The Importance Of Stricter Gun Control Laws

In the United States of America, on average 100,000 people are shot or killed with a gun each year (Stricter Gun Regulations, 2013). That enormous number includes parents, siblings, family, friends and neighbors. In modern American culture many people have the incorrect view that guns are toys because they are so prevalent in our society. From childhood, Americans are aware of guns because they are on television, in movies and videogames, and used as “play weapons”. However, guns are not toys. The problem of gun violence needs to come under stricter gun control laws and the American people need to be more educated on the proper and safe use of guns so that these avoidable deaths annually can be prevented. Gun violence is defined as when
Now its interpretation varies among proponents of more gun control and opponents of it. One could argue that laws could not stop a criminal from obtaining a gun and committing a crime. However, more gun control laws would aid in reducing gun deaths. From a March 2016 Lancet study, requiring universal background checks for potential gun buyers “could reduce firearm deaths by a projected 56.9%; background checks for ammunition purchases could reduce deaths by a projected 80.7%; and gun identification requirements could reduce deaths by a projected 82.5%.”. Aside from reducing death, gun control laws would lower the societal costs, according to a study by the Pacific Institute for Research. They found that in 2010, gun violence cost each American $564 of tax dollars; this money went to “legal services, medical costs, perpetrator control, policing, incarceration, foster care, private security, lost earnings and time, life insurance, productivity, tourism, and psychological costs.” (ProCon.org,
These courses could possibly include how to legally obtain a gun, the dangers of guns, what to do in the presence of a gun, and the effect of guns. For every 100 U.S. residents, it is estimated that there are 88.8 guns; that is twice as many guns per capita than the number in 1968, and also makes the U.S. the highest total guns per capita in the world (ProCon.org, 2016). Therefore, these adolescents are bound to come across a firearm at some point in their lifetime. By starting gun education at a young age, it would teach our future generations to respect guns and not romanticize them like our culture does on television, videogames and with children’s toys. With the number of guns in the U.S. on the rise, American culture may soon become numb to the threat they pose on society. Yes there will always be ways for people to obtain a gun illegally, but gun control can at least decrease the number of deaths due to gun violence even if it is only by one person-especially if that one life is your own .The gun violence problem in America can be aided with restrictive gun control policies and firearm safety education. With these two solutions hopefully the numerous unnecessary deaths caused by firearms will