Persuasive Essay On Gun Control

Stricter gun control is essential as current gun control laws have loopholes that are used by individuals to acquire weapons without any sort of background checks. Those who wish to avoid checks often use loopholes such as the Brady bill loophole. This gun loophole has been described by a correspondent from CNN stating, “In 1986, the Firearms Owners' Protection Act opened the doors for licensed dealers to sell from their own "personal collections," without background checks, and the loophole became entrenched” (Mara, 2016, para. 4). These so-called, ‘licensed dealers’ do not inherently have to check for any form of ID or background check to deem a person able to handle a firearm. Surprisingly, private dealers are not even deemed liable

In the article, Americas Deadly Gun Addiction, By the Numbers written by Joanna Pearlstein, data is released regarding the United States having more guns that adults in the country. The mass shootings across the country has led to many civilians wanting more gun control. President Obama spoke to the nation that more background checks will be ran to hopefully reduce this situation, and lower the gun deaths in the United States, however gun lobbyers argue that it is not the guns themselves that are causing the issue and they believe that no matter how many background checks are ran you cannot make sure that a fun will not be placed in the hands of someone who many end someone’s life unexpectedly.

According to a report by the Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey, the United States has about 35-50 percent of the world’s civilian-owned guns and has less than 5 percent of the world’s population. With no restriction and so much freedom, firearms can be distributed throughout the United States illegally and obtained as easy as buying it from a person, disregarding all gun laws. Implementing stricter background checks can help reduce the amount of crime relating to gun violence. It can also keep firearms away from those who shouldn’t have possession of them.

The violence in the United States is a big issue, but making more gun laws is not the answer. It is an inevitable fact that making it harder to get access to guns would only lead people to turn to black markets and more underhanded deals. In an article for the Los Angeles Times, James Q. Wilson writes, “It is virtually impossible to use new background check or waiting-period laws to prevent dangerous people from getting guns. Those that they cannot buy, they will steal or borrow” (Wilson). Dramatic changes within gun controls laws would, in itself, make more people mad and possibly lead to riots. In many people's minds, more gun control laws would mean to taking guns away. Gun control laws within themself are not a bad thing, the extent to which they are taken within a nation

Many innocent lives each year are taken away because most states do not have laws particularly dealing with private dealers administering background checks. Background checks are needed to make sure that clients who are purchasing firearms will not use the gun to endanger themselves or others. However, even in the states where background checks are administered the laws still consist of many loopholes; some of these include, not checking for mental illnesses that the client might have , not following up on the client after they purchased the gun, and how private sellers and many states are not administrating strict and complete background checks., “Researchers confirm that universal background checks laws effectively improve public safety and

In firearm stores, background checks have prevented 3 million gun sales to prohibited consumers, according to Everytown for Gun Safety. Background checks could be the next solution for firearm purchases, if they were stricter and had more requirements.

I’d like to add that this is only one example of people getting killed due to the lack of checks, shootings at schools, public areas, places where children are present are occurring simply because people who should not have guns, obtain them. Universal background checks would not solve this problem, but it would decrease it.

Americans are 20 times more likely to be killed by a gun than any other developed nation on earth. This includes countries like Switzerland and Sweden, who have large gun cultures, but have solid gun control to let law abiding people own guns, but keep them out of the hands of criminals. America, on the other hand, has horrible gun control and in most states you can buy a gun without a background check as long as the seller isn't a gun dealer. At the moment, it is far too easy to purchase a gun, legally or illegally. USAToday states that “3% of Americans own half the country's 265 million guns”. Americans own more than 265 million guns, that means more than one gun for every American citizen. Adding on to the facts, 55 million Americans own guns. It is as easy as going into Walmart to purchase a firearm. Guns shows take place all over the nation, and it is easier to purchase a gun there too. Stores do background checks on the buyer, but guns show will just accept your money and give you your firearm. However, CNN states that denials are rare for gun purchases. “However, denials are rare, occurring less than 1% of the time. More than 100 million such checks

In the year 2016 alone, there have been 145 mass shootings around the United States, while there have been only 173 days in the years so far. In order to prevent these atrocities from occurring so frequently gun ownership should be regulated by both the federal and state governments through a background check for all sales of firearms. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System has prevented more than two million convicted felons and other prohibited purchasers from buying guns. The law also has a deterrent effect since the prohibited purchasers are less likely to try to buy guns when they know comprehensive background check requirements are in place. However, currently the federal law requires criminal background checks only for guns sold through licensed firearm dealers, which counts for only sixty percent of the total gun sales. The U.S. Congress needs to regulate the obtainment of guns with a background check for all sales of firearms in order to protect the lives of citizens in this country while not violating the Second Amendment and the rights of the state.

