Gun violence

 

introduction

 Gun violence is violence committed by the use of a gun or a firearm. Over the years the use of guns to perpetrate crimes has been on the rise. The risk of fatality is high when a gun is used instead of another weapon. It is high time that lawmakers find a way to control or even end gun violence. A large percentage of homicides in the US are committed using guns, people prefer to use guns because they allow them to perpetrate a crime from far and faster. The debate surrounding the use of firearms has given rise to many controversies and questions. Questions such as should policies to regulate who carries or owns a gun be put in place? And should policies for different firearms be put in place? To end gun violence regulations that limit people from owning guns should be put in place. 

Gun related violence gives rise to costs such as economic cost, psychological cost, and public health cost. A person shot has to undergo medical treatment, the investigation following the shooting has to be done at a cost. Emergency medical care given to gun victims contributes to the monetary expense of gun violence. Psychologically, children or adults exposed to this kind of violence experience trauma and other psychological effects either on a long- or short-term basis medical cost will have to be incurred to take these people through therapy. People exposed to gun violence are also prone to mental illness (Singletary, 2018). These costs can only be reduced by the attempts to control gun violence.

Measures such as reducing peoples access to guns should be put in place since no guns equal no gun violence related incidences. Also stopping troops from bringing guns when they come home is another way of trying to lower peoples’ access to guns. The government should also try to buy back weapons that are in the hands of citizens.  People who have been convicted of domestic abuse or any other form of abuse should be barred from owning guns since a person with a history of violence owning a gun is likely to use it to commit violence. The law should also be adjusted so that criminals convicted with gun violence get to face longer jail terms. All firearms sales should be reported to the agency responsible. Also, the period between buying a gun and delivery of the gun should be standardized in order to asses the motive of the buyer (Loria, 2018).

Conclusion

Gun violence is not an emerging issue but an old issue that the legislative bodies have not yet found a solution to. A large percentage of homicides committed in the US are committed using guns. Gun violence accounts for costs such as economic cost, public health cost, and psychological cost. People who experience trauma due to gun violence are prone to mental illness. Gun violence can only be controlled if measures such as increasing sentences for criminals convicted with gun violence, buying back guns from citizens and denying citizens with a history of violence guns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Loria, k. (2018). Gun Control Really Works-Here’s The Science to Prove It. retrieved from;             https://www.businessinsider.com/science-of-gun-control-what-works-2018-2?IR=T

Singletary, M. (2018). The Enormous Economic Cost of Gun Violence. Retrieved from;             https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/get-there/wp/2018/02/22/the-enormous-economic-            cost-of-gun-violence/?utm_term=.64892eb71d2e