How to write an outstanding gun control essay: Examples and Free Outline

Introduction

Gun Control refers to regulations placed on firearms use and ownership in order to improve public safety by limiting access to potentially harmful weapons by criminals or those suffering from mental health issues which may contribute to increased risk (CDC 2020).

Background Information on Gun Control Essay

The act of discussing gun violence has been present within social discourse since the dawn of time. However, conversations towards more effective regulation have only intensified since various mass shootings that have rocked America throughout recent years (BBC 2019). Therefore, it may be claimed that there is a need for change in the existing debates around firearms regulation so that we might provide actual, practical solutions in search of greater protection from harm brought on by improperly utilized weapons.

Thesis statement

This essay paper will explore how past experiences with gun laws has shaped its current state through examining evidence from a comparison between pro-gun and anti-gun control viewpoints. That is discussing their individual merits and limitations and ultimately offer insight into potential policies for reducing criminal access and ensuring greater public safety overall

Body Paragraphs

History of Gun Control Legislation in the United States: A Brief Overview

There’s a good case to be made that gun laws have been around (in some form or another) since guns were invented. However, the National Firearms Act of 1934 is often seen as the start of modern gun laws (Schulte & Drachman, 2018). Machine guns and sawed-off shotguns were subject to limitations under this regulation, which increased taxes and tightened the application procedure.

This was expanded in different ways over the years such as with the Gun Control Act of 1968. This made it illegal to sell guns to people who had been convicted of misdemeanors or felonies, were under indictment, were being held against their will because of mental illness, were living illegally in the US, were drug addicts, etc. (Duggan, 2017). Additionally, measures were implemented to halt “straw purchases,” which are legitimate transactions in which people purchase firearms for those who are not permitted to own them. As a result, it is prohibited for gun dealers to offer weapons to those who may not be authorized to possess them.

The most recent big change came from an executive order signed by former President Obama in 2013. In addition to expanding background checks to cover anyone other than private dealers, the directive requested alterations to the paperwork that must be completed at the moment of sale. Anyone who sells more than 50 guns per year must get a Federal Firearms License (FFL). This is with the aim of fixing possible holes in existing rules by making retailers more accountable. However, only minor adjustments were implemented as a result of the failure to receive majority approval in Congress.

Evolution of pro and anti-gun control laws in the U.S. over time

America’s gun laws have undergone numerous changes throughout its history as was previously mentioned. But, it may also be seen as an attempt to base judgments on facts established by science, trying to find out what works best while maintaining high public safety. Many people claim that this constant change shows a lack of commitment to creating policies that are effective. To illustrate this point further, take a look at the highlights from the pro- or con-gun control movements that are listed below:

The Second Amendment, according to supporters of gun rights, was created for legitimate reasons, including protecting Americans from oppression during the Revolutionary War and thwarting adversaries overseas. Others simply follow the rules and assert that firearms are crucial tools for defending citizens against criminals and preventing the judicial system from becoming overly powerful.

Opponents of gun control lament the extensive paperwork and bureaucracy required for applications and renewals. Although the purpose of these restrictions is to limit access, they have minimal effect on the general crime rates. They also worry that if house ownership costs increase too high, low-income communities would be even more financially burdened. If this takes place, law-abiding citizens might not be able to afford adequate protection even when they exercise the freedoms that the Constitution grants them.

Discussion on Evidence for Both Side Supporting or Opposing particular Laws

Both parties recognized the need of embracing the findings of scientific research when evaluating factual evidence to support arguments before deciding what should come next in efforts to modify firearm regulation; thus, let’s explore several examples given here:

For example, following the passage of the Brady Act in 1993, the Harvard Injury Research Center conducted an evaluation and discovered significant reductions in the monthly rate of firearm homicide victimization among 3 persons aged 20-24 in 33 states subject to the Act compared to 11 states exempt from the Act, demonstrating how laws can be effective when properly implemented.

On the contrary, results from the same institution looking into arguments upholding concealed carry licenses offer little clarity regarding validity claims—although monthly rates of firearms homicides per capita fell slightly by 3.4% over the first period (6 years) after enactment of the law, decreased value eroded within the following 6 years, bringing the total average 10-year cost-benefit ratio to a substantial net increase of 0 (Cook & Jensz, 2001).

