Background about
the Second
Background Checks
If you are deciding to purchase a gun,
you probably know that you will be
subjected to some types of background
checks. “According to a Mar. 10, 2016
Lancet study, implementing federal
universal background checks 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%”
(Procon.org). This study has been
published recently and is a great
example of how background checks can
reduce crime and homicide rates.
Amendment
Gun control has been a controversial
topic that has gained popularity in the
media over the past decade. This
brochure will highlight some of the
points supporting why regulations on
the purchases of guns should be
increased.
Interpretations
David DeGrazia discusses gun control
in Debating Gun Control: How Much
Regulation Do We Need?. He states
that the issue boils down to two
simple rights: the right to own guns
and the right to not be shot. Since
both are rights, one cannot outweigh
or trump another. Reasonable gun
control regulations limit an
A GUIDE TO
individual’s right to own a gun if they THE ISSUE OF
pose a danger to society.
GUN
CONTROL
And what our nation can do
about it.
Other Research
Researcher Yu Lu from the University of
Texas Medical Division discusses how
there is not a direct link between mental
health issues and committing violence
with a gun in her academic article,
“Dangerous Weapons or Dangerous
People? The Temporal Associations
between Gun Violence and Mental
Health.” Lu used data from high school
students and young adults along with
statistics in her research. She asked
students to rank themselves on their
mental health, and asked questions
pertaining to how often they had carried
a gun and if they ever felt like
threatening someone with it.
The study surprisingly found that
mental health was not the main concern
for gun violence, it was having access to
a gun. In fact, individuals who had access
to a gun were over 18 times more likely
to have threatened someone with it.
Background Checks continued
There is also a term called “the gun show
loophole”. A gun show is usually a
gathering where guns are displayed,
purchased, and sold. The pertaining
issue to these displays means that
private sellers may not require
background checks to purchase a gun, or
other factors needed such as having a
permit. Not many know that 40 percent
of gun sales are undocumented from Final Thoughts
private sellers who do not require Our country could never fully take away
background checks, according to guns, and it would be unjust to do so
ProCon.org. This also leads to the issue given that it is permanently written in
of guns being sold on the black market. the Constitution. As well as more
background checks, we can also push to
increase gun violence research. By doing
so, we are already educating ourselves
“It is not a right to keep and
further as a society on this issue, as well
carry any weapon whatsoever as coming together to be more aware of
gun safety. With better regulations and
in any manner whatsoever more awareness, America can tackle this
and for whatever purpose” issue and make changes for the better.
- Mentioned by the Supreme Court,
United States v. Miller (1939)