USA and Gun violence

Are guns responsible for maintaining peace or increasing terrorism? Terrorists only are responsible for mass killing? Are we really responsible for our own safety by keeping guns and having licence? Do we really require guns for our safety and can’t we rely on government bodies for that? There can be n number of similar question that arises in our mind whenever we heard about guns and mishaps directly related to guns. As technology and science is increasing its pace, we can see better guns and weapons in different hands, contributing in keeping or disturbing peace.

Our world is a strange and fearful place to live, full of blood and weapons but not ever place is harmful and full of violence.  Distribution of guns can be variedly seen among civilians across the globe. USA tops the chart in private gun ownership around 88.8 guns per 100 people, followed by Yemen with 54.8 guns per 100 people. America consists of around 4.4% of world’s population but 42% of civilian owned guns across the world can be found in United States. People round the globe dreams to settle down in USA for better earning, lifestyle and sense of security but more guns in locality means more violence and less secure lives. 

Over the past decade in USA, more than 100,000 people killed as a result of gun violence and millions were the victims of assault and crimes. Mass shooting in USA has been highlighted during 2015. According to FBI, mass shooting is an incident where at least four people were murdered with a gun. According to a report by FBI, between January 2009 and July 2015 there were 133 mass shootings – almost two per month occurred in 39 states in nearly seven year period. Mass shooting represents a very minor share of USA firearm homicide which is nearly less than 1%.

Weapons especially guns are one of the biggest reasons of increased crime. Once Australia stocked the state armories of newly independent Papua New Guinea many decades back and later it was noted that from the PNG Highlands to Bougainvillea, from the Solomon Islands to Fiji, guns given to governments had fueled a string of military coups and mutinies, tribal and ethnic violence, rising armed crime and gun homicide.

There are examples in the world where weapons are either banned or unarmed people are responsible for peace keeping. Out of 16 pacific islands forum nations, 12 nations are patrolled by unarmed police and this was done after the end of war of secession in Bougainvillea in 1997 due to which Pacific governments tried to disarm their neighborhood for keeping peace. Australia and New Zealand contribute more to arms control in Oceania than to arms proliferation.

The biggest economy i.e. USA is also searching ground for building peace in homeland and it can be sensed by recent surveys and government’s steps taken towards controlling unauthorized use of guns. Latest survey by Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health found that nearly 60% of people in USA are willing to purchase a smart or childproof gun which is actually a weapon which can be operated only by the hands of authorized user. In January, US President Barak Obama issued a memorandum directing the Departments of Justice and Department of Homeland Security to take important steps to promote smart gun technology.  

This is high time for USA to realize, how much they are suffering because of easily available guns and its unauthorized and illegal usage. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is making clear that the people involved in the business of firearms, must get a licence and conduct background checks. ATF is finalizing background check rules for the people trying to buy weapons through a trust, corporation or other legal entity. The FBI will be hiring more than 230 additional examiners and staff for the process of background checks. The President’s budget for FY2017 will include funding for 200 new ATF agents and investigators who can help enforce gun laws. These are the initial steps towards controlling gun violence but the violence relating to guns can be stopped completely only by removing guns from neighborhood. Not only government but citizens also have to take cautious steps towards it, otherwise it will become very difficult in installing peace and harmony in the country.