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Essay / Controversies surrounding gun control in American states
In recent years, the subject of guns and their control has been covered everywhere in the news and in the media. This has sparked many controversies between different political parties due to the increase in mass shootings and terrorist attacks during popular events. Many people disagree on how to resolve this issue and find a solution to stop these horrible acts against innocent people. This issue has caused a division in the United States of America between liberals and conservatives. Many liberals are fighting for more gun control and a ban on military-grade assault weapons, like the infamous AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. They also want stricter background checks and longer wait times to avoid the risk of more shootings. On the other hand, many conservatives argue that it's not guns that cause the problems, but people. They are fighting against liberals by claiming that we are punishing those who have done everything right and who deserve to respect their constitutional right to bear arms. This disagreement caused numerous tensions throughout the country which gave rise to numerous political debates. As a result, the different political parties cannot agree on a solution to all these problems. Different states have passed their own set of laws to prevent gun-related problems, but some states, like the governments of Alaska and Illinois, have very conflicting views on how to deal with guns safely. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Many drastic events over the years have led to the idea of implementing more gun control. Many gun rights advocates were furious, believing their constitutional rights were being taken away and limiting their ability to continue to enforce the Second Amendment. Defenders also find it unfair that they are unreasonably limited in their right to bear arms when it comes to protecting themselves and their property. However, the influx of mass shootings over the years has sparked fear in a number of people, leading to a fight for more gun control. Gun control is defined to prevent some people from legally obtaining firearms that are determined to be unsuitable for owning a weapon such as a handgun or rifle. This on the basis of their own protection and, above all, that of others. It is believed that by passing these gun control laws we could prevent mentally unstable people from committing suicide or murder. On the other hand, many conservatives believe that gun control cannot prevent these people from illegally obtaining a firearm and that such control would be unnecessary. Additionally, the fight for gun control has become much more vigorous in recent years. Due to numerous attacks, a debate has arisen among many liberals over whether or not an ordinary person or civilian should be allowed to obtain a military-grade assault weapon, such as the semi-automatic rifle. automatic AR-15. This weapon has become well known for its use in numerous recent mass shootings, such as the Parkland High School attack in which 17 people died and 17 people were seriously injured. Thisattack sparked numerous protests across the country, such as the well-known “March For Our Lives” movement. Many high school students participated in a walkout during school to draw attention to the problem of lack of gun control. The attack spread fear throughout the country, especially among young students. Another deadly terrorist attack in which the AR-15 was used occurred during the Las Vegas shootings in 2017. During this attack, 59 people were killed and 413 were seriously injured. However, the gun used in the Las Vegas shootout was modified to make it a fully automatic rifle with the addition of a bump stock. This explains why so many people were killed in such a short time. People have become very fearful of bump stocks because of the amount of power the modification can give a firearm and the damage it is capable of causing. Very quickly after the attack, stockpiling of substitutes was made federally illegal for most civilians under the Trump administration. However, the AR-15 remains legal at the federal level, although some states now restrict it and have even banned the weapon. However, previously, assault weapons were illegal from 1994 until 2004, when the ban expired and was never lifted. In 2019, there were 15,208 deaths due to gun violence in the United States of America, which has increased slightly over the past. years. There have also been 418 mass shootings, including 31 mass murders. As a result, the number of deaths increased slightly compared to previous years. Due to the increasing death rate, many states have implemented increased gun control. Nationwide, the state with the strictest gun laws is Illinois. Illinois takes more precautions than the rest of the country when it comes to gun laws, especially given the well-known level of violence and gang-related crime in the city of Chicago. In particular, they require a Firearm Owner Identification Card, also known by the acronym FOID. This allows someone to own and use firearms as well as purchase ammunition, which in comparison many other states like Alaska do not require. In Illinois, they also set a 72-hour waiting period before acquiring the gun after purchase. The state government put this law in place to prevent a person who is blindly angry or experiencing extremely unstable emotions from calming down before receiving their gun. To be able to conceal and carry a firearm, you must apply for a license or permit through the State Police and complete 16 hours of intensive training. Being required to have a license and training will help teach gun safety and ensure that a person is qualified to handle a firearm. You must also be over 21 to acquire a concealed carry permit. In contrast, Alaska has some of the weakest gun laws in the United States of America. In Alaska, you don't need to register a firearm or even get a license. No background check is also necessary when purchasing a firearm at a gun show or private party. It's the so-called "gun show loophole" that many liberals are trying to close. Liberals argue that the state of Alaska is too lax on gun laws and that the government has sufficient control over who receives guns. This is particularly due to the fact that it is not alwaysnecessary for the weapon to be registered. Alaska's open carry laws also conflict with federal laws where a person can open carry as young as 16 years old. On the other hand, at the federal level, the minimum age to open a portage is 18 years old. However, similar to Illinois, a person must have a permit to conceal carry and participate in a training course. They too must be over 21 years old to receive this permit. At first glance, many people assume that the city with the highest number of gun-related deaths and murders is Chicago, Illinois, but that is not true. The place with the highest murder rate per capita is, shockingly, the state of Alaska. In 2017, Alaska ranks 1st with the highest violent crime rate at "829.0 per 100,000 population" and 6th highest in murder rate at "8.4 per 100,000 population" . In contrast, Illinois has the 17th highest violent crime rate at "438.8 per 100,000 residents" and the 10th highest murder rate which is "7.8 per 100,000 residents." Another important aspect of gun-related deaths is suicide. In 2016, there were 177 gun deaths in Alaska, including 113 suicides. In Illinois, of 1,490 gun deaths, 506 were suicides. Which places Alaska first behind Illinois in terms of percentage of suicides. However, compared to the states of Alaska and Illinois, Maine has the fewest suicide and gun-related violent deaths in the United States of America. In Maine, they are more lenient when it comes to gun laws, unlike Illinois, but not as lenient as Alaska. In Maine, you are allowed to carry a handgun in certain places without a permit. However, to carry concealed carry, you must obtain a license and meet different criteria when receiving your CCW, also called a concealed carry permit. You must “be at least 21 years old, have knowledge of handgun safety, have not engaged in reckless or negligent conduct in the past 5 years that has been investigated by a government entity, or convicted in a Maine court within the last 5 years. any drug-related crime. These specific qualifications are set up as well. Likewise in Maine if you have been a resident for 5 years you only have to wait 30 days after receiving your concealed carry permit and 50 days if you have not been a resident for more than 5 years. Considering their gun laws, the state of Maine has, as of 2017, the lowest violent crime rate at "121.0 per 100,000 population" and the third lowest murder rate at " 1.7 per 100,000 inhabitants.” Given the high number of firearms. In Alaska, the leading cause of death is suicide. Suicide accounts for 72% of gun-related deaths statewide. “In Alaska, 72% of gun deaths are suicides and 21% are homicides. This is compared to 61% and 35% respectively nationally. Among suicides, 64% concern children and adolescents. Many people believe that the high number of suicides among children and adolescents is due to easy access to guns. Understanding also centers on the fact that Alaska has such long winters and limited days that it leaves people depressed. Suicide by gun is most likely due to the abundance of guns people own in the state. Unlike Alaska, Illinois has a much higher homicide rate than suicide rate. “In Illinois, 40% of gun deaths are suicides and 57% are homicides. This is compared to the 61.18187.