EVALUATION OF GUN VIOLENCE IN AMERICA 3
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An Evaluation of the Extent of Gun Violence in America and the Appropriate Mitigation Measures
Jasmine Perez
Miami Dade College
ENC1102: English Composition II
Professor Oscar Gonzalez
April 22, 2021
An Evaluation of the Extent of Gun Violence in America and the Appropriate Mitigation Measures
America faces a crisis from violent cases that involve firearms. Brutal acts involving guns contribute to homicide incidents in the United States and the traumas that individuals sustain physically and psychologically in their lifetime. The Pew Research Centre established that individuals became subject to threats and intimidation from other people wielding guns at a rate of 23% and indicates that gun homicides account for 35% of the incidents reported compared to self-immolation cases at a margin of 61% as per the 2008-2017 (Vargas, 2019). It is fair to say that gun violence is a major problem. This research paper investigates gun legislation and preventive measures and presents data, accumulated through field research, about the ideas and concerns of citizens in south Florida. Based on the research, the best way to reduce incidents of gun violence is through education, policy reform and the intervention of nonprofit community partners.
Literature Review
Rubens & Shehadeh (2014) seek to establish the correlation between mental illnesses and cases of mass shootings in their paper “Gun violence in the United States: in search of a solution.” The authors rely on the social-ecological model to guide the inquisition into incidents involving gun violence, particularly with respect to public health. The theoretical framework outlines four levels that increase an individual’s risk of violent cases or guards them against such occurrences. The researchers explain that “mental illness fails to be a sufficient reason for mass murder” (Rubens & Shehadeh, 2014, p.1). The report emphasizes the need to evaluate root causes of gun violence aside from gun ownership and explores Second Amendment arguments. Rubens & Shehadeh (2014) suggest America has failed to prevent the irresponsible use of firearms, culminating in the gun violence crisis. They suggest political intervention, through evidence-based policy and legislation, as a preventative measure for future gun violence.
Similarly, in “Mass Shootings and Mental Illness” Knoll & Annas (2016) address common misconceptions about the propensity of individuals with mental disorders to engage in mass shootings. The study incorporates evidence-based facts to disassociate mental illness patients with mass shootings and other forms of violent crimes. More specifically, the researchers state that “the factors contributing to mass murder are broad” (Knoll & Annas, 2016, p. 86). Knoll & Annas (2016) indicate that mental illness is not correlated with gun violence. Therefore, they conclude that legislation aimed at preventing people with mental illness from owning a firearm are misguided. Knoll & Annas (2016) study is important because it clarifies misconceptions and eliminates possible preventative measures that do not address the issue at its root.
If mental illness is not the root cause, perhaps research exploring criminology might shed some light. A 2017 study titled “Gun Violence in America” by Densley & Peterson explore this topic. Law professors Densley and Paterson provide useful insights into aspects that push perpetrators to engage in violent acts. The study provides empirical evidence collected from 206 randomly selected cases of gun violence and found that 79% of offenders had previous criminal records, 42% of which were intent to sell, drug related charges. Densley & Peterson (2017) also evaluate regulation, such as the Bill of Rights, the American Constitution, in addition to the Second Amendment. Their research indicates the unwillingness of republicans and democrats to work together is the biggest challenge facing America with regards to implementing the appropriate regulations. Densley & Peterson (2017) research provides insights into how the already implemented laws have failed to effectively deal with gun violence cases and policymakers’ impact on enacting the appropriate mitigation measures.
Besides political division, another relevant area to explore is school shootings. Price & Khubchandani (2019) in “School Firearm Violence Prevention Practices and Policies: Functional or Folly?” review the available literature to highlight contemporary prevention practices that aim at deterring gun violence in schools. Price & Khubchandani (2019) assert that learning institutions’ inability to implement the appropriate mitigation strategies makes them vulnerable to increased insecurity and state that “School systems need to engage in collaborative research for evidence-based practices and policy advocacy through coalition building to address state firearm laws” (Price & Khubchandani, 2019, p. 154). The study provides useful details pertaining to the rate at which severe cases involving firearms have affected American learning institutions and highlights the appropriate, cost-effective measures that school systems can implement to avert the prevalence of violence cases.
The literature reviewed explains how gun violence has affected American societies at different levels, from the stigma of mental illness to preventing gun violence in schools. The literature reveals a need for bipartisan, evidence-based, legislation and preventative measures aimed at dealing with the root cause, and measures that do not discriminate individuals. Given the assumptions and ideological restraints by individuals of different political parties, field research was conducted in the form of a community survey.
Methods
To learn more about the issue of gun violence in low-income communities, field research in the form of a six-question survey was conducted. 10 participants were surveyed out of which 65% identified as female while 35% identified as male. 45% of the participants said that they were Hispanic, 25% identified as Black and 30% identified as white from European descent. The participants were asked a total of seven open-ended and closed-ended questions, including:
On a scale of 1-10, 10 being extremely concerned and 1 being not concerned at all, how concerned are you about gun violence in your community?
Have you ever been affected by gun violence?
Do you support legislation related to gun control? if yes, explain why. If no, explain why not.
Are their safety measures, resources, or community outreach programs in your neighborhood related to gun violence?
These questions were meant to measure the level of concern about gun violence is the area. It also reflects the ways in which gun violence has affected and who it has been affected by gun violence the most. A question about gun control legislation was asked to gauge if that was a viable solution to the problem as well as to see what solutions were available is the community.
Several interesting responses were recorded. For example, out of the 10 participants surveyed 60% recorded a 5 or above for question one, suggesting that majority of participants were moderately or highly concerned about gun violence in their neighborhood. The high level of concern suggests that the issue and ways to reduce it is of high importance. Interestingly, 70% of participants answered that there are no resources or were unaware of resource available in their community to reduce gun violence. This presents a compelling case as to why offering resources and solutions is vital.
References
Densley, J. A., & Peterson, J. K. (2017). Gun Violence in America (01). The Violence Project. file:///C:/Users/DELL/Downloads/TVP-GunViolenceinAmerica.pdf
Hemenway, D. (2017). Reducing firearm violence. Crime and justice, 46(1), 201-230.
Knoll IV, J. L., & Annas, G. D. (2016). Mass shootings and mental illness. American Psychiatric Association Publishing, 81-104.
Police Executive Research Forum. (2019, March). Reducing Gun Violence: What Works, and What Can Be Done Now. https://www.policeforum.org/assets/reducinggunviolence.pdf
Price, J. H., & Khubchandani, J. (2019). School firearm violence prevention practices and policies: functional or folly?. Violence and Gender, 6(3), 154-167.
Rubens, M., & Shehadeh, N. (2014). Gun violence in the United States: in search of a solution. Frontiers in public health, 2, 17.
Vargas, E. W. (2019, November 20). Gun violence in America: A state-by-state analysis. Center for American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/guns-crime/news/2019/11/20/477218/gun-violence-america-state-state-analysis/