Impact Of Firearms On The USA

Running head: IMPACT OF FIREARMS ON THE USA 1

Impact of Firearms on the USA

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IMPACT OF FIREARMS ON THE USA 2

Impact of Firearms on the USA

Introduction

The United States tops the developed world, with a vast stock of over 200 million

firearms in private hands. Certainly, this enormous stock has a huge impact on the lives of most

citizens of the American societies in various ways, which range from positive to negative

accordingly. The colossal presence of this stock supposedly to create a sense of safety amongst

the owners, has albeit, a fatalistic contribution to America's criminal violence. Baring of arms as

a constitutional right—arguably representing a cardinal safeguard against any form of tyranny

has created a monster that has morphed into a public epidemic (Cook & Ludwig, 2015). Firearms

aid some homicides that elated it to a public concern imprinted on the public consciousness of

America. Instead of creating a sense of security, firearms have instead escalated homicides,

highway and bank robberies, terrorism tendencies, criminal violence, and domestic violence –

leading to a high mortality rates, injuries and destruction of property.

Impact of Firearms on the USA

Escalated Firearm Homicides

The presence of firearms has mostly accounted for, and also escalated the problem of

gun-related homicides in the USA. Guns account for a considerably substantial portion of deaths

that range from suicides, homicides and outright murders –across the globe. These high numbers

of firearm homicides particularly in the American societies are primarily attributed to the vast

stock of weapons, with a substantial portion in the private hands of citizens. This has mainly

affected the communities, through igniting the likeliness of people contemplating the idea of

suicide, or worse yet a murder. The presence of firearms makes these acts of suicide and murder

more effective by their very lethal nature –as was captured "handguns accounted from the

IMPACT OF FIREARMS ON THE USA 3

majority of both homicides and nonfatal firearms violence” (Planty, Truman, 2013). As a result,

firearms have negatively impacted the American societies by escalating firearms homicides.

Escalated Robberies

The prevalent overflow of firearms has substantially escalated armed robberies in the

American societies. Robbery as violent crime that is mostly aided and aggravated by firearms—

mostly handguns involve the use these weapons to take the victims' valuable property. They

usually enhance the effectiveness of these robberies, but also raise the risk and possibility of

homicides and unnecessary injuries during the commission of these acts. This is mainly because

the presence of these firearms, their availability, and the smooth accessibility by all the eligible

citizens— under their constitutionally granted right. Boasters the carriage of the ill-minded

characters within the community, thus emancipating them to effectively counter any possible

blockage by the securities forces in their way (Planty & Truman, 2013). Ultimately, the criminal

act of robbery has since increased due to the presence of firearms; hence enhancing the loss of

property and life.

Terrorism Practices

Firearms have particularly magnified practices of terrorism. In this day and age, the most

prominent terror threat the world faces is largely posed by the recent advancement and large

presence of these firearms. Though guns have not always been used in terror attacks, they have

had an immensely lethal contribution to the huge death of victims of these attacks than any other

weapon, despite all being horrible. Firearms generally, and the little handguns, in particular,

grant a great deal in the inflicting economic, psychological and physical damage with the least

expenses possible. And this has been evident in the mass shootings that have often been done by

the radicalized American citizens since it is overly easy to evade all possible suspicion with a

IMPACT OF FIREARMS ON THE USA 4

gun than any other weaponry (Gartenstein, 2011). Ultimately, firearms have negatively affected

the American communities through the advancement of terrorism tendencies leading to immense

loss of lives.

Domestic Violence

Firearms are used and intensify domestic violence. Usually, they are used to terrorize and

intimidate all the domestic violence victims raising the number of prospective victims, to 11

women every day. Since it is hardly possible and often challenging to prohibit the access to

firearms by any American citizen, it has proved to be a more deadly venture that has claimed

many innocent souls. Most of the victims of the domestic violence acts have mostly been

women, according to research, and eventually fermenting to domestic violence homicides. The

overwhelming death rate resulting from domestic violence is stubbornly failing to go down,

which essentially poses a significant threat to the smallest unity of society and the American

public at large (Wintemute, 2015). Accordingly, thus, domestic violence has negatively

impacted on the American societies by overly intensifying the overflow of firearms everywhere,

hence leading to loss of many lives and injuries.

Increasing Criminal Violence

Firearms have immensely enhanced criminal violence in the American societies.

Criminal violence includes among others homicides, aggravated assault and domestic violence

whose prevalence in some of the American societies is majorly attributable to the presence of

firearms. Because it is extremely difficult to prevent an American citizen from possessing

firearms, this has facilitated the rise of gangs orchestrating the most heinous criminal violence

there is. Moreover, the effect of the exposure of these actions to youngsters ripples down to the

youngest generations –but also the elderly. The young ones exposed to these criminal violence

IMPACT OF FIREARMS ON THE USA 5

acts experience remarkable spats of depression (Wintemute, 2015). This affects a great of their

lives and spills over into their future lives for a long time thus creating a cycle of the same

actions they were exposed to at an earlier stage. It consequently affects their ability to possibly

identify and control their emotions—accordingly committing more criminal violence with the aid

of the firearms. Hence, the destruction of almost the whole young generation.

Escalates Accidents

Firearms immensely contribute to the many accidents in America. There have been many

deaths that can only be attributed the presence of guns all over; this has natively contributed to

the loss of innocent souls out of the avoidable accidents. Most of these accidents spike the young

people below the age of 15, but also a few adults in their homes –which they legally possessed.

More so, the injuries and disabilities caused by these accidents substantially increase healthcare

costs, insurance premium and the federal criminal justice expenses in the bid to weed out all

negligent acts (Planty & Truman, 2013). These deaths and the injuries can positively be

controlled and mitigated through the restrictions of who can buy or possess firearms in the

country. Since data indicates that even those who are reasonably sober have often succumbed to

the foreseeable mishaps that have led to the loss of innocent lives. Thus, firearms cause accidents

that eventually lead to deaths and cause disabilities.

Conclusion

It follows from the above discussion thus, that those firearms, despite their positive

impact that cannot possibly be sidestepped they also have a negative contribution to these

communities. The adverse effects brought by the presence of a vast stock of firearms; with a

considerable portion in the private hands of American citizens is exhibited in the horrid

consequences that flow from it. Moreover, despite the humanitarian motives that may often

IMPACT OF FIREARMS ON THE USA 6

inform the cause of this phenomenon, to supposedly establish a particular atmosphere of security

or a semblance thereof—as they sometimes deter any possible counterforce. They have

ultimately turned into a monster once they land in the hands of bad characters, and that has

created a dire threat to the public welfare and safety, leading to loss of lives and property.

IMPACT OF FIREARMS ON THE USA 7

References

Cook J. P & Ludwig J, (2015) Results Of A Comprehensive National Survey On Firearms

Ownership And Use. Washington DC: Police Foundation. Retrieved From:

https://www.policefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Cook-et-al.-1996-Guns-

in-America.pdf

Gartenstein-Ross. D, (2011) Bin Laden’s Legacy: Why We're Still Losing the War on Terror

Washington, DC: John Wiley & Sons.

Planty, M & Truman, L. j, (2013) Firearms Violence, 1993-2013. Washington DC: US

Department of justice. Retrieved from:

https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?iid=4616&ty=pbdetail

Wintemute, J G, (2015) Alcohol Misuse, Firearm Violence Perpetration, And Public Policy In

The United States. Retrieved From:

http://www.Calwellness.Org/Assets/Docs/News/Wintemute_Alcohol_Misuse.Pdf

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