Research Topic: Effectiveness of Gun control regulations as a method to reduce crime
The topic of gun control measures to minimize crime interests me. I have some ideas
about the topic of gun control. The U.S has more than 120.5 guns in every 100 people. The total
number of guns in the U.S can be approximated to 393,347,000. The total number of guns in the
U.S is the highest in the world. 35% of men and 12% of women own guns in America, the total
population who own guns is 22%. Proponents believe that gun control regulation will reduce
deaths as a result of gunshots in the United States. I am interested in the many gun owners
existing in the U.S and the rising rates of crime. Guns continue to be manufactured and used by
people.
The thought I have about the topic is that regulating gun ownership will reduce the crime
rates in the states. Lack of guns will prevent people from engaging in crime. I expect to discover
the effectiveness of gun control regulations as a method to minimize crime in the U.S. I expect to
discover the gun control laws and ways they assist in managing crime. I expect to discover
opposing arguments to the effectiveness of gun control laws. I hope to learn about probable
actions to minimize crime if gun control does not work. I hope to learn about gun control laws in
other countries and their effectiveness in minimizing crime. Right now, I assume that gun control
laws are an effective method to minimize crime. With gun control laws very few people will own
guns, therefore minimizing the potential to commit a crime as the weapon exists. I assume that
the less gun owners, the less the crime rates.
RUNNING HEAD: EFFECTIVENESS OF GUN CONTROL REGULATIONS AS A
METHOD TO REDUCE CRIME
Effectiveness of Gun control regulations as a method to reduce crime
Karl Argast
Introduction and Literature Review
Columbia Southern University
September 17th 2018
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EFFECTIVENESS OF GUN CONTROL REGULATIONS AS A METHOD TO REDUCE CRIME
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Effectiveness of Gun control regulations as a method to reduce crime
A lot has been said about the effectiveness of gun regulation laws as a method to reduce
crime in the United States. The advocates of the control are in support of the federal and state
legislation introduced throughout the time from an increase in taxes, limitations and background
checks to prevent the guns from reaching the wrong people such as convicts and reduce the
possibility of engaging in crime. On the other hand, those against the regulations and strive to
prove the effectiveness fear that the restrictions lead to loss of safety and infringe on the people’s
second amendment right to gun ownership for self-defense (Gun Control Overview, 2013).
Today, all over the news there are cases of mass shootings in schools which have led to debates
over gun control regulations, the shootings occur at both elementary, middle and high school
level, all the attackers use a particular type of firearm to shoot, injure or kill the victims. For
instance, the latest shooting occurred in February at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school
where a nineteen-year-old boy used an AR-15 gun to attack the people in the school compound
leaving seventeen people dead and several injured, and the shooting led to advocacy for stricter
gun laws. Gun laws in California State are the strictest compared to other states in the U. S from
licensure, open to carry and taxes on the manufacture and sale of guns due to the numerous cases
of school shootings reported since the nineteenth century. Most people do not agree to gun
control regulations as an effective way to minimize crime resulting from guns, however, some
believe the measures are effective as a reduction in the number of guns available in homes and
the streets will reduce the probability of committing a crime. Those against the control believe
EFFECTIVENESS OF GUN CONTROL REGULATIONS AS A METHOD TO REDUCE CRIME
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that they interfere with self-defense and personal safety thus promotes loss of lives. Those in
support of the control measures believe that most of the guns are used to commit a crime and
rarely for self-defense hence will gun control measures reduce crime. Gun control laws are
effective ways to reduce crime because limiting the number of guns through regulation of
ownership, implementation of safety practices and bans will keep the firearms away from highrisk individuals thus reduce the probability of committing a crime.
Literature Review
To better understand the controversy behind gun control measures as a way to minimize
crime, the history of gun violence rates and gun control must be considered. The review will then
evaluate the pro and con sides of the controversy on gun law measures.
History of Gun violence and regulations
According to Lott (2013), gun control laws were developed to manage the numerous rates
of violence arising from guns and misuse. There have been more than ninety mass shootings in
the U.S since 1982. Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting is one of the latest mass shooting cases
resulting from guns and has led to advocacy for gun control to manage the rates of crime.
