of publication, 1994, president Bill Clinton and the public advocated for stricter gun control laws in hopes of reducing crimes resulting in gun violence. Although they both support gun control the president believes it will work while the public does not. From here the topic of our essay begins as James Q. Wilson begins to support the public’s perception of gun control.
Topic: gun-control

This topic is usually very derisive anytime the topic of gun control introduced with opponents of gun control heavily invested with the ability to protect themselves. Here the author uses another statistic from a household survey by a criminologist at Florida State University stating that “…every year, guns are used – that is, displayed or fired – for defensive purposes more than a million times…”(Wilson 126). From this statistic alone he, along with the reader, can logically conclude that guns are more good than bad. So how do we determine better gun control that pinpoints the two percent while allowing the public to aptly defend themselves?
Topic: gun-control

Consequentially, new laws have been made to target the two percent but are in violation of the Fourth Amendment. The problem that lies is in either quantity of police officers or the stigma of police harassment. The Fourth Amendment “bans ‘unreasonable searches and seizures’”(Wilson 126) which makes it hard for police officers to employ stop and frisk tactics without crossing the line. From the examples given there are only a certain set of rules that can legally allow a stop and frisk which explains he then explains most police officers do not. Because of these limiting factors Wilson provides this statement from Harvard University professor Mark Moore “most weapon arrests were made because a citizen complained, not because the police were out looking for guns.”(Wilson 126). Wilson counters that these factors can be avoided by providing ample training and a list of parolees on their beat. Here is a fallacy because there is only so many times a police officer can perform a stop and frisk on a parolee without it resulting in harassment. Same can be said with ample training as many instances of legal stop and frisks were deemed to be harassment as well. In my opinion, there is a fine line in deeming what is constitutional and harassment that might be too small to reasonably target the two percent.
Topic: gun-control

Furthermore, targeting the two percent is even harder with the argument of self defense. Here Wilson argues that assailants are less successful in crimes when victims are able to defend themselves. With the ability to properly protect oneself from robberies the likelihood that would be assailants will attack with a victim present is reduced. Wilson once again relays credible information to the reader, in regards to self defense from the National Crime Survey, by using facts as his selling point. Appealing logically to the reader with the evidence provided presents a strong opinion that is hard to refute. Assuming that their is pro gun control readers out there, arguing against his points, how do you counter this argument with convincing evidence from the author. What measures can we possibly take without negatively impacting the ability to protect oneself and ridding all illegal weapons without committing harassment? Lucky for us Wilson presents a counter of sorts.
Topic: gun-control

Moreover, deciding what can be considered viable steps towards the right direction isn’t based on gun control at all, according to Wilson. Although proponents of gun control will also argue that stricter punishments for gun related crimes this comes at a price per the author. He argues that the “…tougher the prospective sentence the less likely it is to be imposed…”(Wilson 127). He continues with more generalized statements, this time with no evidence, in support of his opinion. I consider this to be another fallacy from Wilson because it comes off as unsupported theories rather than conclusive facts from a credible source. As a result, I believe that there is an argument that can be made to implement harsher punishments to gun related crimes. It makes sense, in my opinion, that the general public, which includes would be assailants, would be deterred away from such crimes in fear of the outcome. Thus far, Wilson has opposed every argument for gun control and offers a different way to provide safety to the general public. An ill-advised and undiscovered scientific solution that detects metal from longer ranges than a standard metal detector. This yet to be conceived invention with “…reasonable grounds for a pat down.”(Wilson 128) This idea exposes Wilson’s inability to unbiasedly argue against gun regulations which hampers his argument in the end.
Topic: gun-control

In conclusion, “Just Take Away Their Guns” is mostly an informative essay on public perception of gun control and the minimal affect the government can do to tighten gun laws. Throughout this essay he gives us a cause and effect type summaries of separate fixes proponents of gun control have introduced which includes regulating guns, employing police department interference, and judicial law changes. Although each point has enough merit behind to reasonably consider the author employs enough logical reasoning to sway the reader to his opinion through the use of credible sources and information.
Topic: gun-control

Because of recent shootings, federal gun control laws have been put in place to control gun violence, but has it worked? In this essay I will discuss the reasons why these gun control laws fail to do what they are intended to do: prevent guns from getting into the wrong hands. Even though social media may portray that gun control is the “superior solution” to gun violence, it only leads to more conflict between the National Rifle Association and legislature. Gun laws are ineffective because of illegal gun trafficking and the criminal behavior following a gun restriction.
Topic: gun-control

