Term Essay Politics (Gun Control)

Benjamin Hood

Professor Dr. Perparim Gutaj

POLS 1100

November 29, 2019

As of August 2019, there have been 110 gun bills sitting in Congress. With all these bills, several tend to get overlooked. Meanwhile, specific deals do seem to stand out among the rest. While some concerns congress is considering affect particular groups of civilian gun control affects every American in one way or another. Whether it's your parent, partner, neighbor, or post officer; a little less than 6.6% of American adults have permits to carry guns on their person in the United States. That only considers those who submitted to get a permit to carry and were given it. Meanwhile, 30% of Americans say they personally own a gun, while closer to 43% live in a gun household. So whether or not you own or live in a household that holds a gun there is a large possibility, someone you know owns a firearm. Do I have your attention? Good, so gun control will affect you and you can decide if that effect is positive or negative.

On September 6th,1949, a War Veteran with a took his German Luger Po8, 9mm pistol with 33 loose cartridges out, on what would become known as his "Walk of Death;" this rampage in the neighborhood of Cramer Hill in Camden, New Jersey would result in 13 murders, three injuries, and what is believed to be the first mass shooting in U.S. history. In modern history, gun violence has appeared to be increasing in the frequency of occurrences in the world, and specifically within the U.S. As of November 17th, 2019, there have been 369 mass shootings within America. November 17th is the 321st day of the year, so we've had more mass shootings than days in a year, and there may be more mass shootings before 2020 rolls around. Among the 110 bills that are at a standstill in Congress, the three I feel are the most important and influential on the nation. The Disarm Hate Act (H.R.2708), the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2019 (H.R.1236), and Keep Americans Safe Act (H.R.1186). Each of these places restrictions on certain parts of the 2nd Amendment. These proposals can scare left-wing extremists. However, these restrictions can seem worth it if it'll assist in decreasing the amount of gun violence and firearm-related death in the U.S.

The Extreme Risk Protection Order Act (H.R.1236) states that “To support State, Tribal, and local efforts to remove access to firearms from individuals who are a danger to themselves or others pursuant to court orders for this purpose.” By implementing this law, it would fundamentally assist cutting down on suicidal and murder rates across the nation. However, this would only affect the mentally diagnosed, previous criminally charged, or have a record of some kind; similar to the previous proposal stated above, the Disarm Hate Act (H.R.2708). The Disarm Hate Act would ensure the “prohibits firearm sale or transfer to and receipt, possession, shipment, or the transport of a firearm by a person (1) who has been convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime, or (2) who has received an enhanced hate crime misdemeanor sentence.” Here again, you have a policy in place that will remove firearms from the hands of those who are a threat to others. This would hopefully cut down on hate attacks similar to the 2016 Orlando Nightclub Shooting, where a 29-year-old security guard went into a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida and after a three-hour standoff he was shot and killed by police officers, he did sadly take 49 lives and wounded 53 by the end of the massacre. Orlando shows what can happen when individuals are not properly vetted. The guns he used were gained legally and the background done on him was did not pick up the two separate FBI investigations of him on his links to possible terrorist groups. This act may have not stopped this man specifically but it would've along with the others I will purpose here would've made this attack a lot more difficult for him to have enacted his plans.

The 1999 Columbine High School Massacre occurred when two, twelfth-grade students, when to their high school attempted a bombing which failed, then continued with a shooting spree which resulted in killing twelve students and one teacher and ended with the perpetrators turning their guns on themselves and shooting themselves in the head. The perpetrators used a Tec-DC9 semiautomatic handgun, a 9 mm Hi-Point semiautomatic carbine rifle, and two sawed-off shotguns, which were all purchased legally with no license or registration required for the users. The federal government did place bans on many assault weapons in 1994. However, to be considered for this law the firearm in question would need to have at least two additional characteristics (suppressor folding stock, grips, etc.) So the assault weapons used in the school shooting didn't fit the criteria to be made illegal. The Columbine High School Massacre represents why the Keep Americans Safe Act (H.R.1186) which wants too “This bill establishes a new criminal offense for the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device (LCAFD).” this would cap all rapid-fire weapons as well as similar firearms from getting out on the streets. I also have found as I've read that along with this bill we should also enact the Assault Weapons Ban of 2019 (S.66) bill which “This bill makes it a crime to knowingly import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess a semiautomatic assault weapon (SAW) or large capacity ammunition feeding device (LCAFD).” Both of these being put in place would halt the death rate done by assault weapons in America. You would face pushing back for these acts, but I would argue that assault weapons have no place away from the battlefield. Americans can keep their handguns, shotguns, and rifles for hunting or self-defense but you don't need assault weapons. A weapon made for executing a mass number of people isn't what you use while hunting, or defending your home, it has no place in the American nation.

