Gun regulations in the United States have been a subject of heated debates throughout many recent election cycles. With no action taken due to numerous conflicts of interest, politicians and interest groups strive to influence public opinion. The discussions that are often met with mass discontent are background checks and their impact on gun violence. The article “The new politics of gun control” by Philip Elliott explores this issue by highlighting how these topics are misrepresented to Americans. “Gun culture in action” by Mencken and Froese, “Universal background checks for handgun purchases can reduce homicide rates of African Americans” by Kaufman et al., and “Trends in public opinion on US gun laws” by Barry et al. support Elliott’s idea through credible evidence. Elliott makes a valid point regarding gun policies, which will not affect the vast majority of gun owners while preventing a portion of violent incidents.
Supporters of gun control do not seek to take away people’s firearms but avoid giving them to dangerous individuals. The goal of a background assessment is to detect possibly irresponsible gun owners and prevent purchases made with malicious intent based on their history with law enforcement (Mencken & Froese, 2019). This approach can stimulate opposing sides to come up with a deal that can formulate a feasible and generally agreeable law. Moreover, this regulation could have prevented the mass shooting in Orlando (Elliott, 2016). This policy does not affect hunting and sports activities since it targets people with criminal records.
Background checks are a solution that alleviates the burden on society efficiently and with high precision. In fact, stricter prohibitions may cause the expansion of illegal gun purchases, while bans on firearm sales to people with previous convictions for violence decrease homicide rates by forty percent (Kaufman et al., 2020). Statistics provide convincing evidence regarding the measures proposed by politicians in Elliott’s article. Safety measures are not comparable with direct restrictions, which all involved stakeholders must comprehend. Since this proposal does require concessions from both sides, the logic behind such a move can become apparent through real-life examples from other countries.
The counterargument regarding how gun control laws do not stop criminals from acquiring firearms illegally does not affect the benefits of background checks. This notion is outlined clearly by Elliott (2016), who reveals that the proposed change is about “closing loopholes, not about stricter gun laws” (para. 13). Therefore, people must become knowledgeable on the exact impact of this shift in regulations. Direct bans of certain types of firearms are not as supported by the U.S. population as inspections for convictions or mental health conditions (Barry et al., 2019). This public opinion highlights that people understand the source of the problem and the goal of new policies.
In conclusion, the article on gun control by Elliott pinpoints the critical issue that indicates the necessity of background checks and their actual impact on gun violence prevention, which is confirmed by other credible sources. It is essential to comprehend that the proposed gun regulations do not affect the majority of gun owners in the United States. Background checks are the tool for detecting irresponsible or mentally unstable individuals to whom it is irresponsible to sell a firearm. While there is resistance to change, gun owners must understand the positive impact that Elliott and other article authors attempt to deliver.
References
Barry, C. L., Stone, E. M., Crifasi, C. K., Vernick, J. S., Webster, D. W., & McGinty, E. E. (2019). Trends in public opinion on US gun laws: Majorities of gun owners and non–gun owners support a range of measures. Health Affairs, 38(10), 1727–1734. Web.
Elliott, P. (2016). The new politics of gun control. Time. Web.
Kaufman, E. J., Morrison, C. N., Olson, E. J., Humphreys, D. K., Wiebe, D. J., Martin, N. D., Sims, C. A., Hoofnagle, M. H., Schwab, C. W., Reilly, P. M., & Seamon, M. J. (2020). Universal background checks for handgun purchases can reduce homicide rates of African Americans. Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 88(6), 825–831. Web.
Mencken, F. C., & Froese, P. (2019). Gun culture in action. Social Problems, 66(1), 3–27. Web.