The first reason is also supported because when guns are restricted, it simply makes it so anyone who owns a restricted gun is then punishable. The point is also proven because 13% of gun violence convicts end up getting hold of another fire arm through the illegal market, and go on to commit another crime. This research proves my point because it shows that it is not the guns that are doing the damage, it is the people. In addition, Andrea Noble, a crime and public safety reporter for.
Topic: gun-control

The Washington Times reports that “91.5% of 15,000 law enforcement officers believed that a gun bans would have little to no effect on gun violence” (“Law Enforcement”). Even though some may say that gun laws do nothing but benefit the community, it actually works against it. The second reason that gun laws are ineffective is because it gun related crimes have increased since gun control laws have been emplaced. This reason is supported because “through the percentages of homicides caused by a firearm during a felony rose” (“Right”). This shows that even with the new gun laws in place, the violence continues to grow. An increase in violence of “5.6% in the past 5 years has led to to over 17% of the total annual deaths in the United States” (“Right”).
Topic: gun-control

As the final 3rd supporting evidence of the 2nd claim, I have found that criminals will continue to find different ways to obtain firearms, all while adapting to avoid detection by agencies like the F.B.I and A.T.F. According to Ryan Cleckner, a former special operations sniper, “36% of Americans exercise their 2nd amendment and own guns” (“Why More Gun Laws”). This research proves that gun laws are ineffective because it shows how gun ownership and gun related crimes has not just increased slowly over the decade, but have sped up due to recent events in the last five years. Even though some politicians may say that “These new laws will stop gun violence once and for all”, This not only violates the 2nd amendment, but it also takes away freedom from normal, law abiding citizens.
Topic: gun-control

The third piece of evidence shows that there is no evidence to support that gun control laws are effective in slowing gun violence. According to the “Right to bear arms” article, there is currently no evidence to support that gun control laws are effective in slowing gun violence.” It has also been recorded that in 2010, the frequency of gun related crimes rose after a section of laws were put into effect. As the 3rd and final reason that gun control laws are ineffective is because the gun reports that follow gun homicides have costed the government millions of dollars to fill out. Those millions that could have gone to bettering police forces to make the nation a better place.
Topic: gun-control

The research proves that gun control is ineffective because it wastes money, and there is no concrete evidence to support that is is effective. The opposition may say that gun laws are effective because the put more people in jail, but this is only a temporary fix that comes at a cost. According to a article written by Eliza Mills, a assistant producer for marketplace.org, “incarceration costs an average of more than $31,000 per inmate, per year, nationwide. In some states, it’s as much as $60,000. Taxpayers foot the bill for feeding, housing and securing people in state and federal penitentiaries (“How Much Does”)”. This could cost the government hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to hold violators of these gun control laws. Gun laws are ineffective because of illegal gun trafficking and the criminal behavior following a gun restriction. This is because they do not have clear evidence, are expensive to enforce, and cause major disagreements between the public and the legislature. If legislature agreed that it was the person that killed and not the gun, could all of this controversy been avoided?
Topic: gun-control

Since its foundation, the United States has always placed emphasis on liberty and equality. Arguably, the United States is heavily known around the world for the culture it has built around freedom. To this day, one of the most prominent freedoms given to civilians is the right to bear arms. Included in the first 10 amendments of the United States’ constitution, also known as the Bill of Rights, the 2nd amendment states ”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.
Topic: gun-control

As a result, an ongoing nationwide debate over the best method of preventing gun violence has arisen from the blood of innocent victims whose lives have been taken by firearms. Out of the plethora of methods suggested to control the amount of casualties caused by guns, 2 of the most prominent include tighter gun control policies and treating mental illness. Contemporary society requires that as a population citizens understand the cause of gun violence across the nation and in effect adopt a social or legislative policy whether that is in the form of gun control or recognizing early signs of violence and being proactive about mental health issues.
Topic: gun-control

While exploring the connections between mental health issues in the community and mass shootings, experts often reference gun laws. In contrast to the argument for more restrictive gun policies, the case for tackling gun violence through promoting mental health claims that gun sale legislation can be ineffective and even counterproductive. A quintessential gun policy passed after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act of 2013 (“SAFE Act”) aimed to promote public safety by preventing criminals and the “dangerous and mentally ill” from accessing weapons through universal background checks. Without dismissing the fact that people with mental illness can be potentially dangerous, it is important to note that legislation that targets the mentally ill specifically does little to help those in need and inadvertently promotes the common misconception that people with mental health issues are violent, therefore increasing stigma, an already tremendous obstacle stopping many in need from seeking professional mental health treatment.
Topic: gun-control