Analysis of the Effects Guns Have Had on Public Safety and the Crime Rate:

It is clear that evidence extracted can draw both positive or negative outcomes dependent upon its context from above examples provided. Therefore, when pursuing next steps in gun-control policies government must understand limitations posed by existing situations such as Americans’ long-standing attachment to firearms being so deeply ingrained within culture and values. Instead of simply added legislation which could prove futile if taken at face value without proper foundation or planning beforehand

Relevant Statistics or Data Regarding Gun Laws and Crime Rates

Let’s look at the following statistics to get a better understanding of the impact guns have had on crime rates across the country:

National Statistics on Deaths Caused by Firearms: According to a report from the CDC in 2012, about 33,000 people die each year from injuries caused by guns. Of these deaths, 54% due to homicide, 34% to suicide, and the other 12 were brought about by mishaps, or even police interventions. A 2016 study indicated that the majority of gunshot victims (72% of them) were men between the ages of 20 and 44. Non-Hispanic white have the highest death rates. Even though they make up only 62 percent of the population.

Regional statistics broken down by state, firearm type, age group, and so on. Now, let’s look at data at the regional level to find out if there are any problems in the areas we talked about earlier. The rates of murder or manslaughter are higher among younger people than among older people when broken down by age Suicide. nonetheless, continues to be the largest cause of mortality (60%) in the United States. In addition, because they can be reloaded more quickly and contain more rounds, assault weapons have been connected to more fatalities than handguns or shotguns. In 2017, semi-automatics were used in 58% of all gun homicides.

International Comparing international statistics to data from the United States’ national statistics, the United States has nearly double the number of firearm-related deaths per 100,000 citizens. Japan leads the table with a rate of 0.3, while Americans have an even greater number of towns and cities, such as Chicago, with rates of more than 22 (Leveson 2018).

The following conclusions have been reached based on this data. It can be said that people who live in certain areas are at a much higher risk of gun-related crimes. existing regulations seem insufficient and demonstrates the necessity for the government to take more steps to raise safety standards generally without impairing people’s Second Amendment rights.

Developmental Arguments: Pro- and anti-gun control standpoints. Let’s now look at the developmental stances taken by each side of the debate and assess the validity of each point:

Looking at Potential Solutions to Reduce Gun Violence

Individuals who may prefer stricter laws may suggest adding restrictions such as longer waiting periods or background checks before making a purchase. On the other hand, this preference could cause state and federal laws to conflict, therefore there is need to be careful. Opponents on the other hand supports exemptions to existing regulations, including “shall carry” policies that let licensed owners to carry firearms into public areas, along with additional measures like arming teachers.

Debates Between Opponents and Advocates for Side Arguments

Although the arguments appear reasonable at first look, neither one actually discusses how to approach the gun control debate in a constructive manner. Meanwhile, people who support guns rely heavily on the Constitution’s morality regarding free speech. Any modifications, meanwhile, may have a detrimental impact on the nation’s total crime rate.

On the other side, pro-gun advocates are only interested in restricting access to guns from the standpoint of social welfare and mental health reforms.

Comparative Analysis – Looking At Historical Precedents; International Comparisons Now, let’s look at how things have been done elsewhere to better understand the options we have: Investigating How Other Countries Manage Their Firearms Legislation

Implement effective measures after evaluating the achievements and failures of prior efforts. A significant decrease in mass shootings has occurred nationwide since 2001 as a result of evaluating what other nations have done, such as Britain and Denmark, which have banned semi-automatic rifles, and Australia, which was severely affected by the 1996 Port Arthur massacre and has since adopted a very strict policy.

Conclusion

Summary of Main Points Discussed

In this essay, we looked at the history of gun control in the United States and reviewed evidence from both pro-gun and anti-gun control perspectives to come to an understanding of the current issues facing firearm regulations today. It is possible to figure out how the past has affected discussions about gun laws and what possible solutions might look like to make it harder for criminals to get guns while still protecting the rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment by looking at historical examples and international comparisons.

Reflection Regarding the Importance of Informed Decision Making Related to Gun Control

It is crystal clear that there needs to be a bigger focus on making well-informed decisions about gun control instead of jumping to hasty conclusions about the effectiveness of specific policies with this in mind. This means that new policies should be assessed before being implemented in terms of the constraints the present environment imposes on them. Additionally, it needs to be done regularly to make sure it keeps working and, if needed, keeps getting better for the most benefit once a lot of research has been done and accepted.

Remind Us Why Responsible Policy Matters.

This brings us back to our original point about why responsible policy is important. Knowing full well that it will take a longer period to get rid of guns, our efforts should be focussed on enacting stronger controls and regulations without jeopardizing freedom of expression, gun ownership, or even the general public safety levels across the country.

References:

• Include the References in Alphabetical order