Introduction
May good gun owners safely use and store guns, and perhaps will use guns for sports or self-defense purposes only. Despite repeated mass shootings and calls for reform, the lack of action has kept restrictive gun laws a recurring topic of discussion. The mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlet in Texas was the 198th shooting in 2023, and only five days later, 12 more shootings were added (Miller et al., 2023). More than 200 mass shooting incidents have occurred in 2023, yet the year is far from over (BBC, 2023).
Inadequacies of Current U.S. Gun Laws and Political Responses
Although mental disorders have been blamed for several shootings, the current legal framework is insufficiently restrictive to prevent criminals and shooters. It appears that little effort has been directed to restricting access to firearms for those who have a mental illness, criminals, and disgruntled youths. For instance, gun laws in Texas may allow one to purchase firearms, including assault weapons like the AR-15, with easy background checks provided they are 18 years and above. Unsurprisingly, the Texas shooter also got his weapons legally. Many red states’ gun laws are very generous when buying guns, and even some blue state gun laws, like California, still have some limitations on generating prospective shooters.
A study by Luca et al. (2020) attempted to ascertain the effect of a mass shooting on gun policy. The study examined 25 years of high-profile mass shootings and gun legislation passed during that time. A pattern emerged that showed legislature controlled by democrats were likelier to pass tighter gun laws, while Republican-controlled states loosened gun laws (Luca et al., 2020). States like Texas would go more toward program policies in the aftermath of mass shootings, but it has never solved the prevalence of gun violence.
Lessons from Japan’s Strict Gun Regulations
As U.S. gun laws intensify, some Americans look overseas for ideas on preventing mass shootings. Despite having some of the strictest gun prohibitions in the world, Japan has one of the lowest rates of gun violence (Fisher, 2022). For instance, the U.S. has approximately four times as many firearm killings per 100,000 people as Japan (Bushard, 2022). According to Fisher (2022), obtaining a firearm license in Japan entails completing rigorous training, including a written exam, a physical and mental assessment, and stringent background checks. Surprisingly, America is responsible for Japan’s tight gun prohibitions, as it disarmed Japan after World War II.
Debates on Defensive Gun Use and Misinterpretations of Crime Statistics
Some argue that good people with guns are ideal for preventing bad people with guns. Others have pointed out that states with the strictest gun laws, like Chicago, are among the leaders in gun-related violence (Kruis et al., 2021). However, the argument may be flawed since it examines gun control in a single state. Many factors can affect gun violence, even if researchers control for things like poverty, unemployment, or incarceration rates. Those arguing that Chicago has high gun violence despite stricter gun laws may use raw numbers to validate their position. For instance, lumping in suicide with all gun deaths can present a lopsided view of gun violence in states with stricter gun control.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the gun control debate has raged for years, often re-igniting after high-profile mass shootings. Typically, there have been a series of mass shootings, push for reforms, and no action, where democrats likely pushed for stricter gun laws while Republican-controlled states loosened. Research has shown that nations like Japan have low homicide rates with more stringent gun control than the United States. Considering the rising cases of violence, there is a need to enforce stricter gun control, including requiring training and background checks to obtain a gun license.
References
BBC. (2023). How many U.S. mass shootings have there been in 2023? BBC News. Web.
Bushard, B. (2022). Here’s How Japan’s Low Gun Death Rate Compares To The U.S. And Other Countries. Forbes. Web.
Fisher, M. (2022). Does Abe shooting reflect success of Japan’s gun laws, not failure? The New York Times. Web.
Kruis, N., Wentling, R., Frye, T., & Rowland, N. (2021). Firearm ownership, defensive gun usage, and support for gun control: Does knowledge matter? American Journal of Criminal Justice, 48(1), 21–50.
Luca, M., Malhotra, D., & Poliquin, C. (2020). The impact of mass shootings on gun policy. Journal of Public Economics, 181(104083), 1-60.
Miller, J., Killough, A., & Rose, A. (2023). 8 killed and 7 wounded in Texas mall shooting. the gunman is also dead | CNN. CNN. Web.