Furthermore, specialists warn of the possibility that laws targeting those suffering from mental illness may inhibit ongoing treatment. Much of the reactionary gun related legislation, such as New York’s SAFE Act, include stipulation that begin requiring mental health professionals to report patients to the state. Though seemingly preventative to gun violence at the hands of those suffering from mental health related issues, policies with this nature can unravel the trust necessary to effective treatment between a patient and their doctor. In fear that being reported to the state and being labeled as potentially dangerous might affect current or future employment, patients may refrain from disclosing feelings of anger, hostility, or resentment. Being unaware of such feelings in a patient ultimately makes it difficult or impossible for medical specialists to treat their patients as necessary.
Topic: gun-control

Additionally, reporting rules already exist in the treatment process of a mentally ill individual, however, the option to report a patient as potentially dangerous is based on the specialist’s discretion. Having the option whether to report a patient to the state or not to essentially broadens a therapist’s method of treatment without loosening the sense confidentiality between them and their patient. In the end, enacting laws that makes it mandatory vs. permissive to report a patient create more hurdles between those in need of treatment and seeking help for mental illness.
Topic: gun-control

In addition to the social stigma and treatment barriers they may cause, research has shown that background checks would not prevent major acts of gun violence as a large scale of mass murders have shown very little to no criminal past and/or have not been classified as potentially dangerous. For example, in the case of Adam Lanza, the man found guilty of murdering 20 children and 6 adults in Sandy Hook Elementary, was said to not be a risk to himself or others by the professionals who examined him. Moreover, the weapons and ammunition used in the killing spree were legally purchased by his mother.Through cases such as these it becomes apparent that although constricting gun purchases for the “dangerous mentally ill” may decrease accessibility to weapons, the probability of a potential suicide victim or mass shooter being unable to obtain a firearm would be marginally slim.
Topic: gun-control

Fundamentally, advocates of preventing gun violence through mental health treatment seek to avert tragedies by facilitating treatment and early identification of disorders in individuals that may result harmful to themselves or others. Like most issues, the first step to treatment is identifying the problem at hand, however “identification of mental illness can be both more subde and more complex, even for those with a psych/mental health background”. As a solution, many professionals suggest allocating government funds to make mental health services more affordable/accessible and educating communities on mental illness. In addition, by training staff and coworkers in schools and workplaces to identify red flags indicating potential violence would ease problem management. Once identified, “he or she could overcome these issues with support and therapy”, thus preventing prospective violence.
Topic: gun-control

Overall, this method of preventing homicide and suicide through the use of firearms treats the social issue as a symptom of a broken mental health care system and is largely centered around potential perpetrators compared to the more traditional method of assessing the problem as an issue in current gun legislature. In contrast with the previous method of prevention, imposing stricter gun control policies aims to correct day-to-day gun related crimes as well as mass shootings. As basis of its argument, the case for reducing gun violence through analyzes existing data about gun laws put into place and their effect on crime through statistics. Researchers then use data to form conclusions about the expected outcomes of proposed gun control laws.
Topic: gun-control

Apart from restrictions on machine guns and fully automatic weapons , a database containing a list of individuals prohibited from purchasing firearms, and a law mandating that federally licensed dealers conduct a “Brady background check” to determine if a customer’s name is listed as a prohibited purchaser, there is no national law that fully prevents “bad” people from obtaining firearms. Moreover, because of the ambiguous definitions of who should be prohibited from acquiring firearms and issues regarding states sending records of clearly dangerous people, the background check database remains incomplete. Regardless, if the database were to be updated and contain no error, this would do very little to halt criminals from acquiring weapons because of the number of “private sales” that occur across the country. Because of this, experts claim that legislation needs to be passed to create more restrictions over the private sales of firearms.
Topic: gun-control

Although many claim that because the current restrictions do little to prevent gun related crime adding more restrictions would not have any significant effect, studies conducted exhibit that even the process of obtaining a permit can have a positive effect on the drop in crime. In a study conducted on shall-issue states vs. may-issue states, data showed that,” carry permitting laws were significantly associated with 6.5% higher total homicide rates, 8.6% higher firearm-related homicide rates, and 10.6% higher handgun-specific homicide rates compared with may-issue states. In this study, may-issue vs shall issue refers to whether an individual shall receive or will receive a permit to carry a handgun after clearing a background check.
Topic: gun-control

The answer to this question is, guns don’t kill people, people kill people; however, guns make it easier to kill people and often time in great numbers. The government should create stricter laws on gun control and end the senseless mass murders at the hands of individuals in possession of guns. In the United States, it is way too easy to obtain a gun, and with that said, guns end up in the wrong hands. The way to control guns is to make it harder to obtain a gun, lowering the number of deaths caused by guns.
Topic: gun-control

