In the USA, firearms are ubiquitous, with an estimated 120 firearms for each 100 individuals, in line with the Small Arms Survey. This widespread availability of weapons has led to a excessive price of gun violence, with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) reporting that just about 40,000 individuals die from gun-related accidents annually. Whereas there are a lot of components that contribute to gun violence, one of the crucial important is the convenience with which individuals can get hold of weapons. On this article, we’ll discover the assorted 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 variety 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 prospects earlier than promoting them a gun, however these checks will not be at all times efficient in stopping individuals from shopping for weapons who mustn’t have them. For instance, a examine by the Authorities Accountability Workplace (GAO) discovered that just about 2,000 individuals who had been prohibited from shopping for weapons had been in a position to buy them from licensed gun sellers in 2015. Along with licensed gun sellers, individuals may purchase weapons from non-public sellers. Personal sellers will not be required to conduct background checks, and this makes it simpler for individuals who mustn’t have weapons to acquire them. For instance, a examine 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 benefit with which individuals can get weapons in the USA has a variety of implications for gun violence prevention. First, it makes it simpler for individuals who mustn’t have weapons to acquire them. This consists of individuals who have been convicted of a felony, people who find themselves mentally unwell, and people who find themselves topic to a restraining order. Second, it makes it simpler for individuals to purchase weapons with no background test. This can be a specific concern for people who find themselves making an attempt to keep away from having their prison historical past checked, or for people who find themselves making an attempt 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 prison functions.
