Theu.s. Gun Violence Is Becoming A Very Critical Issue As Death Tolls Increase

Prior to the Port Arthur Massacre, Australia had very lenient gun laws. The massacre of 35 people with an additional 23 wounded, pushed the then Prime Minister, John Howard, to reform the legislation associated with guns. Since then, firearm related deaths have declined by 47% . However, these statistics do not include illegally owned firearms, and there have been studies conducted showing that these laws have not made a difference.

a law repealed by Congress in February that would have required the registration of Social Security recipients with mental disabilities to prevent gun ownership. They state that because the mentally disabled are more likely to be victims than perpetrators of violence, fear about them owning guns is prejudiced and as a result, obstructs their civil rights. In my rebuttal, I counter their statistic about mentally disabled victims, arguing its irrelevance in mass shooter situations and the subsequent unsoundness of their argument. Finally, I explain how unhealthy mental conditions can lead to unsafe consequences in day-to-day situations

The question of how to make our communities safer has a list full of solutions which seem to never end. The great debate begins with have any of these solutions worked, or have the right solutions been put to play. Gun control is a very popular topic today, and rightfully so. The media has shined light on mass shootings that have claimed many lives and destroyed families. The question is on who, or what does the blame fall on. Are the gun owners the responsible, or are the weapons themselves to blame? A solution that has been set forth concludes that in order to become a firearm owner, mental stability should be proved. Should government enforce mental health evaluations for gun purchase?

Every year 30,000 americans die from guns while others have the privilege to end up with a disability rather than dieing. The men and women who are diagnosed with a mental illness and obtain guns often commit suicide and crimes such as mass shootings, and murders. Because healthcare providers don't report the mental illness’ of many people to the FBI these people are able to pass a background check when they attempt to purchase a gun. Although the second amendment allows people the right to bear arms, it has become easy for the mentally ill to acquire guns and gun control should be strengthened for this very reason.

“Guns don’t kill people, people do.” This is a well known statement that is oftentimes considered true. However, it is not completely true. Someone who is mentally ill may be unable to make logical decisions and the perception they receive of reality may be tainted by the illness. Gun laws pertaining to those suffering mental illnesses should be more restrictive. Weapons such as guns make committing an act of violence, especially when there are multiple victims, much easier. It is difficult to assess the probability of a person to commit a violent act that harms anyone including himself/herself. Therefore, gun laws need be monitored very closely and made more consistent throughout each state in order to prevent violence that could

A major topic being discussed in gun control today has to do with how mental illness factors into these shootings and what should be done pertaining to mental health gun restrictions.

M., & MacLeish, K. T. (2015). Mental Illness, Mass Shootings, and the Politics of American Firearms.

Mental Health is the root to numerous problems in America, how your brain deals with certain situations determines how sick or healthy our minds are. Based on a Washington Post-ABC News Poll of 808 adults, 57% agreed that the mass shootings were due to mental health issues whereas 28% said that it was due to inadequate gun control laws (SHEN). Almost 30% additional people thought that it was a mental health issue instead of a gun control issue. Since a larger portion of adults believe that mental health is the root to mass shootings a mental health test need to be complete on anyone who wants to carry or purchase a weapon.

From the Connecticut Sandy Hook School shooting in 2012, to the Recent Parkland School shooting in Florida, hundreds of innocent students and adults have been murdered by guns, and the public is questioning whether or not to have more gun control laws. In order to protect and prevent these traumatic mass shootings we need to pay attention to citizens who have mental issues, have stricter gun purchasing laws, and also stop selling military replicas.

Look first at the shooter and the mental health services he did or didn't get, and the commitment laws in the state where the shooting took place.” (M. Robbins) Mell Robbins is another citizen who he believes that “strengthening gun control won't stop the next mass shooter, but changing ... the treatment options we offer and the laws for holding the mentally unstable and mentally ill for treatment just might help reduce crime.” (M. Robbins) He refers to multiple incidents that the U.S. has had mass shooting incident and one in particular he talks about is the incident in Isla Vista, California. Where a gunman named by Elliot Rodger went on a killing spree near the University of California campus in Santa Barbara. (M. Robbins) Elliot Rodger had purchased three guns legally passed all requirement and federal background check in one of the most highly toughest gun control laws in the country. Mell Robbins states and asks that “In this climate, how did Rodger succeed in his lethal plan? It wasn't the gun laws; it was the lack of common sense mental commitment laws.” (M. Robbins) He goes on in this article stating that gun laws are not the problem and that before selling a firearm the state needs to check the persons mental status just so that they now they will be accounted for or if they draw a concern they can take actions on providing help

Every day in America an average of 93 are killed people due to gun violence. One of the biggest concerns today in American policy is gun control. This is a very controversial and complicated topic for both pro-gun and anti-gun supporters. American policy makers need to make it harder for the wrong people to obtain firearms and the fact that Second Amendment and gun control can co-exist. Mental illness constantly emerges in relation to mass shootings and shooters a like, as well as day to day homicides and suicides. America doesn’t necessarily have more crime then other developed countries the crime is just much more lethal. Right-wing Republicans constantly use the Second Amendment as shield to use firearms, the fact is the document is

In the 1980’s a “mental illness” was removes from the list of 26 identifiable mental illnesses. The American Psychiatric Association, the organization responsible for mental classification, is the apex of subjectivity. They are responsible for arbitrarily adding or subtracting a lifestyle from a list of mental illnesses. They are also the organization that will determine who is mentally capable of owning a gun. Through comparisons made between Switzerland and Chicago, more evidence points to the problem being the people and not the tool or gun they choose to use. (Vargas, 2014). Gun Control is not efficient as it has not shown to reduce the amount of gun-related crimes.

The debate over gun control is not a new argument, neither is the existence of mental illness. There have been those who support and those who oppose gun control for many years. What has recently re-ignited the debate is an increase in mass shootings over the past few decades; one in particular is the Newtown, Connecticut, massacre. Incidents, such as this, fuel anger and fear, driving many to question the need for firearms in modern society, while others cite these incidents as a reason for remaining armed. The purpose of gun control is to limit the amount of violence in today’s

While mass shootings will almost always make the news, and nine times out of ten involve an individual that is mentally ill getting their hands on a gun. Take a look at the movie theater incident, Sandy Hook, and the latest school shooting in Oregon, all these shooters were mentally ill and yet somehow they acquired a firearm. Should we fault the mental health system or

In today's world there is a big debate on what we should do with guns. Some think we should ban guns, or limit gun possession. Others think we should keep our guns, after all, we have the Second Amendment, which protects the right for civilians to bear arms. But i believe there is another option, I think there is a link between the mass shootings and mental disabilities and diseases, and if that’s true, we should worry about that. According