In the USA, firearms are ubiquitous, with an estimated 120 firearms for each 100 individuals, in accordance with the Small Arms Survey. This widespread availability of weapons has led to a excessive charge of gun violence, with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) reporting that just about 40,000 individuals die from gun-related accidents every year. Whereas there are lots of elements that contribute to gun violence, one of the vital is the benefit with which individuals can get hold of weapons. On this article, we’ll discover the varied ways in which individuals can get weapons in the USA, and we’ll talk about the implications of this for gun violence prevention.
There are a selection of ways in which individuals can get weapons in the USA. Probably the most widespread is thru licensed gun sellers. Gun sellers are required to conduct background checks on all clients earlier than promoting them a gun, however these checks should not all the time efficient in stopping individuals from shopping for weapons who shouldn’t have them. For instance, a research by the Authorities Accountability Workplace (GAO) discovered that just about 2,000 individuals who had been prohibited from shopping for weapons had been capable of buy them from licensed gun sellers in 2015. Along with licensed gun sellers, individuals can even purchase weapons from non-public sellers. Non-public sellers should not required to conduct background checks, and this makes it simpler for individuals who shouldn’t have weapons to acquire them. For instance, a research by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) discovered that just about 20% of gun homicides in the USA are dedicated with weapons that had been bought from non-public sellers.
The convenience with which individuals can get weapons in the USA has a lot of implications for gun violence prevention. First, it makes it simpler for individuals who shouldn’t have weapons to acquire them. This contains individuals who have been convicted of a felony, people who find themselves mentally in poor health, and people who find themselves topic to a restraining order. Second, it makes it simpler for individuals to purchase weapons and not using a background test. This can be a specific concern for people who find themselves attempting to keep away from having their legal historical past checked, or for people who find themselves attempting to purchase weapons for another person who’s prohibited from shopping for them. Third, it makes it simpler for individuals to purchase weapons in bulk. This can be a specific concern for people who find themselves planning to make use of weapons for legal functions.