It is becoming very common to hear about mass shootings involving multiple victims in the United States and most recently in Pennsylvania and California. The mass shooting in California comes as a surprise, as most Americans’ hearts still mourn the death of the 11 individuals at the Pittsburgh synagogue, who lost their lives on an early Saturday morning. Arango and Medina (2018) found, “California may have the toughest gun control laws in the nation, but that still did not prevent the latest mass killing−shooting on Wednesday that left 12 people dead at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks”.
Topic: gun-control

This quote means that regardless of the tough gun laws, individuals manage to obtain assault weapons and use them maliciously. It appears even if the government does its part by creating harsher laws and penalties for breaking those laws, there is usually some way around the law. President Bill Clinton signed the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban, which restricted features on semi-automatic weapons, rifles and shot guns, unfortunately for Americans that law expired in 2004. Steidley and Colen (2017) wrote, “Eight years ago this week, the young people in Littleton, Colorado, suffered a horrible attack at Columbine High School…since these killings, we’ve done nothing as a country to end gun violence in our schools and communities. If anything, we’ve made it easier to access powerful weapons”. This quote reflects on the past and explains that nothing to date has been done to rectify the gun control issue which has unfortunately gotten worse.
Topic: gun-control

Mass shootings happen too often and the gun laws remain the same. Lewis (2018) pointed out, “proponents of gun control legislation should wish not only to continue efforts to reduce incidences of mass murder, but also to reduce the number of victims. For example, a ban on gun enhancers such as bump stocks, or a ban on the size of ammunition magazines might be effective in reducing victimization in mass murder incidences”. Bump stocks were found on many of the weapons used in the Las Vegas mass shooting and was what allowed the shooter to injure and kill so many people, so quickly. Considering the quantity of mass shootings in the United States, a significant number of Americans hope that the government will step up and create quality gun laws to prevent a massacre that wipes out the entire population.
Topic: gun-control

Mental illness may not be a direct indicator of potential for gun violence; however, when a mentally ill individual obtains a gun this is not an ideal combination. There has been some debate, but most would agree that mentally ill individuals should not be permitted to purchase guns or have access to them. It is understandable that mental illness is such a vague term but when it comes to legally possessing a deadly weapon; an individual who is documented as unstable will prevent death or injury by firearm. Wolf and Rosen (2015) illustrated, “The problem with tying mental illness to the gun control debate is that people assume those with mental illnesses are more prone to violence than those without these issues”. This quote means that an individual with a mental illness should not automatically be considered violent.
Topic: gun-control

Although the relationship between mental illness and gun control is not black and white, most anti-gun supporters would agree that individuals with mental illness should not possess a gun. Individuals who are diagnosed mentally ill are easier to identify than those who are untreated and/or unevaluated. Wolf and Rosen (2015) found, “Recent gun control legislation targets the mentally ill which exacerbates the stigma about violence and mental illness and may deter individuals from seeking the care they need”. This quote means that mentally ill individuals will not seek treatment in fear that they will not be legally able to possess a gun. The question that immediately comes to mind is how many mentally unstable individuals possess a gun? This concept is frightening and the thought that mentally ill people possess guns is overwhelming.
Topic: gun-control

The solution to preventing mentally ill individuals from possessing firearms is by thoroughly investigating applicants and requiring background reports to include voluntary mental health commitments. In researching, another solution was discovered, known as reg flag laws, which remove guns from someone in a temporary crisis. Although mental illness is not a direct indicator of gun violence, the mix of mental illness and guns has greater potential to be deadly. Overall gun violence in the United States is a fact of life and, in 2018, has become a frightening regularity. Proposing stricter laws on gun control would create less gun violence which will lead to fewer gun related deaths. Wintemute (2015) claimed, “Compared with other industrialized nations, the United States has uniquely high mortality rates from firearm violence”.
Topic: gun-control

This mind-boggling quote simply means that in the United States gun violence is unfortunately higher than other similar countries. Has the government taken a good look at these statistics regarding gun violence and put together a plan of action to greatly reduce the high mortality rate? Arango and Medina (2018) pointed out, “Unfortunately, many background checks are inadequate. Information is not reported or is mishandled; legal ambiguities can make it difficult to know whether events are, in fact, prohibiting. And even where background checks are required, many people avoid them” (p.5). This quote states the root of the problem, which is failure to conduct adequate background checks. Guns are obtained because sellers cannot conduct quality background checks or force individuals to divulge all required information.
Topic: gun-control