Despite gun ownership protection in the constitution, several incidents since 1791 led to the
development of the federal gun control laws. In 1791, the ten amendments to the constitution
were ratified stating that promote gun ownership for security reasons that is the protection of the
state. The first gun control regulation was passed in 1934, the National Firearms Act (NFA)
which was part of the New Deal of Crime by president Roosevelt D. Franklin to end crimes such
as the St Valentine’s day massacre. The regulation involved imposing a tax on the manufacture,
EFFECTIVENESS OF GUN CONTROL REGULATIONS AS A METHOD TO REDUCE CRIME
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sale and transportation of firearms such as rifles, silencers etc. This measure would reduce the
number of guns as it limited their production and transportation.
In 1938, the Federal Firearms Act (FFA) was implemented that required the
manufacturers and dealers to obtain a license of operation from the federal government. The law
provided a record of people who could not purchase or own guns such as convicted felons. The
act required the sellers to keep customer records for checks. The act was after preventing the
guns from reaching the criminals. In 1968, after the assassination of President Kennedy,
President Lyndon Johnson pushed for the Gun Control Act of 1968. The GCA replaced the FFA.
The act also updated the NFA to include devices such as bombs, grenades, mines and ways to
define a machine gun. The GCA stated the age limit for purchasing handguns at 21 years. The
purpose for buying guns and requirement for serial numbers on imported guns. The GCA also
stated those who cannot own guns, the mentally ill and felons. The Congress passed the Firearm
Owners Protection Act in 1986 to protect gun owners. The act loosened the regulations on sales,
registry and inspections. The Brady Handgun violence prevention act was implemented in 1993.
The law requires background checks before purchasing a gun. In 2003, the Tiahrt amendment
aimed at protecting the dealers from public scrutiny, protecting the black markets. In 2005, the
president signed the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act to protect gun sellers from
mention in court or harm in case their guns were used to commit a crime. Finally, in 2008,
District of Columbia v. Heller ruled that the control laws hinder the second amendment right,
however, affirmed the restrictions and regulations on ownership (Metzl & MacLeish, 2015).
The arguments for Gun control regulations as a method to reduce crime
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Guns promote violent behavior. Several cases of mass shootings and killings in school
occur by use of guns. Most of the time, teenagers commit the crimes on their classmates.
Firearms result in 51% suicide deaths in the U.S. The guns reach the young ones as a result of
poor storage by the owners. Although legally right people owned the guns, they manage to get to
the wrong people or rather high-risk individuals. According to Lott (2013), gun control laws will
minimize the incidences of deaths from firearms. The presence of loaded and unlocked guns
increased the chances of suicide and homicide. There are ways to reduce this gun violence and
deaths. The restrictions on gun manufacture, sale and purchase, background checks and other
regulations will significantly reduce the rates of crime by minimizing the number of guns among
the people and chances of reaching the bad people. Treatment of gunshot victims takes up a lot
of the health care costs; the control will reduce the costs. The restrictions will prevent women
deaths during domestic violence. Approximately, five women die every day by guns due to
domestic issues. McGinty, Wolfson, Sell & Webster (2016), believes that the mass shooting at
Sandy Hook Elementary school would not have occurred if the gun was kept locked and safe
from the juvenile.
Arguments against Gun control regulations
The gun control laws interfere with an individual second amendment right to own guns
for self-defense. The second amendment protects gun ownership rights (Everitt & Pratt, 2015).
The people have a right to own and bear guns to use for traditional reasons and self-defense at
homes. Therefore, the regulations prevent the people’s right to safety. Background checks invade
a person’s privacy as it requires information such as name, address, criminal records and mental
health information. The information is obtained for purposes that they were not meant for. The
opponents argue that education on gun safety is required and not regulation to prevent the
EFFECTIVENESS OF GUN CONTROL REGULATIONS AS A METHOD TO REDUCE CRIME
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accidental gun deaths. If students are taught about the firearms rather than prevent their freedom
the delinquency rates reduce. The gun control laws are racist in nature, and they aim at the inner
city where the poor and black people live.
In summary, the proponents continue to advocate for more strict measures on guns to
reduce crime. They hold that reducing the number of guns will reduce the crime rates. The
proposed acts that are still in control include the Brady handgun, the National Firearms Act,
Federal Firearms Act among others but vary from state to state. Those against the control
measures claim it hinders the second amendment rights and is not as effective as education on
gun use. In as much as people may argue, most crime originate from firearms thus gun control
laws still prove effective in reducing the rates of crime in the U.S.
