Gun Control Policy

Abstract

This paper assesses the effects of the various gun control policies and restrictions introduced by the state and the effects of these policies on the overall occurrence of gun-related violence in the country. This study reviews data of crimes and regulations related to guns. While numerous scholars have repeatedly studied the effects of gun control regulations on the crime rate, their focus has mainly been restricted to reviewing the overall level of violence rather than a comparison of the policy effects to the various gun control laws. This study aims to conduct an intensive examination of gun-related crimes while also comparing numerous gun control policies.

Gun Control Policy

Introduction

This research paper hypothesizes that gun control restrictions, such as adopting preventative measures such as prolonging the waiting period for making a gun purchase, or introducing additional requirements for the acquisition of a gun, effectively decrease the likelihood of violence and crimes related to guns by effectively increasing the limitations to their access for all citizens, including potential criminals. However, the study does not attempt to gauge gun availability since a measurement of gun ownerships is unavailable (Kleck, 1984). As a result, it is widely supposed that imposing restrictions and control over guns greatly reduces the occurrence of gun-related violence since it affects the availability of guns among potential offenders.

Overview

The United States has repeatedly ranked among the countries of the world that have the highest occurrence of violent crimes. Understandably, a major portion of these crimes are connected with guns. The U. S. Department of Justice cites that gun-related violence and crimes constitute the greatest volume of violence within the U. S. (Block, 1977) For example, in the year 1995, around 68% of total homicide cases reported around the world involved the use of guns whereas 60.3 % of these involved handguns.

Moreover, in the following year of 1996, the number of causalities reported around the U. S. as a result of gunfire reached up to an alarming 34,040. From these deaths, nearly 41% were the product of homicide which essentially means that out of every four instances of shooting, one is fatal while four are nonfatal shootings (Shay et al, 1999). Owing to the increasing threat of gun-related violence and crime, gun control and regulation has arguably become the most widely debated and central issue in the field of criminal justice.

There also exist large volumes of literature that address the issue of gun control and study policies relating to the topic. a review of these studies will also make it clear that there exist a number of considerable disagreements regarding the underlying relationship between the availability of guns and the violence that follows. Where some scholars propagate that the connection between guns and violence is purely based on coincidence, others challenge these claims by advocating that there is, in fact, a direct connection between the two.

The choice of weapon

Handguns are the main choice of weapon among criminals in the United States for the fact that they are easily concealable and inexpensive while also ...