On May 14, 2022, a racist gunman killed ten people and injured three others at Tops Supermarket in Buffalo, New York. Ten days later, on May 24th, 2022, a shooter opened fire at Robb Elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Nineteen students and two teachers were killed, and four others were wounded in a heinous act of evil which represented one of the most deadly shootings in this country’s history. We cannot become numb to these tragedies. We need more safety measures within the firearm sales industry to prevent dangerous individuals from obtaining weapons.
Every firearm trade should be subject to stricter policies and evaluation. Private sales and gun shows cannot be an unregulated exception to gun laws. Often, in the cases of shotguns and other lethal firearms, unlicensed dealers aren’t required to perform FBI background checks in gun shows. Twenty-nine states don’t have laws requiring any procedure at all. Furthermore, if an individual were to sell a gun in a private sale, federal law does not require any background checks whatsoever. Private sales are common in the firearms industry. If we do not regulate those sales, we risk the chance of violent individuals acquiring deadly weapons.
According to Fast Company, an American monthly business magazine, there are only two required steps all U.S. states must follow as a bare minimum for firearm trading: a brief background check to determine the buyer’s criminal record and the purchase itself. Ineffective federal regulations ensure that the process of purchasing a weapon can be short and easy. In contrast, in Japan, there are thirteen steps to purchase a firearm. Some steps include taking a firearm class, taking an exam, and having a doctor certify that the buyer is mentally fit and responsible to possess a gun. In some cases, the buyer must also have an interview with the police and explain why they need a gun. They also need to submit a review of their criminal history. Afterward, you have to submit a certificate from a gun dealer describing what type of gun you want. After an additional background check andhaving the police inspect the storage for your gun, you can finally purchase the weapon.
Data from Gunfacts.info shows that in developed countries, stronger gun restriction laws led to fewer cases of homicides. For example, Japan has a far smaller homicide rate than the United States. According to data provided by NPR, there were 0.04 gun deaths per 100,000 people in Japan in 2017. In the same year, there were 4.43 gun deaths per 100,000 people in the United States- over 100 times more. It is apparent that Japan’s strict and cautious process of gun purchase is responsible for this difference. To curtail violent crime, America must apply a similar law nationwide.
Those who are opposed to gun restrictions may point out that the Second Amendment in the U.S Constitution exists to give every American the right to possess a firearm out of necessity. However, this Amendment was made for a specific reason relative to its time period. The Second Amendment was made to guarantee people in militias the right to bear arms, hence its opening clause: “a well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state…” This was far more necessary in the 18th century than in present-day America; America had just gained independence, and the citizens needed to be ready to defend themselves in case Britain or any other country attacked. Today, obviously, that is not the case. America is not on the brink of war and does not require the services of militias, so it is unnecessary for every single citizen to carry a gun.
We need stricter gun laws in our country, for the safety of innocent lives.