EFFECTIVENESS OF GUN CONTROL REGULATIONS AS A METHOD TO REDUCE CRIME
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References
Everitt, L., & Pratt, E. (2015). Does the U.S. Need Tougher Gun-Control Laws?. New York
Times Upfront, 147(12), 22-23.
Gun Control Overview. (2013). Congressional Digest, 92(3), 3.
Lott, J. R. (2013). More guns, less crime: Understanding crime and gun control laws. University
of Chicago Press.
McGinty, E. E., Wolfson, J. A., Sell, T. K., & Webster, D. W. (2016). Common sense or gun
control? Political communication and news media framing of firearm sale background
checks after Newtown. Journal of health politics, policy, and law, 41(1), 3-40.
Metzl, J. M., & MacLeish, K. T. (2015). Mental illness, mass shootings, and the politics of
American firearms. American journal of public health, 105(2), 240-249.
RUNNING HEAD: EFFECTIVENESS OF GUN CONTROL REGULATIONS AS A METHOD TO REDUCE
CRIME
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Effectiveness of Gun control regulations as a method to reduce crime
Student’s name:
Columbia Southern University
EFFECTIVENESS OF GUN CONTROL REGULATIONS AS A METHOD TO REDUCE CRIME
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Effectiveness of Gun control regulations as a method to reduce crime
Everitt, L., & Pratt, E. (2015). Does the U.S. Need Tougher Gun-Control Laws?. New York
Times Upfront, 147(12), 22-23.
This article presents a debate on whether the U.S needs more strict gun control laws to
manage the high number of crimes. The debate starts by identifying the U.S Supreme Court
landmark case ruling of 2008 that allowed people to own guns. Some people argue that the
country needs more strict regulations while others argue that the gun control laws interfere with
their second amendment rights provided in the constitution. The proponents of gun control laws
argue that close to 32,000 people die every year due to gun violence. The country has the highest
number of guns, and the problem comes from the owners for instance convicted felons or
domestic violence perpetrators. The opponents argue that the gun control measures have failed to
control the guns from getting to wrong persons. The resource will be used to support the
arguments and provide examples of some of the laws implemented by the former U.S presidents
to control gun ownership and how effective they have been. The resource will also be used to
support an argument on why there should be no more gun control laws.
Gun Control Overview. (2013). Congressional Digest, 92(3), 3.
The article discusses gun control and the debate surrounding the gun control laws. The
article presents questions that gun regulation policies have raised throughout the years. Some of
the arguments raised are whether the constitution allows for the restriction of guns. The other
issue is whether gun control equates crime control and whether strict gun control laws will
reduce homicide, assault, robbery, and attacks on public figures. The public also questions
EFFECTIVENESS OF GUN CONTROL REGULATIONS AS A METHOD TO REDUCE CRIME
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whether the gun control restrictions will affect the practice of self-defense. The article states that
only federal laws have proven effective in managing guns and crime. States with minimal gun
control laws will be the highest sources of guns. The second amendment of the constitution is not
interfered with as the law was implemented to protect against the state militias. Some opponents
of gun control laws argue that crime is not associated with gun possession. This article shall be
used to inform the debate as it provides general facts on gun-related statistics including mortality
and crime statistics as it relates to gun control debate. It will also be used to illustrate some gun
regulations such as National Firearm Act, Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and Gun
Control Act of 1968.
Hsiao, T., & Bernstein, C. (2016). Against moderate gun control. Libertarian Papers, 8
Retrieved from https://login.libproxy.edmc.edu/login?url=https://search-proquestcom.libproxy.edmc.edu/docview/2001924933?accountid=34899
Hsiao & Bernstein (2016), presents arguments against gun control laws. Proponents of
gun ownership argue that it’s vital for self-defense while the opponents claim it increases social
harm. The article disputes measures on gun control proposed by another author David DeGrazia,
the moderate gun control. De Grazia argued that owning a gun is likely to cause harm as the
individual, the owner of the gun, has high chances of committing suicide or murder. De Grazia
states that only individuals who need self-protection and have undergone a handgun safety
training. Hsiao & Bernstein dispute De Grazia’s moderate gun control measures are stating that
the arguments are narrow and weak. The right-to-carry laws reduced the violent crime rates by
8% and sexual assault cases by 6% as people were prohibited from carrying their guns around.
