The rate of gun violence in the American society has reached the epidemic level. Many innocent citizens have suffered due the dreadful acts with the use of gun violence. In the aftermath of tragedies associated with gun violence, there is often a feeling of concern among the authorities, leaders, researchers, and community representatives to investigate the causes of gun violence in order to prevent such tragedies in the future. As President Obama stated his concern about growing gun violence in the US, while commenting on the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, “We won’t be able to stop every violent act, but if there is even one thing that we can do to prevent any of these events, we have a deep obligation, all of us, to try”.
There are numerous factors that contribute to the prevalence of gun violence in the American society. However, after analyzing various research and studies, the achieved data and findings show that the weaker gun laws and America’s gun-centered culture are the major causes of the increasing gun violence in North America. Current paper identifies optimal solutions for the issue of gun violence on the basis of workability and effectiveness. Also, the paper discusses some other solutions to the problem and highlights the flaws and ineffectiveness of them.
Solution for the Weaker Gun Laws
Weaker gun laws and policies about the gun control are remarkably contributing in the growing rates of gun violence in the American society. Strong gun policies and laws enforcement and implementation of it on federal and state level are the major solutions to the issue.
After the tragic incident of Newtown, President Barack Obama proposed a strong plan to strengthen the gun control in America. This proposed plan proves to be an effective solution which includes:
Solving Flaws of Background Checks
It has seen that most of the offenders in mass shootings purchased their guns through legal means, which exposes the flaws of current background check systems. In order to prevent the guns to fall into the wrong hands, it is necessary to solve existing drawbacks of the system by following recommended solutions:
Enforcing background checks for all gun sales. In order to prevent the gun violence, it is necessary to promote the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which was implemented by the Brady Act to restrain the access to guns to the criminals and those convicted for violent acts.
Criminal background checks and other strengthening measures. The studies have shown that almost 40% of gun deals are made by private sellers who are not bound to run criminal background checks for any gun purchase. The government should adopt the laws, which require background checks for each firearm deal. Since 2004, the number of mental health records in the official system has increased by 800%, but only few are available on the data-check system. The authority needs to enhance the system’s technology and accessibility to identify possible threat and restrict them from getting guns.
Banning Assault Weapons and Preventing Gun-Trafficking
According to the report of the Police Executive Research, in 2010, there was massive increase in application of military-style assault weapons and high capacity magazines as the ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines was expired in 2004. To protect the law and order and maintain the public safely, it is necessary to reinstall the prohibition of assault weapons and high capacity magazines. Besides, it is necessary to limit the selling of handguns and other types of guns.
Today, due to weak gun laws and regulations, guns are easily available to criminals from unlicensed dealers or by means of “straw purchasers”, who pass all the official formalities to buy firearms in a legal way. Unfortunately, there is no proper law against straw purchasing or trafficking of guns. It is important to adopt strict laws against such illegal acts. Also, it is helpful to take action to improve tracing methods and train the police force. When law enforcement officer finds a gun during criminal investigations, he can trace that gun’s path from its manufacturer, dealer, and first purchaser. Such gun tracing process helps the police identify gun trafficking pattern and take suitable actions to prevent it.
Ending the Prohibition on Gun Violence Research
Each year, there are almost 30,000 gun-related homicides and suicides in the country. Such staggering figures are big enough to announce it as a public health crisis. However, for years, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other scientific organizations have been restricted by the federal government from investing funds for “advocating or promoting gun control”. Despite the claims of the members of the Congress, research on gun violence is not advocacy, but a critical research, which provides all American citizens information that they need to know. The research and studies on gun violence, including links between easy access to guns, violent video games, and media images, help to identify actual causes and develop necessary preventing measures against increasing gun violence in society.
Solution for the Gun-Centered Culture
Gun-centered culture of the America, i.e., the excessive obsession for the guns is another reason of high gun violence in the American society. Glamorization of violence in the movies, music videos, and video games is generating massive obsession for the violent culture. Especially in today’s youth, carrying a gun or possessing a gang membership has become a style statement and way to get respect from the peers.
I have been to something like 50 gang funerals where the guy in the coffin was no more than 20. The game companies do not see the family crying and the people in the coffin. They do not see the impact this has on our culture. They make or play their games in the studio, but for kids on the street it is a real life.
