Better Gun Legislation: An Essay

8/13/2019 Better Gun Legislation: An Essay

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Kimberly B. Leister

May 4, 2000

PLSC 102

Dr. Rose

America Needs Better Handgun Legislation

Handgns are a !roblem in "meri#a. $%e Brady "#t and t%e 1&&4 'llinois Sa(e

)eig%bor%oods Legislation are not s((i#ient. $eenagers still (eel nsa(e at s#%ool. *ne in

si+ stdents say t%at #lassmates bringing ea!ons to s#%ool is a -ery big !roblem.1

C%ildren are still dying. rom 1&/1 to 1&&, t%ere ere 11,&1/ deat%s in t%e nited

States de to (irearms among #%ildren yonger t%an 1 years.2 "dlts are still dying. 'n

1&&3, %andgns ere in-ol-ed in /& !er#ent o( (irearm (atalities. 1 o( t%ese

(atalities ere si#ides, nintentional and ndetermined (irearm deat%s.5

Sin#e gn oners%i! is a #onstittional rig%t !romised to t%e !eo!le by t%e

Se#ond "mendment, banning %andgns is not an o!tion. Banning gns old only lea-e

la6abiding #iti7ens de(enseless against an armed #riminal !o!lation. Hoe-er, riting

stri#ter las t%at old %el! !re-ent tragedies and ena#t sti((er !nis%ments old

red#e t%e staggering nmber o( li-es t%e nited States loses e-ery year to (irearms. '1 8all!, 8eorge 9r. *ne6$%ird o( $eenagers eel nsa(e at S#%ool: *ne in Si+ says$%at ;ea!ons "re a Big Problem in $%eir S#%ool 22 "!r. 1&&&. Prin#eton< $%e 8all! *rgani7ation.

*nline. )ets#a!e Commni#ator. 2& "!r. 2000. "-ailable<

%tt!State gn sa(e storage las and #%ild mortality de to

(irearms.? 9ornal o( t%e "meri#an Medi#al "sso#iation 1 *#t. 1&&, ! 10/4.5 Hartgarten, Ste!%en ;., et al. >C%ara#teristi#s o( (irearms in-ol-ed in (atalities.? 9ornal o( t%e

"meri#an Medi#al "sso#iation 5 9an. 1&&3, ! 44.

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http://www.gallup.com/poll/releases/pr990422b.asphttp://www.gallup.com/poll/releases/pr990422b.asphttp://www.gallup.com/poll/releases/pr990422b.asp


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!ro!ose t%e Re(orm Party stri-e to im!ro-e "meri#a@s %ealt% and sa(ety by mandating

#%ild!roo( trigger lo#As, reiring registration (or all %andgns, and maAing and=or

Aee!ing it a (elony to illegally !ossess (irearms.

Solution: Mandate Childproof Trigger Locks.

$%e state o( Massa#%setts re#ently began #arrying ot one o( t%e stri#test

%andgn sa(ety las in t%e nation. $o o( t%e ne rles are t%at all %andgns sold it%in

Massa#%setts mst %a-e a load indi#ator to s%o %et%er t%e gn is loaded or not, as

ell as be ei!!ed it% a trigger lo#A t%at maAes it >im!ossible (or #%ildren nder 3 to

!ll t%e trigger?.4

;%at sonds e+#essi-e to t%e a-erage gn #onsmer #omes as a relie( to !arents.

'n a stdy done by t%e "meri#an "#ademy o( Pediatri#s, 2/ o( %omes in Maryland

#ontained (irearms. *( t%ese %omes, 2 Ae!t one or more (irearms eit%er loaded or

nlo#Aed. $%is means t%at o-er 0 o( t%e %omes t%at %ad gns did not store t%em

sa(ely.

or a #%ild, t%is is a -ery dangeros sitation. ;%ile #%ildren may not intend to

#ase %arm, t%ey #an !%ysi#ally s%oot be(ore t%ey may mentally #om!re%end t%e

#onseen#es.3 C%ildren #an also #on(se a toy gn it% t%e real t%ing, es!e#ially sin#e

3& o( t%e %omes #ontaining (irearms also oned toy gns. 'n t%e Maryland stdy, it

seems t%e loaded or nlo#Aed gn in a %ome is st aiting to be dis#%arged by a #%ild.

4 Btter(ield, o+. >Massa#%setts to n(or#e Stri#t 8n Sa(ety Las? )e EorA $imes

Se#. "irearms in t%e Home< Parental

Per#e!tions.? Pediatri#s )o-ember 1&&&, ! 10&.3 'bid ! 10&. o!. #it ! 10&.