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The article is useful to the topic as it presents arguments that both proponents and opponents
against the gun control measures to minimize crime might use to support their control measures.
Kposowa, A. a., Hamilton, D., & Wang, K. (2016). Impact of Firearm Availability and Gun
Regulation on State Suicide Rates. Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior, 46(6), 678-696.
This journal article evaluates the effect of firearm storage practices and the strictness of
firearm regulations on suicide rates in each state. Kposowa. Hamilton & Wang relate to gun
ownership to the suicide rates in families or households. The presence of guns in a home
increased the chances of suicide due to easy accessibility to the weapon. Kposowa et al. (2016)
state that over 800000 people across the world die from intentional self-harm. From the year
2005 to 2012, suicide was the tenth leading cause of death in the United States with 51% of the
deaths being a result of firearms. Kposowa et al. believe that restricting access to the lethal
objects is the most effective way to reduce the suicide and homicide rates. The research
discovered that the number of loaded and unlocked guns in households contribute to the increase
of crime in the United States. Therefore, gun ownership laws will minimize the incidences of
crime. This article shall be used to support the argument on the effectiveness of gun control
measures. The article will be useful in providing the varied rates of crimes in states showing its
relationship to different gun ownership and storage practices.
Lott, J. R. (2013). More guns, less crime: Understanding crime and gun control laws. University
of Chicago Press.
Lott discusses how crime and gun control laws relate. Since the book’s last edition in ten
years to present, more states have implemented the right-to-carry law, from sixteen to thirty-nine
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states. The book analyzes the effects of the gun laws are first implemented and after the
elimination. For instance, the federal assaults weapon ban which was introduced in 1994 and
ended in 2004. The book further explores the relationship between gun laws, a number of arrests
and convictions, socioeconomic factors and demographic compositions as they relate to violent
and property crime. The book evaluates the effectiveness of gun laws such as Brady law, waiting
periods, first background checks among others. Lott believes that Brady law and background
checks had a long-lasting positive impact on crime rates. The law prevented the transfer of over
two million guns and managed to control gun violence. The arguments in this book for and
against gun control laws shall inform the research and be used to evaluate the effectiveness of
gun control laws as a measure to reduce crime rates. The book also provides general information
on gun control laws and crime that will be used to provide information on the research topic.
McGinty, E. E., Wolfson, J. A., Sell, T. K., & Webster, D. W. (2016). Common sense or gun
control? Political communication and news media framing of firearm sale background
checks after Newtown. Journal of health politics, policy, and law, 41(1), 3-40.
The 2012 mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, compelled the U.S government to
implement and enforce gun control policies. The shooting occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary
School and led to several deaths including twenty students and six staff. This article evaluates the
manner in which news media and political figures communicated the background checks for
firearms to relay the information. The news media used reliable and evidence-based facts to
present the information to the public. The proponents saw a way to make the laws more strict
after the 2012 shooting by implementing background checks and restricting mentally ill persons
from owning guns. The opponents campaigned for the laws to be loosened and allow for gun
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owners to carry their guns to public places. This resource will be useful in informing some gun
control laws that were suggested and implemented after the mass attack. The article presents the
arguments by both proponents and opponents of the gun control laws and will be used to support
the research topic on gun control laws effectiveness. The article shall be used to show the
relationship between crime and gun control laws.
Vernick, J. S., Alcorn, T., & Horwitz, J. (2017). Background checks for all gun buyers and gun
violence restraining orders: state efforts to keep guns from high-risk persons. The Journal
of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 45(1_suppl), 98-102.
Vernick, Alcon & Howrwitz (2017), discuss the practice of conducting a criminal
background check on every person who buys a gun from a licensed dealer. The practice aims at
preventing the access of firearms to people that pose a danger to themselves or others. Most
prohibited offenders attempt to purchase guns from unlicensed online sellers where checks are
not required. Vernick et al., states that gun purchase laws significantly affect the rates of
violence. Majority of the deaths and crime in the U.S are associated with possession of a firearm.
There was a reduction of crime rates by 15.4% due to the permit-to-purchase law in Connecticut,
and when Missouri State rejected the law, there was a 16.1% increase in crime rates associated
with firearms. The resource will be used to show the different types of background checks
implemented in various states across the country to manage gun buyers and ownership by highrisk persons and their effectiveness in minimizing the rates of crime.
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