Recent tragedies highlight firearm control debate in America
In 2012, the city of Chicago had over 500 confirmed homicides. This tragic number of homicides is primarily the result of two factors: gang violence and the dissemination of illegal firearms. With over 500 confirmed homicides, Chicago endured more deaths via homicides than the number of American military personnel who were killed in combat in Afghanistan last year. In 2012, there were 295 American service members killed in combat in Afghanistan. The spike in gun-related homicides in Chicago and recent mass shootings and domestic terrorism incidents at places such as: Aurora, Boston, Newtown, Tucson, and Virginia Tech have intensified the ongoing gun control debate in the United States.
In the aftermath of the December 14, 2012 Newtown, Connecticut tragedy, both Connecticut and New York state enacted stricter gun control legislation. However, in mid-April 2013, President Obama criticized members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate for not passing a comprehensive federal firearms control bill.
In light of these tragic situations in different parts of the country, the Obama administration and state officials have been re-evaluating gun laws in an attempt to quell mass shootings and domestic terrorism.
The United States has the highest homicide-by-firearm rate among the world's most developed nations, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The U.S. also ranks number 1 in the world in firearms per capita. According to a 2007 report by Switzerland's Small Arms Survey, the U.S. has between 35%-50% of the world's civilian owned guns. The U.S. has less than 5% of the world's population. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. had approximately 31,000 firearms deaths in 2010, 2/3rds of these deaths were suicides.
Contrastingly to the U.S., Japan's gun-homicide rate - which is 1 in 10 million, is the lowest in the world. A study published by the Center for American Progress on April 3, 2013, indicated that states that tend to have relatively relaxed gun laws have the highest rates of gun-related homicides and suicides. The study's findings stated that Alaska, with a gun death rate of 20.28 deaths per 100,000 in 2010 had the highest rate of gun related deaths in the U.S. With rates of 19.06 and 16.58 deaths per 100,000 people, Louisiana and Montana ranked 2nd and 3rd as the states with the most gun-related homicides.
"Factors such as gun trafficking across state lines, overall crime patterns, and other socioeconomic issues in a state all play a role in gun-violence rates," the Center of American Progress report states according to an April 4, 2013 Reuters article by Ian Simpson.
According to the study, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Connecticut had the lowest rates of overall gun violence. In 2010, Hawaii had the lowest rate of firearms deaths at 3.31 per 100,000 people.
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution states: " A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." The right to bear arms is provided to all American citizens as interpreted by the Second Amendment to the Constitution. This right should be respected; however, our nation's approach to preventing more gun-related deaths and protecting our citizenry from vicious gun attacks must be re-evaluated. The future of our safety depends on it.
In the aftermath of the December 14, 2012 Newtown, Connecticut tragedy, both Connecticut and New York state enacted stricter gun control legislation. However, in mid-April 2013, President Obama criticized members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate for not passing a comprehensive federal firearms control bill.
In light of these tragic situations in different parts of the country, the Obama administration and state officials have been re-evaluating gun laws in an attempt to quell mass shootings and domestic terrorism.
The United States has the highest homicide-by-firearm rate among the world's most developed nations, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The U.S. also ranks number 1 in the world in firearms per capita. According to a 2007 report by Switzerland's Small Arms Survey, the U.S. has between 35%-50% of the world's civilian owned guns. The U.S. has less than 5% of the world's population. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. had approximately 31,000 firearms deaths in 2010, 2/3rds of these deaths were suicides.
Contrastingly to the U.S., Japan's gun-homicide rate - which is 1 in 10 million, is the lowest in the world. A study published by the Center for American Progress on April 3, 2013, indicated that states that tend to have relatively relaxed gun laws have the highest rates of gun-related homicides and suicides. The study's findings stated that Alaska, with a gun death rate of 20.28 deaths per 100,000 in 2010 had the highest rate of gun related deaths in the U.S. With rates of 19.06 and 16.58 deaths per 100,000 people, Louisiana and Montana ranked 2nd and 3rd as the states with the most gun-related homicides.
"Factors such as gun trafficking across state lines, overall crime patterns, and other socioeconomic issues in a state all play a role in gun-violence rates," the Center of American Progress report states according to an April 4, 2013 Reuters article by Ian Simpson.
According to the study, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Connecticut had the lowest rates of overall gun violence. In 2010, Hawaii had the lowest rate of firearms deaths at 3.31 per 100,000 people.
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution states: " A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." The right to bear arms is provided to all American citizens as interpreted by the Second Amendment to the Constitution. This right should be respected; however, our nation's approach to preventing more gun-related deaths and protecting our citizenry from vicious gun attacks must be re-evaluated. The future of our safety depends on it.
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