A statement of a former gang member and Terrance Stone youth leader on how media violence has glamorized and affected the gang lifestyle, conveys the intensity of the issue. In order to maximize the profits, media industry makes the marketing and glamorization of its products and programs to such an extreme level that they are indirectly creating live bombs and firearms in the form of today’s violent youth. In order to prevent it, there is a necessity to apply strict censorship on media violence and utilize the media in a positive manner for promoting anti-gun campaigns in the society. The research shows that parents must protect their children from exposure to guns and explicit media violence by means of responsible parental monitoring. The censoring of violent contents and promotion of anti-gun campaigns through media can effectively discourage gun violence in the society. Studies have shown that people are often influenced by the celebrity and famous figures. The promotion of anti-gun campaigns by means of inviting famous celebrities, stars, and leading personalities can remarkably change the gun-oriented culture of the American society.
Workability and Effectiveness of Solutions
Strong gun control laws are proved to be an effective solution in many countries. Sean Faircloth has emphasized on the efficiency of strong gun policies by pointing at low gun-related homicide rates in the developed countries with strict gun control policies. He further stated that though in such countries, domestic violence and organized crimes are identified as in the America, but they have less access to guns, compared to Americans, which plays a vital role in the rates of gun-violence. Further, the example of the UK supports the workability of the solution. According to the reports, since the gun ban in 1997, only one mass shooting incident was reported in the UK. In 2011, the number of homicides related to firearms were 59 in England and Wales, compared to such 77 homicides in the Columbia District alone in the same year. Moreover, according to the reports of the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, states like South Dakota, Arizona, and Mississippi, where gun laws are weak, are among the top three states of the US that have the highest rates of gun-violence in the country. On the other hand, the states like California, New Jersey, and Massachusetts where gun laws are strict, are among the top three states with the lowest rates of gun-violence in the country.
Despite the persistent and long history of gun culture, various evidences show that the American gun-oriented culture is slowly changing. According to the reports of the General Society Survey, gun ownership in the US has declined from 54% in 1977 to 32% in 2010. Also, almost 74% of Americans support the strict gun-control policies. Many organizations like, the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporations (HHC), are using the media as an effective tool to prevent violent behavior in the society. In 2011, the HHC launched various campaigns and programs to promote anti-gun policies among the youth by means of social media, short films, and apparel. The HHC’s violence interrupter models have proved to be effective in identifying and resolving violent behaviors among the people. According to Mary Plouffe, in the past, smoking culture was significantly growing in the American society, mainly influenced by the movies. However, after 50 years, such culture norms are changed by promoting strong anti-smoking campaigns through media. In a similar manner, though, today, gun culture seems explicit part of the American lifestyle, media can play a crucial role in changing the current scenario. Certainly, it has proved to be an effective and workable solution.
Other Solutions and Their Ineffectiveness
Often, gun-control experts suggest the solution of effective mental health background checks for gun violence in the American society. However, there are too many limitations on the mental health background check system. According to the health reports, more than 50% of all American population suffers from one or more psychological disorders, and almost 26% of Americans over the age of 18 years are diagnosed with at least one type of primary anxiety disorders and other psychological issues. Though majority of them possess no threat to the community, it is impossible to identify the potential danger. Certainly, it puts limitation on the federal database for background of each person. The significant example of it is the case of Aaron Alexis, who came up clean in the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System due to the limitation on accessing mental health of each individual on the system.
According to Dariusz Dziewanski, “crossed legs” initiatives can be helpful to change the gun-centered culture of the American society. According to him, women can play a crucial role in discouraging men from using guns by initiating actions like, denying sexual relationship with the partners who refuse to give up the usage of firearms, withdrawing from any relationship with such people etc. However, the solution of “crossed-leg” consists of many limitations and weaknesses. Often dominant male-culture, difference in physical power, gender roles, and social norms cause huge barrier in practical implementation of such solution. Also, such solution can trigger other crimes such as rape, domestic violence, harassment, which can further worsen the situation.
Gun violence is a serious epidemic in the American society. Though the issue has reached to the critical level, it can be preventable with proper management and measures. The example of various countries with strict gun laws, suggests that the implementation of strong gun policies also can be effective in the America. Besides, the censorship on violent media contents and positive use of media for the promotion of anti-gun campaigns can be effective and workable solution for changing gun-oriented culture of the American society.
About the author: Noah Hill is a master in English philology and literature at California University. Noah is currently working as one of the best writers at the research paper topics for high school He also studies feminine psychology.

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