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$%e reslt is almost alays a %orrible trama t%at s#ars a (amily@s li(e (ore-er. >'

see %at %a!!ens %en (irearms got into t%e rong %ands,? says S#ott Brns, M.D.,

Dire#tor o( 'nry Pre-ention, mergen#y Medi#ine, at R%ode 'sland Hos!ital. >10

#%ildren die e-ery day in t%is #ontry as a reslt o( inries (rom gns: 1 in 5 %omes %as a

gn: in t%ose %omes, 20 !er#ent o( t%e gns are Ae!t loaded and nlo#Aed. 'n t%e 10654

year old age gro!, inry (rom (irearms is t%e se#ond leading #ase o( deat%.?/

$%is is %y #%ild!roo( trigger lo#As s%old be mandated on all gns. '( all gns

Fnot st ones sold in Massa#%setts G ere sold it% t%is #%ea! modi(i#ation, t%e li-es o(

many #%ildren old be s!ared. $%e "meri#an "#ademy o( Pediatri#s e-en lists t%e

storage o( nloaded and locked (irearms as one o( t%eir t%ree ste!s to red#e (irearm

(atalities among #%ildren.&

Solution: Reuire Registration !f All Handguns.

Las reiring t%e registration o( %andgns already e+ist. $%e Brady "#t #alls

(or ba#Agrond #%e#As and (i-e6day aiting !eriods be(ore a gn #an be sold. $%is Aee!s

note o( %o ons %at gn in t%e la6abiding #iti7en !o!lation. Hoe-er, sin#e t%ese

las do not e+tend to t%e realm o( gn s%os, little is Anon abot %o ons %at gn

in t%e #riminal !o!lation.

't almost sonds too arrogant t%at a #riminal old go to a gn s%o to !r#%ase

a %andgn, bt %en registration and ba#Agrond #%e#As are not reired, !r#%asing a

gn (rom a gn s%o is only slig%tly more di((i#lt t%an getting one o(( t%e street. '( a

/ Berns, S#ott. >Startling Statisti#s.? $%e Bron ni-ersity C%ild and "doles#ent Be%a-ior Letter

9anary 2000, ! 5.& ara%, Mirna M., ! 10&.

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-endor is gi-ing a #stomer a %ard time o-er registration and ba#Agrond #%e#As, t%e

#stomer #an st go to a di((erent boot%.

;%ile !re-enting #riminals (rom !r#%asing a gn is a maor #on#ern, t%e bigger

#on#ern is !re-enting !r#%ases by indi-idals %o may not ne#essarily %a-e a #riminal

ba#Agrond, bt #old still be dangeros and s%old not be alloed to by a gn. )early

%al( o( gn6s%o sales are !ri-ate F40G, %i#% means too many gn s%o #onsmers

are #om!letely e+em!t (rom !reliminary #%e#As on age, residen#e, and #riminal stats. 10

;it%ot mandatory registration and ba#Agrond #%e#As, adlts it% a %istory o( mental

illness and=or -iolent tenden#ies #an !r#%ase %andgns at gn s%os. Sin#e t%ere are no

age #%e#As, minors #an also obtain %andgns. "ll (or gns sed by Klebold and Harris

in t%e Colmbine s#%ool s%ooting ere obtained at gn s%os. 11 Senseless tragedies s#%

as s#%ool s%ootings and Ailling s!rees s%old dri-e %ome t%e message t%at all %andgns

need to be registered be(ore !r#%ase.

Crrently, a do#ment Anon as Brady '' is (ig%ting (or e+a#tly t%at. Dra(ted by

Handgn Control, 'n#., Brady '' old reire registration o( all %andgn !r#%ases.12

"n additional !r!ose o( Brady '' is to !i#A ! %ere t%e original Brady "#t le(t o((<

more t%orog% ba#Agrond #%e#As on #onsmers. Handgn Control, 'n#., rites,

>Li#ensing o( %andgn !r#%ases allos more ba#Agrond #%e#As to be #ond#ted on

gn byers and old %el! e+!ose gn tra((i#Aers by alloing (or more a##rate tra#ing

o( gns (ond at #rime s#enes.?15

10 'bid ! 1.11 Handgn Control, 'n#. >8n S%o Loo!%ole inally Closed by Senate.? 20 May 1&&&. *nline.

)ets#a!e Commni#ator. 1 May 2000. "-ailable< %tt!


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C%an#es are a !erson %o ants to #ommit a -iolent #rime is not going to maAe

t%e !oli#eman@s ob any easier by registering %is %andgn. By reiring registration o(

all %andgns, a##ess to gns old be signi(i#antly red#ed, !robably by 40 sin#e t%at

is %o many !ri-ate gn s%o sales t%ere are. $%is old !re-ent #riminals (rom legally

bying a gn, bt old not sto! t%em (rom illegally obtaining a gn. $%at is %y t%e

ne+t soltion mst also be in#lded in t%e !arty !lat(orm.

