Eye for an Eye Essay

Submitted By gladyloveszu
Words: 2096
Pages: 9

Eye for an Eye In his exploration of gun violence in America, the author of Doomsday Diaries, Aaron B. Powell states, “We need to take a harder look at what’s really going on. Stop trying to treat the symptoms and treat the cause of the problem. Maybe we should try a little to help these kids before they feel so cornered that they turn into monsters” (Powell, 2013). The awareness and anxiety about gun violence in the United States has heightened because of incidents in Tucson, Sanford, Aurora, and Newtown. The challenge in America with gun laws is that, by definition, criminals do not follow the law as written and produced. The Second Amendment says, “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the tight of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed” (NRA, 2013). The Second Amendment states we have the right to protect our freedom, to protect our families, and community from any threats. According to journal article, 85% of all guns used in crimes have at least been sold by a private gun seller at least once (Wintemuute 1). The United States sets limitations as to whom gun retailers can sell guns to. If this indeed is the case, then why are there people purchasing guns through gun shows that cannot pass a background check? The United States needs to implement stronger background checks to prevent those who should not be able to purchase a gun from doing so. If the United States were to implement stronger background checks, then they would have to shut down the Gun Show Loophole because it provides criminals with an alternative when they can’t pass a background check. In 1993, the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act required federal background checks on firearm purchases in the United States. Background checks involve researching the criminal records, commercial records, and financial records of an individual. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System is the Background check that the United States uses to determine whether a prospective buyer is eligible to guy a firearm (FBI, 2012). According to the FBI before ringing up a sale, cashiers call in a check to the FBI or other agencies to make sure that each customer does not have a criminal record or isn’t ineligible to make a purchase (2012). They look to make sure you’re not under aged, a convicted felon, a fugitive from justice, an unlawful user, someone who is mentally impaired, a drug user, an illegal alien, a renounced U.S. citizen, someone with a restraining order, and/ or someone who has been convicted of a misdemeanor of domestic violence. This type of background check is in use in thirty different states in the United States. Background checks are available seventeen hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays except for Christmas. Between February 29, 1994 and December 31, 2005, the Department of Justice said that federal and state law enforcement officials performed 69.9 million background checks and prevented 1.36 million gun sales to convicted felons and other prohibited purchasers (2008). There are more than 100 million such checks that have been made in the last decade, leading to more than 700,000 denials. Even though NICS is doing a great job saving lives and protecting people from harm, guns are still slipping into the wrong hands and it’s being done through illegal purchases and gun show purchases. A gun show is a temporary exhibition or gathering in the United States where firearms, firearm accessories, ammunition. Knive’s and miscellaneous collectables are displayed, bought, sold, traded and discussed (U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Evaluation and Inspections Division, 2007). People who work for gun manufactures attend these shows to demonstrate new products. Gun shows serve as meeting places for gun enthusiasts to discuss gun culture topics such as the right to keep and bear arms. They are usually held in public buildings like hotels, malls, armories,…