In America, gun shooting is one of the most common challenges yet to be solved. In the present day, top government officials have been championing for gun control without success. The reports and news on different media platforms such as television, magazines, and newspapers prove that the assault weapons are a challenge to the ordinary person. Many people have weighed in on the discussion, including the emergency department, recommending that gun control be taken seriously. Many civilians have been victims of firearm homicides. These facts prove that gun control legislation is one of the most controversial issues in the society presently. Records show that gun-related violence has been on the rise every year prompting action against such abuse. Even though every state has its gun legislation, the difference in strictness in each state calls for abolishment and preference for the federal gun legislation. Additionally, there is need to discuss the unnecessary and harmful use of assault rifles in the society.
In the United States, assault rifles represent 1.7 percent of the all the guns. The rifles have crucial roles in the society. Study reports indicate that whereas 58 percent of the gun owners use the firearms for hunting, 66 percent of the gun owners carry them for target shooting, and 67 percent use them for protection purposes (Follman et.al, 2012). The study result proves that none of the gun owners has common reasons for owning them, but all the firearms are used for assault purposes. Riffles give the owners some form of power. In America, half of each of the households possesses an assault rifle. Kleck (2005) argued that criminals use guns as a substitute for attack during a robbery or any other criminal action. The purpose of the weapon is to frighten and dominate the crime victims during the assault. Kleck reported the result of a survey by the police on the frequent use of a gun. The study indicated that the use of firearms in homicide is frequent when there are many victims and a single attacker; when the victim is male; the victim is in “prime” age span; among other factors.
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"Assault Rifle Gun Control in America".
Analyzing gun control in America requires a good understanding of gun laws in effect today. In the United States, gun legislation is state-based. Some of the federal laws prohibit automatic guns and manufacture of plastic guns. The federal government has put in place regulations on the importation of firearms. States have various gun regulations. For example, most of the states prohibit persons under the ages 18 from purchasing long rifles, and under 21 from buying handguns. Other states restrict gun purchase for the drug addicts, a convicted felon, fugitive from justice, alien, and mentally ill people. However, only some states are strict on ensuring that gun owners have purchase permits and license possession (Hemenway, 2017, p.5). The licenses make it easier to judge whether the gun owner is fit to handle it since it requires the applicant to undergo background checks. The less strict states on gun possession create the problem leading to the rise in gun violence in America.
In conclusion, there is a need for new gun policy. The federal government should have the mandate to implement the gun policy. In this policy, the federal government can for a board responsible for gun control with each member representing every state. With the federal government having all the power, the gun legislation can be stricter than when spread across all states as currently constituted. On the other hand, the federal government should ban assault rifles since they are a threat to the civilians. Assault rifles have resulted in the majority of homicides in the United States; hence proving they are destructive. Therefore, the assault rifles/weapons should face ban even as the federal government focus on strengthening the gun legislation.
- Follman, M., Aronsen, G., & Pan, D. (2012). A guide to mass shootings in America. Mother Jones, 15.
- Hemenway, D. (2017). Private guns, public health. University of Michigan Press.
- Kleck, G. (2005). Point blank: Guns and violence in America. Transaction Publishers.
