Gun Control: The Crime Rate Issue

Eric Birnberg

POSC150

Michael Smith

20 November 2016

Gun Control: The Crime Rate Issue

Introduction

Homicide has been categorized among the leading non-medical causes of death in the United States. Each day, an average of thirteen kids ranging from the age of ten to nineteen years gets killed by gunfire, while the highest percentage of such children get injured in the crossfire. For instance, in the African-American communities, it is a common occurrence for young men to die due to murder, specifically with the use of guns. The situation has thus forced most people in the United States into believing that the only way of reducing or even eliminating the increasing crime rate of all states is through establishing multiple gun control policies. Through the use of data analysis and common observation, several individuals have refuted this claim, in which they believe that guns have nothing to do with the increase in the crime rate. However, supporters of gun control measures urge the government to eliminate gun producers, sellers, and also owners to the extent that no American citizens can carry or even hold guns. On the other hand, the National Rifle Association (NRA), which is the non-gun control community, counterattacks the stance following its reinforcement by the Second Amendment. It holds that every citizen has the right to “bear arms. “Although guns are the most used firearms to commit crimes, gun control laws will have less or no effect on the crime rate issue. In part due to media violence, social outburst, and poor general knowledge, gun circulation has become rampant, hence eliminating them all remains to be a big problem.

Overview of Gun Control

The topic of gun control traces back to the establishment of the National Rifle Association. The subject is reinforced by the politicians, thus receiving a lot of attention not only from Americans but also from the world. Formed in 1871, the NRA was a recreational group designed to “promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis” (Elsbach and Bhattacharya 45). At first, the primary objectives of the NRA were to induce training to Union soldiers via marksmanship design and at the same time, cause competent rifle techniques (Elsbach and Bhattacharya 393-413). Now, the group has heavily lobbied against all forms of gun control and has put up their case that more guns make the country safer. Immediately after the formation of the NRA, a charter for the organization granted by the state of New York, whom, not long after the chartering, initiated the first gun control conflict. The state felt threatened by the NRA’s presence, rescinded its land grant, shut down the charters gun range, revoked funding, thus resulting in it’s untimely closure. Without causing a commotion, the NRA ironically responded to the opposition by moving to the state of New Jersey, where they reestablished their practice facilities (Elsbach and Bhattacharya 393-413). Currently, there are multiple gun control laws as well as regulations that the NRA keeps on battling.