There are many different ways to improve background checks, and many will take time to assess the most effective way to implement them. Guns are a very lethal weapon and should not be given out to anyone who comes along with a little bit of cash, they should be strictly guarded to keep them out of the hands of the wrong people. People who are mentally ill or just purely have bad intentions are too easy getting their hands on guns without any way to trace the gun to them. Guns are being sold and given away without proper documentation and even stolen from legal gun owners. If we make background checks a very hard and difficult process, which will cut down on the number of people who own them and therefor cutting down on the chances of someone with immoral intentions getting one. Cars are the same way these days. In order to be able to drive a car you have to be able to pass a driving test, along with passing other requirements, such as age requirement and supervision of someone who has their license when you first get your

Also, without a record of sale there is “no way of knowing whether a seller really conducted a background check or even if a transaction has taken place.” But, the counter to this measure, according to the article, is unsubstantiated “paranoia” from supporters of gun right owners, who argue that this measure would amount to a national registry of law abiding gun owners. To counter this argument, the editorial points to the fact that “licensed dealers already have to keep records of their gun sales when they conduct background checks,” which “haven’t led to a registry.”

(20). Regrettably, guns bought devoid of background checks are all impossible to monitor. There lacks means of establishing a history of the gun buyer. This is the justification of merely plugging loopholes can be ineffective (Zigmond 10). The requirement of background checks can help in slowing the rate at which guns fall in the wrong hands. However, it may not halt complete gun violence, as records are not updated. Limiting high-capacity bullets or ammunition is most probably the obtainable of all options. Discontinuing and banning murderous weapons can slow rate of committing murder by use of guns (Henderson 3).

Due to many of the recent violent acts in our country involving guns, the question has arouse; Should a system of universal background checks be required for all gun purchases? What some Americans do not realize is that guns are constantly falling in the wrong hands of criminals and more often, the mentally ill. There are too many Americans loosing their lives because of this. Most of the people that are ineligible to purchase guns are able to because of the flaws in the universal background system or through private party sales, which do not initiate background checks. Shootings actually occur very frequently. Since 1982, there have been 61 mass shootings, all involving gun use. The United States also holds the record of having 15 of the nastiest 25 shootings. It is proven that more guns result in more murders. States with harsher laws on gun control do not have as many deaths from violence correlated to the use of guns. According to a map provided by The Washington Post, “…states which have one of three gun control restrictions in place – assault weapons’ bans, trigger locks, or safe storage requirements. Firearm deaths are significantly lower in states with stricter gun control legislation (Klein).” Seattle’s Mayor, Ed Murray states “Gun violence kills 86 Americans every day. It happens everywhere: in big cities, small towns, on our streets, schools, shopping malls, and places of worship (Klein).” It is apparent that individuals who have criminal backgrounds or who have a

Violence and crimes are growing in number and affecting American society. By reinforcing background checks we could reduce crimes and limit easy gun access to mentally ill people. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) is a database where the names of people that have committed a misdemeanor, are mentally ill or drug abusers is kept to prevent them from attaining guns. Most criminals buy guns from unlicensed sellers at gun shows that don’t do properly background checks through the NICS, making it easier from criminals to purchase firearms. Another problem is missing records or information that was not reported to the background check system. Better background checks could reduce crime and gun violence in America.

The first reason gun control should be in existence is because without law saying otherwise, a gun can be in anyone’s hands. If stricter gun laws were made, more lives would be saved. Not only should there be a standard background check, but I am also a strong supporter of medical background checks. The Council on Foreign Relations states that, “A so-called "gun show loophole," codified in the Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986, effectively allows anyone, including convicted felons, to purchase firearms without a background check.” ("U.S. Gun Policy: Global Comparisons”). If there are no boundaries to who can have a gun, anyone and everyone is put at risk. Once it is legal for anyone to have a gun, nothing can be done about it.