Contributing to slowing the gun control bills pass through Congress is big-name companies, specifically the NRA (National Rifle Association). The NRA prevented the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) in 1996 from studying gun violence and death. The research block was achieved by enacting the Dickey Amendment, which states that, “The provision prohibits the use of federal funds to advocate or promote gun control.” This amendment has caused gun violence funding to drop by 96% since 1996. With groups like the NRA that are backed by gun manufacturing companies, they have an unbelievable influence because of the money they have.

116 days ago, a gunman shot and killed 22 people and injured 24 others at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas; the killing is believed to be an act of domestic terrorism and as a possible hate crime. The weapons used in the shooting were bought legally from foreign sellers. Walmart reacting to the attacked said they would not sell ammunition anymore. So here is a company making a change and rules to help prevent the access ability of firearms that congress should be making. To put a stop to gun violence we must take certain steps in preventing further losses while applying the bills I have presented above, The Disarm Hate Act (H.R.2708), the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2019 (H.R.1236), and Keep Americans Safe Act (H.R.1186), we must also hold companies and groups accountable for mishandling the proper selling of firearms in America. By restricting the selling of specific weapons, to whom they are sold too, and implementing more in-depth background checks for the individuals who are wishing to purchase a firearm. By implementing these points we can hopefully drive the death by firearm rate down and overall fi issues that have been noticeable, but shunted down because of large gun companies and the gun rights activists they sponsor.

Silverstein, Jason. “There Have Been More Mass Shootings than Days This Year.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 17 Nov. 2019, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mass-shootings-2019-more-mass-shootings-than-days-so-far-this-year/.

Desai, Kush. “Fact Check: What Percentage of Americans Have Concealed Carry Permits?” The Daily Signal, 6 Mar. 2018, https://www.dailysignal.com/2018/03/06/fact-check-what-percentage-of-americans-have-concealed-carry-permits/.

Silverstein, Jason. “There Have Been More Mass Shootings than Days This Year.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 17 Nov. 2019, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mass-shootings-2019-more-mass-shootings-than-days-so-far-this-year/.

Saad, Lydia. “What Percentage of Americans Own Guns?” Gallup.com, Gallup, 15 Nov. 2019, https://news.gallup.com/poll/264932/percentage-americans-own-guns.aspx.

“Giffords Law Center's Annual Gun Law Scorecard.” Gun Law Scorecard, https://lawcenter.giffords.org/scorecard/#HI.

“Gun Violence Archive.” Gun Violence Archive, https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/past-tolls.

Sauer, Patrick. “The Story of the First Mass Murder in U.S. History.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 14 Oct. 2015, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/story-first-mass-murder-us-history-180956927/.

Rostron, Allen. “The Dickey Amendment on Federal Funding for Research on Gun Violence: A Legal Dissection.” American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, July 2018, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5993413/.

“Columbine High School Shootings Fast Facts.” CNN, Cable News Network, 24 Aug. 2019, https://www.cnn.com/2013/09/18/us/columbine-high-school-shootings-fast-facts/index.html.

Alter, Charlotte. “Orlando Shooter Omar Mateen Bought Gun Legally.” Time, Time, 14 June 2016, https://time.com/4367592/orlando-shooting-gun-store-owner/.

Fortgang, Erika. “How They Got The Guns.” Rolling Stone, 25 June 2018, https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/how-they-got-the-guns-175676/.

Jacobo, Julia. “Walmart to Limit Sales of Guns, Ammunition in Wake of 'Horrific' Shootings.” ABC News, ABC News Network, 3 Sept. 2019, https://abcnews.go.com/US/walmart-limit-sales-guns-ammunition-wake-horrific-shootings/story?id=65361629.

McCullough, Jolie. “El Paso Shooting Suspect Said He Ordered His AK-47 and Ammo from Overseas.” The Texas Tribune, The Texas Tribune, 28 Aug. 2019, https://www.texastribune.org/2019/08/28/el-paso-shooting-gun-romania/.

Deutch, and Theodore E. “H.R.1186 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Keep Americans Safe Act.” Congress.gov, 10 Sept. 2019, https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1186.

Carbajal, and Salud O. “Text - H.R.1236 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2019.” Congress.gov, 10 Sept. 2019, https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1236/text.

Cicilline, and David N. “H.R.2708 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Disarm Hate Act.” Congress.gov, 10 Sept. 2019, https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2708.

Desjardins, Lisa. “Congress Has 110 Gun Bills on the Table. Here's Where They Stand.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 6 Aug. 2019, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/congress-has-110-gun-bills-on-the-table-heres-where-they-stand.

Raphelson, Samantha. “How The NRA Worked To Stifle Gun Violence Research.” NPR, NPR, 5 Apr. 2018, https://www.npr.org/2018/04/05/599773911/how-the-nra-worked-to-stifle-gun-violence-research.