How can a law be effective if the law has loopholes and no ability to do its duty? The solution to this is to hold individuals accountable when the system fails. Adequate background checks are the key to this ongoing gun control issue. To be diligent in protecting the public from increasing gun violence, the government needs to step up and create a law that is not necessarily an invasion of privacy but a protection of human kind from these weapons of destruction. With that said, the overall gun violence will unfortunately continue to be a regularity as current gun laws are not eliminating the root of the problem.
Topic: gun-control

In order to achieve gun control and decrease the number of senseless deaths, it is necessary to implement stricter gun laws. The government must create a law to require individuals desiring to obtain a gun be trained to handle a firearm safely. The number of mass shootings in the United States appears to be climbing yearly and no one seems to bat an eye. There have been mass shootings in communities, concerts, bars and even schools, which are all places we think of as safe. We as Americans should not feel like prisoners in plain sight, always looking over our shoulders in fear of death by a gun. Immediately after mass shootings, the news prints a story about a mentally ill or criminally convicted person who should not have obtained a gun.
Topic: gun-control

To possess a gun, one should not think of it as a right of passage but as a greater responsibility. The overall gun violence in the United States in the 21st century is at its highest level, even higher than other similar countries. What is the purpose of a gun and what is gun control? This is simple, a gun is used to eliminate the threat, gun control is to eliminate the senseless mass shootings, innocent victims of gun violence and prevention of gun possession by people incapable of knowing the difference between the two, which is why the government should implement stricter gun laws.
Topic: gun-control

Gun violence is a sensitive subject that has been constantly debated about over the past couple of decades. Having the ability to purchase something that can easily end someone’s life without harsh restrictions can be confusing in some eyes. With the rise of the recent mass shootings people are pressuring law makers to have stricter gun control or just to outright ban them. There have been many suggestions in reducing gun violence that have been proposed such as red flag laws, banning assault rifles, and having better background checks.
Topic: gun-control

B.I. that she feared he would become a school shooter, listing specific examples of disturbing conduct — including holding a gun to the head of family members.” (Rubio). With this hard evidence against this criminal the authorities still chose to do nothing which is why a red flag law would be somewhat helpful in reducing gun violence. A red flag law would give the ability to restrict certain individuals that are unstable, and potentially violent to have restricted gun access for a period of time.
Topic: gun-control

We have seen it a lot where shooters will post things online indicating their harmful intentions before they go out and do it so having a red flag law would helpful in reducing gun violence and possibly even a mass shooting. Gun violence is not only just about mass shootings, it’s about regular shootings as well and people tend to forget that. All of us know a part of town that we probably should not go to since the crime rate is high and that it gets a bad reputation. In areas that have a significantly high crime rate involving guns such as Detroit or Florida we need to figure out why gun violence is so high in these areas so that we can take small steps in reducing it. We could possibly have more policing in these areas or maybe tackling on the problems that are in such areas in order to help the people.
Topic: gun-control

If we can focus on these places specifically with high amounts of gun violence and try to help them then it would be a huge step forward and a possible solution in reducing gun violence. Now I want to talk about the negatives in my points in order to find some common ground. Having a red flag law would be great in all but at the end of the day it is still not enough to stop mass shootings. Like for example with the Dayton mass shooting. “…We found no evidence that the subject communicated his violent intentions to others before the attack . . . The subject had no known history of mental health care and treatment . . . The subject left no clear evidence of a plan or manifesto detailing his intent and rationale or revealing any observable pre-attack behaviors…
Topic: gun-control

No one, however, described him, his behaviors or his communications as overtly aggressive or violent” (Geragthy). This man that committed this mass shooting showed no possible signs of even being a mass shooter at all. He was a normal guy in the eyes of everyone he knew and from what police could find. The shooter got his guns legally and passed his background checks but still committed a heinous crime. This goes to show that even though having a red flag law can possibly help reduce gun violence, it does not stop it because as long as someone can remain undetectable in the eyes of the law and everyone else then an event such as the Dayton shooting can happen again which is extremely unsettling.
Topic: gun-control

In conclusion gun violence is a topic that will keep being debated about until the end of time. Guns would never ever be taken away from us Americans since it is our second amendment right. We could implement laws and have bans on guns to reduce it, but gun violence will still occur and if it occurs it will keep being debated about and create a never-ending cycle. We must accept it and try to do all that what we can to prevent gun violence in our country. We live in a cruel world gun violence can happen anywhere at any given time and unfortunately, it’s going to be like that until we pass on.