Gun Violence Essay Example

Did you know over 100 people in this country die as a result of a gunshot (Nuwer)? In addition, about 30,000 lives are lost every year by guns(Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. 2018, 1p.). The United States needs to have more gun laws. Not only are guns a dangerous weapon, but because there are more deaths when there are more weapons, guns are used in a variety of countless other crimes, and there is a problem with gun abuse. Although guns are sometimes convenient for people  and police officers, stricter or more gun laws need to be implemented because guns are becoming a far bigger issue for the United States and are causing an overwhelming amount of deaths.

Unfortunately, there have been many recent shootings/incidents, injuries, and countless deaths that have spurred across the nation. Thus, gun violence is becoming a much bigger issue in America. Recently, many scenarios of gun violence are on the rise. On April 15, 2021, a mass shooting in Indianapolis took place and killed 9 people and wounded many others, then the gunman took his own life. Locally in Champaign, shootings have doubled with 189 shootings in comparison to 100 shootings in 2019 (WCIA). In many more rising instances, places like schools, salons, stores, houses, and many more places are continuing to have many shootings occur. Furthermore, in addition to these worrisome scenarios, gun violence also contributes to many deaths in various ways. In an article it stated that,“Three-quarters of all U.S. murders in 2017 – 14,542 out of 19,510 – involved a firearm. About half (51%) of all suicides that year – 23,854 out of 47,173 – involved a gun.” (Gramlich). This evidence proves the impact that guns violence has and how guns contribute in many acoounts of death such as murder, homicide, suicide, etc.  Moreover, in the United States, there are currently a total of 13,141 gun deaths between January 1 and April 22 (GVA)! The year is not halfway finished yet over 13,000 deaths have occurred and many more deaths are to ensue due to guns. These facts show the increasing issue of gun violence in the country as more deaths and rise of gun scenarios become more apparent. If there were to be more or stricter gun laws the United States would resolve a big issue and save many lives that are threatened by guns.

In addition, not only did the country experience a series of gun violence but it also underwent a sudden surge in gun sales. In fact, “2020 has also been a record-breaking year when it comes to Americans buying firearms” (Bates). In the U.S, over 20 million people owned guns in 2020 and was dubbed the best firearm sale ever. These proofs indicate that more people are buying guns in a time of uncertainty. In addition, to the increase of gun sales, there has also been an increase in gun violence as well. About 19,000 people were killed in shootings and firearm-related accidents in 2020, indicating a dramatic increase in gun violence and crime and is the highest death toll in over 20 years! (Bates). This evidence shows the dramatic increase of both gun sales and deaths too. Thus, leads to a connection of more guns leads to more gun deaths. Although it may seem difficult to apprehend a certain connection between firearm sales and gun violence, the studies show that surges in gun sales increases the risk of death, since many new weapons are now in the hands of individuals who may have little experience handling them, possibly leading to unintended gun deaths as a result of bad handling and lack of experience/training (Kaste).  In another study to prove that more guns equal more deaths, conducted by the Harvard Injury Control Research center, it stated, “We looked at the relationship between gun availability and homicide across states from 2001 to 2003 using survey data on household gun ownership rates. We discovered that states with higher rates of gun ownership in the home had higher rates of firearm and total homicide” (Harvard Injury Control Research Center).This proves that more guns can cause more deaths. Assuming that nation were to have fewer or even ban guns and have mandatory classes as to how to use guns, deaths would be reduced including unintentional deaths.

Finally, Guns not only are used in murders, homicides, or suicides but also account for several crimes such as sexual harassment, theft, assault, and many other violent crimes carried a weapon while committing the crime. A total of 82,102 robberies in the U.S in 2019 consisted of firearms and is the second most used weapon in robberies (Statista). In 2011, 467,321 people were victims of a crime involving a weapon and according to FBI data from the same year, weapons were used in 68 percent of murders, 41 percent of robbery offenses, and 21 percent of aggravated assaults around the country(National Institute of Justice). This justifies that not only guns are used for suicide and murders but are also are used in various counts of crimes used with a firearm and are becoming more worrisome as more people are becoming victims to a crime incoloving a gun. Thus, due to the many crimes involving firearms around 203,300 inmates are spending time in a state or federal prison when they were armed when they committed the crime in 1997.  Thirty percent of State prisoners and 35 percent of Federal offenders in jail for murder, sexual harassment, theft, assault, or other violent crime carried a weapon while committing the crime (Harlow). This text proves that many criminals are in prison due to guns. If we were to implement more gun laws there would be fewer deaths, crimes, and criminals in prison due to firearm usage.

Then, there is the opposed side to the idea of more gun laws. Some may believe that guns are ideal to have on hand for self-defense, it would keep themselves safer, and more gun laws would prevent them from doing so.  However, guns are rarely used as self-defense. In fact, Six guns are used to commit a crime for every gun used in self-defense. In addition, in about 160,000 people surveyed about 127 people had an instance when they used a gun to protect themselves.(Ingraham). In an article from the Washington Post it stated, “David Hemenway, director of the Harvard Injury Control Research Center, examined five years of data from the survey covering the period between 2007 and 2011, with responses from nearly 160,000 individuals. Hemenway found that not only are self-defense gun uses rare -- people defended themselves with a gun in roughly 0.9 percent of crimes committed over this period -- but in many cases, they don't lead to better outcomes for crime victims” (Ingraham). This demonstrates that guns are used in an extreme rarity and they are in many ways not used for self-defense. Thus, the need of guns is not needed due to the lack of use in self defense. 

In conclusion, more gun control is necessary for the United States. Though guns may be an ideal weapon for self defense there are many problems such as gun violence as an issue, guns are used in many sorts of crimes, and more guns equals more deaths. Furthermore, guns have been used to murder thousands of children, men, and women.  Yet, guns still threaten to claim lives to this day and it is something that needs to change. The U.S needs to establish laws, you can simply make your community safer for your loved ones by contacting your school’s board to have mandatory gun safety classes for younger kids. You could make the whole country safer by contacting (by phone or email) your house representatives to propose a bill stricter gun laws, a ban on assault weapons, or a mandatory safety mode on all guns. We, the people need to speak up to this issue and strive to change the country for the better so that thousands of lives can potentially be saved.