Guns don’t kill people, people kill people. This phrase has become the mantra for the National Rifle Association and most pro-gun arguments, but on what basis does this stems from? Here in the United States, we contain just under half of all the armed civilians worldwide, despite having only just under 5 percent of the world population. To some, they see this fact as a source of pride, though others see it as the reason for an extensive issue. It is no breaking news that gun violence has been a rampant problem in the United States, we’ve had more than seven times the numbers of gun-related homicides compared to the next runner up per population for high-income countries. But the real question at hand that everyone disagrees on is why is this
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For example, many would say that it’s only the mentally ill people who are committing such violence, yet a 2015 study points to only four percent of gun death could be attributed to such causes (Fisher, Keller). But there is one main reason why it cause isn’t just the person behind the gun, and it is that none of these factors are limited to the United States. The U.S. isn’t reportedly playing more video games, and our crime rates aren’t any higher than other countries, so what gives (Nation Masters)? The only anomaly compared to other countries is our massive amount of gun ownership, clocking in at 112.6 guns per one hundred people, putting us as the number one in all countries (Morris). As stated by Max Fisher and Josh Keller in a New York Times article, the problem isn’t that Americans are more violent, it’s just that our crimes are too lethal. They inform that someone in New York is just as likely to be robbed as someone in London, but the person in New York is fifty-four times more likely to be killed in the process! They further drive home the point by pointing out that tragedies like attacks aren’t isolated to the U.S., as in China, twenty-five students were killed between 2010 to 2012. In contrast, in that same window, the U.S. had shootings that killed a total of 78, which is twelve times more …show more content…
This is no coincidence, as there are next to no scientific studies conducted on gun violence despite it claiming so many American lives, and it’s a huge obstacle that needs to be passed if the U.S. wants to have a meaning discussion about gun violence. This is all thanks to something called the Dickey’s Amendmend that passed in 1996. Sonali Rajan from American Journal of Public Health reveals that only 0.085% of Central for Disease Control and Prevention’s budget is allocated on research for gun violence. Rajan then goes on by informing that the reason for the lack of federal funding is because the Dickey Amendment effectively blocked the CDC funding research that might lead to the conclusion of gun control being the answer. This outrageous amendment, was a result of backlash from the NRA for the 1993 study that resulted in finds of keeping a firearm at home increased the likelihood of a family member getting shot by that gun (Kelderman). Although there were attempts to overturn this, they all ended in failures. This is the fundamental reason why America is in its current shape right now, because we refuse to acknowledge that our guns are the issue. Without overturning this amendment and be ready to face the issue, we cannot move
For example, many would say that it’s only the mentally ill people who are committing such violence, yet a 2015 study points to only four percent of gun death could be attributed to such causes (Fisher, Keller). But there is one main reason why it cause isn’t just the person behind the gun, and it is that none of these factors are limited to the United States. The U.S. isn’t reportedly playing more video games, and our crime rates aren’t any higher than other countries, so what gives (Nation Masters)? The only anomaly compared to other countries is our massive amount of gun ownership, clocking in at 112.6 guns per one hundred people, putting us as the number one in all countries (Morris). As stated by Max Fisher and Josh Keller in a New York Times article, the problem isn’t that Americans are more violent, it’s just that our crimes are too lethal. They inform that someone in New York is just as likely to be robbed as someone in London, but the person in New York is fifty-four times more likely to be killed in the process! They further drive home the point by pointing out that tragedies like attacks aren’t isolated to the U.S., as in China, twenty-five students were killed between 2010 to 2012. In contrast, in that same window, the U.S. had shootings that killed a total of 78, which is twelve times more …show more content…
This is no coincidence, as there are next to no scientific studies conducted on gun violence despite it claiming so many American lives, and it’s a huge obstacle that needs to be passed if the U.S. wants to have a meaning discussion about gun violence. This is all thanks to something called the Dickey’s Amendmend that passed in 1996. Sonali Rajan from American Journal of Public Health reveals that only 0.085% of Central for Disease Control and Prevention’s budget is allocated on research for gun violence. Rajan then goes on by informing that the reason for the lack of federal funding is because the Dickey Amendment effectively blocked the CDC funding research that might lead to the conclusion of gun control being the answer. This outrageous amendment, was a result of backlash from the NRA for the 1993 study that resulted in finds of keeping a firearm at home increased the likelihood of a family member getting shot by that gun (Kelderman). Although there were attempts to overturn this, they all ended in failures. This is the fundamental reason why America is in its current shape right now, because we refuse to acknowledge that our guns are the issue. Without overturning this amendment and be ready to face the issue, we cannot move