Solution: Make "llegal Handgun #ossession A $elon%.

Des!ite registration, %andgns #an still be a#ired on t%e streets. 'n some states,

t%is is already a (elony. 'llegally !ossessing a (irearm in 'llinois is #onsidered a (elony.

Hoe-er, in some states, illegal !ossession o( a (irearm is only a misdemeanor.

$%is s%old not be t%e #ase. Re#ently Senate President 9ames >Pate? P%ili! tried

to so(ten t%e stri#t 'llinois la by red#ing t%e #%arge (or illegal (irearm !ossession to a

misdemeanor. 9ames and Sara% Brady rote, >'llegal (irearms !ossessionI s%old stay

a (elony. $%is la as !assed to gi-e !oli#e and !rose#tors a tool to arrest and !rose#te

#riminals %o %a-e illegal gns, and t%at is %o it %as been sed.?14

"(ter all, t%ere s%old be no sym!at%y (or t%ose %o illegally !ossess gns.

Hnters and #i-ilians aliAe !atiently ait as t%eir %istories are e-alated be(ore t%ey #an

on a (irearm to %nt or !rote#t t%emsel-es it%. $%ose %o #annot ait days and

obtain a gn illegally s%old be (eared. $%ere is ob-iosly somet%ing (ier#er moti-ating

t%em t%an s!ortsmans%i! or sel(6de(ense. >$%e attem!t by Senate President 9ames JPateJ

14 Handgn Control, 'n#. >Statement o( 9im and Sara% Brady Re< 8ns, elonies, and Misdemeanors.? 13

De#. 1&&&. *nline. )ets#a!e Commni#ator. 1 May 2000. "-ailable<

%tt!


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P%ili! to eaAen tog% 'llinois gn las by red#ing t%e #%arge (or illegal (irearms

!ossession (rom a (elony to a misdemeanor is an a((ront to !bli# sa(ety,? #ontines

Brady. >'n 1&&4 t%e 'llinois Legislatre !assed t%e Sa(e )eig%bor%oods legislation and

sin#e t%en gn #rime, mrders, s%ootings, and nla(l ses o( ea!ons -iolations %a-e

all de#lined.?1

The Arguments Against The Solutions.

*ne o( t%e (irst t%ings a gn ad-o#ates ill do is !oint to t%e #ontry o(

Sit7erland. $%ere is a gn in e-ery %ome, and #rime !ra#ti#ally does not e+ist.13 $%e

argment is t%at t%e !resen#e o( gns does not #ase #rime. $%ere(ore, gn reglations

s%old not be stri#ter and !enalties sti((er.

'n (a#t, resear#% %as indi#ated t%at t%e !resen#e o( gns may a#tally %el! deter

#rime. Dr. 9o%n R. Lott 9r. o( t%e ni-ersity o( C%i#ago La S#%ool %as #ond#ted

resear#% t%at !ro-es >gn reglation a#tally en#orages #rime?.1 $%e reason is t%at t%e

more ner-os a #riminal !o!lation is abot t%e armament o( its -i#tims, t%e less liAely

t%ey ill be to attem!t a #rime. >Carrying a #on#ealed ea!on trns ot to be t%e -ery

best at deterring #rime. ;%en ea!ons are not -isible, #riminals be#ome less bold,

be#ase t%ey #annot Ano %et%er any !otential -i#tim is armed.?1/

8n ad-o#ates also arge against t%e statisti#s, saying t%ey are sAeed and

!resented in a de#ei-ing lig%t. >*( t%e 1400 a##idental (irearms deat%s in 1&&, 200 ere

1 'bid ! 1.13 Rosenblatt, Roger. >8et Rid o( t%e Damned $%ings.? $ime & "g. 1&&&, ! 5/.1 'bid ! 5/.

1/ M#8innis, 9o%n *. BooA Re-ie. >More 8ns, Less Crime< nderstanding Crime and 8n Control.?

By 9o%n R. Lott, 9r. )ational Re-ie 20 9ly 1&&/, ! 4&.

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#%ildren nder 1. ;%en yo %ear (igres %ig%er t%an 200, remember t%at t%e gang6

banger age gro! is in#lded 66 sometimes ! to 22 or e-en 24 years old being #onsidered

a J#%ildJ.?1& $%ere(ore, t%e need (or modi(i#ations s#% as #%ild!roo( trigger lo#As is

ne#essary.

)ot only are trigger lo#As an nne#essary modi(i#ation, bt an nsa(e one at t%at.

"t a Handgn Control 'n#. e-ent, #%ie( attorney Dennis Hennigan attem!ted to

demonstrate t%e trigger lo#A and %e as nable to disengage t%e lo#A. >)o, e mig%t

ant to lag% at t%e egg on Mr. Hennigans (a#e, bt it old %a-e been no lag%ing

matter i( t%e trigger lo#A Ae!t a %omeoner (rom sing %is gn against an assailant,?

20

rites Larry Pratt, a #ontribtor to 8n *ners o( "meri#a.

$%e )R" is also a %ge gn #ontrol !ro!onent. 't is or #onstittional rig%t, as

ell as a matter o( !ri-a#y. >$%e go-ernment #annot be trsted it% t%e names and

addresses o( gn byers.J21 8n oners (eel t%at registration o( all gns inter(eres it%

t%eir rig%ts as ell as t%eir liberties.

#u&lic Support: Statistical and #olitical 'ata.

$%e great t%ing abot demanding better %andgn legislation into t%e !arty

!lat(orm is t%at it attra#ts e-eryone@s interest, and nearly everyone is for it . 8all! !olls

dated 9ne 1&&& s%o t%at & to /& !er#ent o( !eo!le !olled are for not only t%e abo-e

soltions, but also (or raising t%e minimm age to 21 Fin a!!li#able statesG and banning

1& Pratt, Larry. $rigger Lo#As ;as%ington D.C.< 8n *ners o( "meri#a. eb. 2000. *nline. )ets#a!e

Commni#ator. 5 May 2000. "-ailable


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%ig%6ammnition #li!s.22 & !er#ent o( !eo!le (a-ored t%e registration o( all (irearms,

and / o( !eo!le !olled (a-ored all ne %andgns reiring sa(ety lo#As or trigger

gards.25 Statisti#ally s!eaAing, ' old say a maority o( !eo!le in t%e nited States

desire stri#ter %andgn legislation.

Politi#ally s!eaAing, // o( omen (a-or t%e registration o( all (irearms. MaAing

better %andgn legislation, in s!e#i(i#, reiring t%e registration o( all %andgns, a !art o(

t%e Re(orm Party@s !lat(orm old gat%er t%e (emale -ote.24 ;%ile men are slig%tly less

in (a-or t%an omen F3&G,2 abot in 10 men old s!!ort t%e registration o( all

%andgns. Beteen t%e to se+es, it is (airly ob-ios t%an ell more t%an t%e maority

s!!orts t%e registration o( all %andgns as a soltion.

$%is isse also attra#ts t%e attention o( bot% Re!bli#ans and Demo#rats.

Demo#rats are slig%tly stronger F//G in s!!ort t%an Re!bli#ans F1G, bt not by

m#%.23 Besides, s#% %ig% (igres indi#ate t%at t%is isse is not st a !arty isse, bt an

isse t%at grabs t%e attention o( all -oters o( all !arties. $%e Re(orm Party old not only

gat%er Re(orm Party -otes, bt also t%e -otes o( Demo#rats and Re!bli#ans.

Conclusion

$%e Re(orm Party@s t%ree soltions are t%ere(ore modest #om!ared to %at t%e

!eo!le really ant. ;e do not seeA to ban %andgns be#ase t%ey do %a-e a !la#e in

22 )e!ort, ranA. "meri#ans S!!ort ;ide ariety o( 8n Control Measres Prin#eton< $%e 8all!

*rgani7ation. 13 9ne 1&&&. *nline. )ets#a!e Commni#ator. 2 "!r. 2000. "-ailable<

%tt!


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!rote#ting t%e !bli# (rom #rime. Comments 9o%n Lott, >*b-iosly, bad t%ings %a!!en

it% gns, bt gns also Aee! bad t%ings (rom %a!!ening.?2

$%e Re(orm Party does, %oe-er, seeA to rite stri#ter %andgn legislation t%at

ill red#e t%e #%an#e o( tragedies s#% as (irearm6related #%ild (atalities and

s#%ool s%ootings (rom e-er %a!!ening again. $%e Party seeAs to !re-ent easy

a##ess to gns at gn s%os by mandating registration o( all %andgns. inally,

t%e Party seeAs to se-erely !enali7e t%ose %o breaA t%ese rles by maAing and=or

Aee!ing illegal !ossession o( a (irearm a (elony. Stri#ter rles do not abse yor

!ersonal (reedoms, rat%er, t%ey !rote#t against ot%ers (rom sing t%eir (reedoms

and absing yo.

2 M#Cain, Robert Sta#y. BooA Re-ie. >More 8ns, Less Crime< nderstanding Crime and 8n

Control.? By 9o%n R. Lott, 9r. 'nsig%t on t%e )es 21 Se!t. 1&&/, ! 5.

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Better Gun Legislation: An Essay